Table of Contents
Introduction 7
What Is Homesteading? 7
Why Homestead? 8
Who is This Book For? 8
Chapter 1 First Things First 10
Chapter 2 Best Breeds For Self-Reliance 14
Cattle 17
Goats 20
Sheep 23
Pigs 26
Rabbits 28
Poultry 30
Chapter 3 Barns Shelters And Fencing 39
Meeting Basic Needs 40
Types of Livestock Structures 40
Designing Your Structure 42
Fences 51
Gates 56
Additional Supplies 56
Chapter 4 Forage And Feed 58
Pasture for Foraging 58
Rotational Grazing 63
Utilizing Unfenced Areas 66
Utilizing Browse 67
Purchasing Hay 68
Growing Hay 70
Using Feed 73
Using Grain 75
Using Legumes 77
Making Your Own Feed Rations 78
What's Poisonous? What's Not? 80
Minerals and Vitamins 87
Last but Not Least-Water 91
Chapter 5 Breeding And Pregnancy 92
Keeping Males 92
When to Breed 96
How to Tell When Your Ladies Are in Season 98
Detecting Pregnancy 99
Care During Pregnancy 100
Chapter 6 Blessed Events: Important And Hatching 102
Before Birth: Important Supplies 102
Prepare the Birthing Area 105
Stages of Birth 106
Common Problems 109
Introducing Newborns to the Others 112
Dairy Animals: Managing Triplets and Quads 113
Hatching Eggs 114
Grafting onto a Broody Hen 116
Feeding Hatchlings 116
Introducing Newcomers to the Flock 118
Chapter 7 Eggs, Milk, And Meat 119
Eggs 120
Preservation Techniques for Eggs 122
Milk and Milk Products 126
The Milking Process 128
Managing the Milk Supply 131
Milk Processing 132
Keeping Milk 133
Butter 136
Cultured Milk: Yogurt and Kefir 138
Cheese 139
Meat 142
How Much Meat Can You Expect? 145
Equipment and Supplies 146
The Process 148
Keeping Meat 149
Meat Byproducts 152
Off-Grid Storage of Eggs, Milk, and Meat 153
Chapter 8 Keeping Them Healthy 156
Grooming 158
Shearing 158
Hoof and Foot Care 159
Vaccinations 159
Integrated Parasite Management 160
Nutritional Balance 166
Other Preventable Problems 170
Wound and Accident Care 174
Other Medications 174
How to Know When You Need a Vet 177
Vital Signs 179
Diagnosis and Treatment 179
When Death Is Kinder Than Prolonging Life 180
Chapter 9 Keeping Them Safe 181
Predator Control 186
Predator Deterrents 187
Chapter 10 Keeping Them Manageable 190
Understand Your Motivation 190
Make a Plan 191
Set Goals and Prioritize 191
Start Slowly, Start Small 192
Review and Revise 192
Day-to-Day Management 192
The Long Run 194
Conclusion: IF SHTF 197
Biblography 199
Resources 205
Index 222
Photo Credits 230
Acknowledgements 231
About The Author 232
