Just like chickens are the gateway animal for raising homestead livestock, I feel like herbs are the gateway plants for homestead gardening. So, it only makes since that chickens and herbs go together! Using herbs for your homestead flock is a great way to help them stay healthy naturally. Herbs...
There is nothing I like better than seeing my homestead flock happily pecking around in the yard, garden, and surrounding woods with the warm sun on their backs and the lush grass (or dried leaves) under their feet. I know they are doing what instinctually comes natural for them, and...
Crockpot Paleo Venison Stewgluten-free | grain-free | dairy-free | tree nut free | egg freeby Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | April 21, 2022This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. This crockpot paleo venison stew is a delicious, hardy meal that is healthy and...
The crop is the gateway to a chicken’s stomach. Ensuring that the crop is functioning properly is essential for keeping your flock healthy and productive! There are two common ailments that affect the crop: sour crop and impacted crop. Learning to tell the difference between sour crop vs impacted crop...
Perfectly moist, perfectly sweet, and perfectly flavorful… these gluten-free carrot cupcakes are everything a carrot cake cupcake should be! Made completely grain-free and dairy-free, these cupcakes are the perfect modern pioneer dessert option even if you are on a restricted diet. While I might not dare say they are ‘healthy’...
Why is my chicken losing feathers? A chicken’s feathers are what protect its skin and helps keep the chicken warm. There are two main reasons why a chicken would lose its feathers. Usually feather loss is caused by molting or the feathers being pulled out by other flock members. Feather...
If you have done your research at all on hatching chicks, you will know that most sources tell you not to help a chick hatch. And I totally agree! Healthy chicks don’t need help hatching. However, I do believe there are circumstances in which you can help a chick hatch...
If you have never had cauliflower soup before, please don’t let the name throw you off! This dairy-free cheesy cauliflower soup is one of my favorite vegetable soups ever! Cauliflower soup has always sounded good to me, but not so for other members of my family. When I first made...
Let’s face it, chicken is on the menu for a lot of animals! Chicken is a favorite meal option for just about every predator out there, big or small. It may seem discouraging to raise a homestead animal that so many predators have on their meal list, but with some...
Fish is one of my favorite meals to both eat and make! Not only do I like to eat fish, but I also like fishing for fish! Eating fish can provide you with some great health benefits and it tastes delicious. One of my favorite types of fish to eat is...
Raising a healthy homestead brood means knowing what to feed chicks as they grow and mature. Chicks can eat just about any food from a very young age, however, it’s important that we monitor what foods they eat, how much they eat of any given food, and how frequently we...
I love a good coffee cake. In my opinion, coffee cake goes with just about anything, not just coffee. A hot cup of tea…. a warm bowl of homemade soup…. some fresh eggs fried over easy with some bacon…. yup, it all sounds good to me when paired with this...
Learning how to make fermented chicken feed is a great cost effective, nutritious, and easy way to feed your homestead flock! Fermented chicken feed helps you get the most out of your feed bags while still providing nutritious food for your chickens. My flock loves their fermented feed and I...
Gluten-free tamale pie has all the bold flavors of a delicious, warm chili mixed with soft, flavorful cornbread! I had never heard of this pie until I was looking for new meal pies to try. As soon as I saw what was in a tamale pie, I knew I had...
Once you start raising chicks, pasty butt becomes a part of everyday lingo. And yes, pasty butt is just as gross as it sounds. Knowing how to identify, and most importantly, how to treat pasty butt in baby chicks is essential to raising a healthy brood. However, you should also...
Are you ready for the best, richest, moist, grain-free chocolate cake you will ever try?! This recipe is perfection! I couldn’t believe my taste buds when I took my first bite of this chocolate cake. It has the perfect moist texture, a nice crumb, and the absolute best rich chocolate...
Chores are a never-ending task on the homestead, but that’s not always a bad thing! I actually enjoy the different chores associated with each month of raising chickens on the homestead. Seasonal chores will vary depending on what region you live in and what your seasonal weather patterns are for...
I’ll admit, I had my doubts about a spinach skillet frittata. Initially I was trying a sweet potato crusted spinach frittata recipe that my mom made. It tasted so good I just had to make my own variation! This dairy-free spinach skillet frittata blew me away! I thought anything that...
Should I buy chicks from breeders or hatcheries? As a homesteader, you may find yourself asking this question. Even if you haven’t asked yourself this question, it is a good question to consider when deciding where to source your homestead flock from. While both sources have their advantages, there are...
Wild game, especially venison, is a staple in my house. Which means, when it comes to fixing dinner, you have to know how to cook all different cuts of venison. Thankfully, I had the best teacher (my dad) and have been slowly acquiring wild game cooking skills. These perfect pan-seared...