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Homestead must haves
18
items We have goats, chickens, and rabbits (plus dogs and cats). These are items that have made life better or easier for us or our animals. Only tested items that we actually have used (and liked) are going on here.
Sections
5
Chickens
Goats
Books for Homesteading
Fencing
Tools
Chickens
We have really liked every waterer and feeder we've bought from RAC. Sturdy and well made.
Chicken Waterers | Chick Waterers | Coop Waterers
We've had excellent hatches using this Maticoopx incubator. I like it better than the Nurture Right because ethe chicks can't fall out the side when I'm removing them to the brooder box.
MATICOOPX 30 Egg Incubator w/ Humidity & Turner
Premier 1 has always made quality supplies for us, and this chick heater is no exception. I love that I don't have to have a heat lamp in for the chicks, so the risk of fire isn't there.
Premier 1 Chick Brooder Heating Plate 12x12
Goats
These are great for goats. Just be sure you get the breakaway links as well to keep it safe in case they get stuck.
Plastic Chain Collars
I love having these on hand for giving goat medicine to them. They can't bite so hard they destroy it, like they do plastic syringes, plus it gets it back to the back so they're not as likely to spit it out.
2pcs 20ml Adjustable Drench Syringe for Sheep
For keeping their hooves trimmed and neat, especially if you don't have or haven't found a trimmer to do it for you. You can learn yourself!
ARS 140DXR Smooth Blade Hoof Trimmer & Shears
We love having hanging troughs we can hook to our woven wire fence. We can adjust it to the height of the goats, and spread it out enough that they're not all butting each other over feed.
Goovilla 2-Pack 9Qt Large Feed Trough
Always good to have on hand for any medical issues. Knowing the temperature is an excellent start to figuring out what's wrong.
Digital Pet Thermometer for Cats/Dogs/Horses
Certain meds are great to keep on hand, just in case. This is one of them.
Durvet Bloat Treatment for Cattle, Sheep & Goats
Another good one we keep on hand.
Products 034922 Vetrx Goat & Sheep Remedy, 2 oz
I buy a box of these during milking season with our goats. I put it in the bottom of whatever funnel I'm using to pour my milk into, as cheap insurance that I didn't get hair or something in the milk.
6-1/2" Milk Filter Disks Non-Gauze 100pk, D110 (1)
Books for Homesteading
If you homestead, you know how fast the budget gets spent on feed and fencing and everything else. This book really helps with ideas on how to help your budget. And keep growing your homestead too.
The Frugal Homesteader: Living Well on Less
It can be hard to keep up with all the things on a homestead, so I love flipping through this book and seeing it laid out by season what we should be doing. Helps me remember things I would have a hard time keeping track of otherwise.
The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner
If you need inspiration on how to build something, this book is a great place to start. It's given us lots of ideas on how to build the next chicken coop, pig shelter, mobile coop, etc.
40 Projects for Building Your Backyard Homestead
One of the first goat books I bought 6 years ago. I don't follow everything exactly as she does but I try to incorporate what I can.
Holistic Goat Care: Guide to Healthy Animals
Fencing
We've used their fencing for 5 years so far, every day in all kinds of weather and it's working great. We LOVE our premier fencing and wouldn't trade for any other.
Electric Fence
Hands down, our favorite t-post insulator.
LockJawz T-Post Fence Insulator Orange
Tools
This gets used SO much at our homestead. It's lightweight enough I can use it. It starts with the push of a button. It doesn't work as great for large trees, but it's great for smaller diameter trees and branches. The battery does take longer to char...
SKIL PWR CORE 40V 14” Brushless Chainsaw Kit