1 Hour Q & A! We Answer ALL Your Homesteading Questions.

[@swianecki]

Merry Christmas to all of you. You have blessed our lives tremendously!

[@melaneymattson3733]

Merry Christmas to you Sarah, Kevin and the whole family. Praying that everyone stays well! Melaney from SoCal

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Stay safe and have a great time off with your families. Merry Christmas to each and everyone of them too. Fred.

[@dorenenagy564]

I love your channel! You two are so fun to watch. I always learn something new I didn’t have a clue about. I don’t raise animals, but you have helped me with my canning and gardening. I appreciate that. I’m 69 and anything to make it easier works for me. I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and happy New Year 🎊🎈🎆. Enjoy your time off!!!❤

[@kaikeller3214]

I think donkeys also help guard other animals from predators. So another reason to have them.

[@lindajohnson4204]

Another thing that livestock guardian dogs, or donkeys, could do for them, is create content for their videos, relatively easily. I know that I love my LGDs-livestock guardian dogs-that I follow on KZbin! I even think it is a big deal that one of them changed hands, as a puppy, about a mile or two from my home. I can see the place from my building, where the truck passed, on their way home. "'Leiski' went there, when he was just a puppy!"

[@sweetpeacollections6494]

My sister in law always referred to Dec 23 as Christmas Adam 😊. Merry Christmas! God bless you and your growing family.

[@RB-fw4zj]

For the person who asked about watering chickens in winter, check out Carolina coops video on that. I used their technique and it has worked great, even in single digits. Bottom line, I use a 40 gallon trashcan on an elevated platform for gravity feed, hose connected to a 2" PVC pipe with water nipples and another hose at the end running back to the barrel for a complete loop. There is a stock tank heater in the barrel plugged into a thermostat and I have a little pump at the IN side of the PVC pipe that keeps the water moving through the pipe and back into the barrel. It's simple but works like a charm.

[@joanijimison7397]

You guys are so fun to watch and learn from. ❤ Merry Christmas ❤

[@rodjendrysik3444]

Thanks for the Q&A. Always learning something. Another one from Illinois here. Grandparents and Great grandparents on my dad's side had farms in Wisconsin. Hatfield/Blackriver Falls area. Enjoy Christmas with the family. Wish the kids a Merry Christmas. Our kids all grow way too fast. Take care and God Bless.

[@tinamincheski2195]

I grew Stevia this past growing season. Some of my neighbors just used it straight off the plant...and said they really liked it. I dried a bunch of it and have used it in my tea...It's not real strong...but it sweetens the tea very nicely.

[@faithbuller4086]

God bless you and yours 🙏🏼 Merry Christmas! 🎄

[@ItsMe-mk7pt]

Donkey right Kevin?...lol. Most farmers put them in with their cattle because they actually calm and protect them from predators so no additional fence needed.

[@jennifergravina866]

Merry Christmas. 🌲🎉

[@elizabeththomas8746]

Love this live Q&A with you! You're a genuine couple with great experience in homesteading. Very trustworthy answers. I commend your hard work and know your blessed it. Have a Merry Christmas to you and your family. God bless.

[@bowtielife]

Merry Christmas! You two and your negotiating with each other over donkeys and putting up posts... 🤣🤣 Y'all are so funny. We do the same thing, though! 😉

[@Meorgangry]

Merry Christmas. May you and your family have a wonderful holiday and God bless

[@janetharley9465]

Baby rabbits : it is illegal in arkansas to sell bunnies(baby rabbits) less than 8 weeks old. You can wean earlier than 8 weeks but not sell. Same for kittens and puppies.

[@faithbuller4086]

I like goat and deer depending on what they have been eating and butchered when calm.

[@lindasuerussell4398]

Living by the action of the weather keeps us connected to the earth and is so fulfilling.

[@saundrajsimpson9627]

Around the area I live here in TN there are a lot of Angus Cattle farms and I have noticed that many of them have donkeys in with the cattle.

[@jrygh8380]

I’m trying to build a retaining wall here in Ozark county. The rain turned the base dig into a moat.

[@dawnmelton7718]

My family laughed when I asked my hubby for a plucker for Christmas. But that thing has been the absolute best investment EVER! Saves so much time! And it makes it easier on you mentally I'd you have any issue butchering your own because you're not pulling the feathers out yourself (luckily i don't have any issues, but a dear friend of mine does and it helps her a lot when she borrows our plucker). God bless from Texas! And y'all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! 🙏❤️

[@mskippi]

Merry Christmas 🎄,

[@timothyvanderschultzen9640]

How can I homestead and have heathcare?

[@karenshelmidine8432]

We made the plucker too.

[@rebeccaplumlee9601]

I worked at a Ranch, they had a donkey to help calm their high-strung natures. I started riding her, but soon graduated to a mare that retired to brood mare status. The donkey was nice as ride-a-long to shows & races.

[@hollynelson543]

❤ u guys . MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[@daveh7137]

Merry Christmas!!

[@chrisswain5633]

Hope you both have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Chris from NSW 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@41murphy2]

Donkeys are great guard animals. 🫏🫏💕🤶🎅🎄

[@twopeasinapod7554]

Merry Christmas 🎁 From Monett, Missouri ❤

[@ruthmonroe-dz8oy]

Merry Christmas to you both

[@jimmylittle9393]

Hello from Australia... it's the 17th here and the future is doing ok haha

[@HorseyGal4ever]

🤠Donkeys protect livestock and can carry /pull small loads. A Mini anything is not practical, they are only pets.🐎 🎄Merry Christmas from Iowa

[@dawnmeier2834]

Merry Christmas

[@MrRodnick1955]

That storm went through here in North Central Kansas on Saturday night big lightning huge thunder booms. No tornado’s thank the Lord.

[@GypsyBrokenwings]

I missed live. Have you tried plucking ducks that are molting. It's supposed to be easier.

[@veramcglaughn5663]

Ba ha ha, Kevin is so right about the goats. My theory is if water can get through something, a goat can/ will get through.

[@debrathompson2008]

solar electric fence would probably be more affordable for the cows. I hear you on the cost of t-posts 10 years ago they were only a couple bucks now they're up towards 5 bucks each, it's unreal. We have the alternative season from like the 28 to Jan 7th I believe that's for tags you didn't fill during regular season.

[@rebeccaplumlee9601]

When my kids were young, we did Xmas Eve at my folks & when we got home Santa had "hit" our house early, and by noon on Xmas day we went to my exes family (they wanted us there at day break! I was the rebel & later the other kids thought I had the right idea). By evening we relaxed & had friends in

[@RosalyndaHasch]

Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 from Angola Indiana

[@dawnmeier2834]

Extended Family Christmas eve. Our parents did Christmas day with us kids

[@rev.rustypreston435]

What gas powered Tpost driver do you recommend ? Weight, power, brand, etc.

[@dawnmeier2834]

Hi from Princeton Minnesota

[@melaneymattson3733]

Wow, I guess it's a good time to become a vegetarian in California (I don't think so for me) Between the poultry, beef herds, wild birds and cats, I hope I can still eat Pork! Our governor today declared a bird flu emergency here in CA!!!!!! I hope it doesn't skip to humans or else we are all doomed. Melaney from SoCal

[@sandysimpson9]

Hi from Kentucky!

[@stillwatersfarm8499]

Chicken processing you can actually do without both a scalder and a plucker if you learn to field dress the birds. Yes, you are giving up the skin, but we found the ease, simplicity, and time savings of field dressing outweighed the benefits of having skin on our chickens. You can gut or not depending on what you feel like doing that day, open it right up and pluck out the liver and giblets, and you can still keep feet and wings if you want. Wings can be scalded and plucked in the kitchen. I find it much more useful to have my chicken cut into breasts, tenders and leg quarters right at processing. I can take the pieces into the house away from the flies to clean up and package. I think everyone should try it at least once before investing in a plucker, cause we don’t even use ours now. Also for kill cones, we bought a couple road cones from harbor freight and cut the tips off. We keep a rotation going and get the killing done quickly so the dispatcher can clean up while the others start field dressing. My grown son and I can take out 20 birds in a couple hours now.

[@stillwatersfarm8499]

I also have to say a Nigerian Dwarf goat in most instances has limited homestead value. The wethers do not produce enough meat to be worthwhile, and production is very small - a quart a day or often less. They are also the most difficult to contain. We’ve had dairy goats for almost 20 years now. I would recommend a Mini dairy goat - like a Mini Nubian, Mini Alpine, Mini LaMancha if you are looking for around 1/2 a gallon a day (sometimes more). And a standard dairy goat if you are looking for over a gallon a day. We are a gallon a week family, so even what our goats produce is more than what we need for drinking milk. It is irrelevant if it tastes goaty after a few days, but there are ways to prevent that. I find I can easily keep full jars in the fridge for two weeks without spoiling and they will have a heavy layer of cream on top. We are raising our wethers for 3 years as was recommended by a homesteader friend. We anticipate they will be between 125-150 lbs live weight. We do not have trouble with escaping, but we fence very well - 4 foot high goat fencing to the ground with secure gates. And the holding pens are special goat panels with small holes that they cannot stick their heads through. They are a bit expensive on the initial fence set up, but if you do it right you won’t constantly be fencing. And they are still less expensive than cattle. Also it is much easier to get them bred and rebred. Bucks are not that difficult to own - nothing like a bull. They do stink in the fall. When you loose one, it is sad, but not nearly as sad as loosing a whole cow which comes with the large financial loss as well as the emotional toll. ALL THIS SAID - goats are NOT beginner livestock. There can be a significant learning curve. They are especially prone to parasites, and you must be well educated on husbandry. I wouldn’t say there is any “easy dairy”. We also raise cashmere fiber goats, and we find them to be easier to maintain because we do not have to breed them so often to get a gain from them in the form of fiber. HTH

[@MudBuddyHarrison]

If you have coyotes, a donkey is great at keeping them at bay! God Bless!

[@bobbarnes5014]

Liberator rocket stove. Will burn wood or pellets

[@andih5895]

I vote Donkey, they can serve a purpose/several purposes whereas a mini horse is just a pet imho.

[@tinamincheski2195]

I vote for a donkey ! They are good at protecting their space...which includes yours !

[@peytonreynolds2097]

T posts here in New Brunswick Canada are $12-$15 each!!

[@ninagerulski8832]

Oof!

[@joyces.9021]

Hi from Alberta, Canada

[@mskippi]

On my homestead we will only get what we will eat!! So no donkeys or mini horses.

[@loribarto2119]

I missed the live but one question I have is with my laying chickens who are getting older do I just let them die naturally when old age takes them or should I cull them? I know they are not meat birds per say and they would be tough meat, but I thought if I boiled them it would make the meat more usable and especially since they are smaller I wasn’t sure if it is worth butchering them?

[@chastaelaine76]

It’s Christmas Adam… then Christmas Eve 😂

[@SusanTurlington]

I want to get the hand held vacuum sealer you use- where can I find it

[@kathybergman4409]

Sarah said: If I don't have to help with the fencing, you could get a donkey. Kevin thinking about nothing else: I got this!!

[@clintreed1744]

I wonder if Gavin is a distant cousin of mine . My ancestors are from Northern Arkansas and southern Missouri.

[@peggysesco3724]

Do you use certain types of cows for milking or does it matter

[@billierichter1379]

Christmas Eve Eve = Christmas Adam...because Adam came before Eve.

[@authorannbaker]

You should name your pig pen Wallowsville.

[@Willene1950]

I'm sorry to ask but what are the donations for?

[@kathybergman4409]

Saeah, just take the high road and give Kevin a donkey for Christmas. He would be so surprised!

[@ritasnider2998]

It doesn’t show backwards

[@laurieclarkson9180]

Anne of all Trades (you tube channel) has donkeys and several videos that will help give you a good idea of what it's like to have them--good and bad.

[@rhondaborders3452]

A donkey will protect your cattle or any other animals.

[@1LittleMama59]

A donkey would be more sure footed for you hills than a horse.

[@tracyzabelle]

[@carllatta871]

Get a Donkey

[@tractordan933]

Merry Christmas