WHAT IF the FEED STORES CLOSED?

Today is the first day we need to feed hay. The grass has officially quit growing and the cows need to eat. Come with us as we get their hay ready and also discuss our plans for what we would do If the feed stores closed.
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[@PathwaysHomestead]

We unwrap the bale , set it on the ground and flip the bale ring over it,easier than trying to put the bale in the ring.

[@markusaschick]

Done many that way and it is absolutely easier!

[@loboalamo]

We had a longhorn that would flip them the calves get seriously hurt. The portable hay bunks are heavy and not so easy to flip and you unhitch them and load the used one next time.

[@kimberlyhoward8195]

Yes, this. We put the round bales down and then roll the hay ring and drop it down over the bale. Usually one person can move the hay and hay ring can be done by another to keep things moving.

[@2200chuck]

Actually you guys I have thought about that. Not for myself because I don't have a large homestead. And I came up with pretty much everything you guys stated. Having said that however, you made one assumption that I did not; that pretty much everything else was functioning as normal. My reasoning was that if feed stores are all closed, that is most likely because the region's transportation system is severely disrupted. They're closed because they can't get product to sell - not because it isn't available from the original source, but there is no way for the product to be delivered. Now think about that. If the transportation system is that severely disrupted, then what else is likely to be not deliverable to their product-specific retailers? How about FUEL? You guys rely on your tractor and all its PTO attachments a lot and the things you can install in place of a bucket. What happens to your homestead if you can't use the tractor because there is no way to get fuel for it? I watched you in previous episodes load the bales into storage, and in this episode to extract the bales and take it to the feed station. How can you do all that without a tractor? Homesteaders with an operation as large as yours could become paralyzed if fuel for your equipment became unavailable for long periods of time, long enough to force you to cull your herd. How would you operate? My solution would be to add one more animal to your operation; a mule that could be purposed to pull loads from storage to use, pull wagons in the fields, etc. It would fit right in with your beef herd and be right at home with them for company. Without fuel your neighbor won't be able to cut and bale the hay. You'll have to do that by hand like in the old days, with scythes and mule-drawn wagons, or, if your fortunate enough to have one, a mule-drawn harvester. My suggestion is to get a mule and a relatively inexpensive wagon it can pull. Just my thoughts. Great episode you guys.

[@lindacasey1126]

On my grandson's farm they have their own gasoline pump and underground storage tank. A mule would be cheaper but a tractor is great!

[@lindacasey1126]

@The gardener their farm has been there for 200 years. Most of the county know's of the farm. The gas is another story.

[@cathyrowe594]

@@lindacasey1126 Their gas would eventually run out or become unusable in a long term situation. Better to have human or animal powered items to use.

[@michaelskywalker3089]

The question does not lead to a single answer. If the transportation system is down as is outlined, then a certain set of procedures and decisions can be made. If somehow all of the feed is compromised but the transportation system is still functional then other solutions present themselves. The solutions in any scenario depend ultimately on the strength of the homestead, their experience and skill as well as scavenging and hunting opportunities. Also, the layout of the land can determine what can be harvested or not. Most everything is "perishable" so if money becomes worth less than any bartered trade goods then the most compact and sustainable operation becomes optimal [imo].

[@torivan4398]

@@PrimeDirective101 Get salt to cure large meat animals, butcher and eat smaller animals same day as needed

[@leemartin9156]

Thank you to all Veterans out there!

[@triciasklodowske5653]

Your welcome. And thanks.

[@jackievitale2536]

Yes, THANK you and GOD BLESS

[@nimabevis4509]

This video revealed what it is that I LOVE about your videos in general. You're thinkers. Everything is considered, ideas are tossed around, other ideas solicited. So many people go through life without much emphasis on this important step, and I just appreciate and applaud you for it!

[@marktoldgardengnome4110]

I think we are all Way passed the point of needing to take a step back, take a deep breath, and start caring for each other, as much as we care for ourselves.

[@growingthegoodlifenc]

Amen.

[@carolanncruts5907]

Hunting !!! Kudos !! Don’t ever give in to the Anti’s. Hunters and Farmers will be the survivors!

[@traciesavolainen3193]

As the owner of Athens Archery (compound bow manufacturer) I enjoyed watching this and seeing that hunting is a part of your daily family life. We are seeing a strong resurgence of hunting during these times!!!

[@carolanncruts5907]

Tracie Savolainen , have already put 3 bucks in the freezer and it’s still only Bow season!!

[@denisemaloneypiren3937]

Before you hate, hear me out. I personally do not hunt and I have ZERO respect for "trophy" hunters however I totally respect people who hunt legally, as humanely as possible and use the meat for food. The less waste the better. Some people use the less desirable bits to make food for their dogs or cats. I am not anti hunting. I am anti shoot a hibernating animal in it's den or hunt an endangered species to hang it on your wall.

[@ladyhawk6999]

But, there is one thing you must think about. While we may indeed be the survivors we also will be the targets. Also, I have always heard people say, " well we can hunt and fish to survive.", think about that and how fast the game will deplete and the injuries/deaths to people when they start coming from town shooting up everything in sight. Now, this is under the assumption there won't be some sort of government mandate forbidding people to hunt and fish. Something similar had happened last spring when they shut down a local favorite fishing hole because of this fake pandemic. ( I predicted it would be something medical to enslave the masses, there would be no other way) That means they can declare it illegal at some point to hunt or fish anywhere and deny licenses. We have a lot more to think about than just people looting our stuff. Do you think they, ( the tyrants) will leave us country/farm/ranch/homesteaders/off-grid people alone? Well, think again, once they have the cities strapped tight they will come for us one way or another. They will either regulate or tax us off our property. Just read Agenda 21, there will be no private property. What will happen to us and to our livestock and our land when tyrannical entities take over? Just read the history books, that should scare the bejesus out of you! The government can come with some excuse and kick you off your land, especially now that the government has turned criminal, and there is nothing you can do. What to shoot it out? Great, one box of bullets will be all you need. This is WHY we ALL need to unite now more than ever and fight for our liberty and freedom! We are losing it faster than you think! This has all been out in the open for decades, but so many were told it is a conspiracy theory... and bought that bag of tripe. So when they started implementing this Agenda 21, look at what they managed to accomplish in a few short months! They set the dominos up for a very long time and now they are knocking them down! Just think what our world will be like when they reach Agenda 2030! I am willing to bet many of us will not be here.

[@ladyhawk6999]

@@denisemaloneypiren3937 I agree about trophy hunting. While I DO have a few trophies, I do not hunt for trophies, if I get one it was meant to be. (no matter how long you boil those horns they never get tender) ;) I am a meat hunter. But if I am fortunate enough to have the chance at a trophy, Ill take it. There is no waste when I harvest deer. The hide goes to gloves or i will tan it hide on, the leftover carcass, offal, scraps, and bones go to our barn cats/dogs and chickens. The chickens go nuts over a deer carcass! They are after all carnivores.

[@backtobasicstipswithtomrib19]

We have egg layers, 100 cornish X , 4 meat turkies, regular turkies, Coturnix quail, and rabbits. I trap and land owners contact me if they have an injured cow and I process it. We are in our 70's and do not eat as much but we also help those in need with extra. I also hunt deer etc as needed to supplement our meat sources..Our pantry is full our freezers are about full and we down size the rabbits quail and turkies over the winter and start over in the spring.

[@gardenhappy861]

God bless you that at 70 your still hunting and helping others.

[@sarahbottoms6720]

For us, we would work with our neighbors, we have a neighborhood of 12 houses if all of us put in together we would have 60 acres to work off of. 4 of us already have laying hens and do meat birds together twice a year. We have dairy goats and would increase our herd to help support the rest of the neighbors. Three of the other neighbors are hunters, and five of us grow large gardens that we could put in together to feed each other. We also have a welder, a plumber, a doctor, and multiple horses to help get into town if run out of fuel. Getting to know your community is key to survival when it all hits the fan.

[@alittlesouthwindfarm3074]

My grandparents and great grandparents never bought feed they grew storage carrots, beets, hay, fodder from peas or beans, corn stalks. So many skills. I've been asking my dad how he remembers them doing it. So simple but alot of work.

[@teresaday-fickel5876]

Yep, silage crops. Rutabagas and turnips, too!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Yes with todays feed prices we must learn how to grow enough feed for our livestock. I do bale my own hay. Small square bales from unsprayed fields. Possibly plant winter wheat to graze in the early spring. Turnips will grow during the cold months.

[@kindnessgracestrength2535]

You two are amazing. I look forward to your videos. You inspire me with your knowledge and faith. I dreamed of homesteading for years, however no one was "with me" on that thought. Now I am old and homesteading alone is not possible even if I were younger and healthier. Thank you for brightening my days with your videos. God bless you and your family.

[@DP-nw5eg]

You have no way of finding others with whom you can work? Maybe not as a family unit but as a co-op? Just a thought.

[@allon33]

What if everyone had a farm this big? How wonderful the world would be.

[@mrsrolinnething5898]

Yes. When people work hard they really don't have so much idle time to be vandalizing or other forms of criminal behavior. Much more peaceful world it would be.

[@ciciliacurt6227]

Not many people want to work special ....

[@stanleypennock2118]

There were so many farms about that size just 60-70 years ago! Most small farms have been parcelled out and built into allotments with HOAs that don't allow any agricultural animals. They were such a great place for children to grow up!

[@stanleypennock2118]

@@CassieDavis613 I completely agree, but if auctioneers and realtors continue to talk small family farm owners to into breaking up their farms into building lots there won't be any parcels left big enough for a homestead! Where I grew up, there were no "next door" neighbors because there were only farms. (from about 80 to 200 acres) Now these farms are mostly 3 to 5 acre lawns with a house in the middle. Some of us refuse to sell! My farm is willed to my grand sons and must be operated as a homestead for their children and their future grandchildren!

[@tomchrisfield7348]

They did, a 100 years ago. Rural spread has stopped all that.

[@miriamcooper1320]

The barter system is a good thing.

[@wendyweddell2782]

We have the same train of thought. So we just signed papers on our 2nd property about 4 miles away. Which will be our FOREVER home.we are going from 2 bdrm 1 bath tiny home on 1 acre with huge garden to 2 bdrm with basement & barn on 6 with field that we can also bale our own hay. Whoo hoo

[@penelopepenobscot4475]

Good for you! Conrats, much luck on your new endeavor.

[@jimhouse9273]

You two have done a wonderful job with Hope and her calves. She looks the best she has since you've purchased her. Great Job.

[@patsmith6665]

Travel with that bale of hay as close to the ground as you can , that lowers your center of gravity making your tractor much more stable. Stay safe , God Bless.

[@patsmith6665]

I should have also said travel in reverse so you have a clear view .

[@cekfraun]

And for goodness sake, put that roll bar in the up and locked position!

[@BonnieHanchon]

Watching hope and the babies run into get hay was so darn cute...they are like puppies, very big puppies, all excited to get thier food.

[@vmorganbogart]

Great video, as always. Too many people think that they will always be able to just run to the store & get whatever they need. That statement doesn’t just apply to grocery stores. We have become accustomed to the quick & easy. So many don’t even know how to cook from scratch. Y’all are living a sustainable lifestyle & you & your family will be able to survive. Kudos to you! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with others. Blessings, Love & Hugs from Vicki in Ft. Worth, Texas 🇨🇱🇺🇸👍❤️🥰🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@artemiasalina1860]

What a brilliant idea, using the milk cow to help support the other animals on the farm during rough times!

[@trump2q2qandbeyonddixieand34]

WE here in HARMONY MAINE have been given warning of grain shortages MAY occur so hold onto your boot straps

[@tammaragill9347]

You made loading BOTH those hay bales EASY! GREAT JOB!!!!

[@HollyDolly05506]

Just for future reference, its much easier to place the hay ring around the bale than to place the bale in the hay ring. Love you guys and can't wait til Saturday for your next video.

[@jlrbhj]

There ARE so many ways to accomplish each task on the farm. After watching y'all and so many others over the years before we started farming, I thought I had a decent amount of knowledge for basic farm tasks. But... every single farm is different. Having knowledge has been really, really helpful. And I've had to experiment a lot more than I expected.

[@allanturpin2023]

I'd like to see more people planting trees along fence lines specifically for animal fodder. You can pollard trees (cut them just above the reach of your grazing livestock, and then cut the thin branches that regrow every year). The leaves of many trees are higher in protein and nutrients than grasses, and pollarded trees will not cast detrimental shade on your pastures. It can maximize space on smaller homesteads in particular, and you can plant the trees that suit your climate and type of livestock.

[@glennfoster6217]

Great comment - my thoughts exactly - but you beat me to it ! When a ferocious windstorm took down many limbs & trees - we were without electricity for 7 days - but the cattle eat like kings on the leaves & tender shoots - they're favorite choice was sassafras and persimmon

[@animistchannel2983]

Hey, great traditional idea. As a bonus, you can get into wattle & daub construction, if you want to go real medieval with it :)

[@maggiepennington5583]

Don’t plant wild cherry trees around cows if they eat the leaves it could kill them.

[@timothylongmore7325]

Mine love spruce

[@glennfoster6217]

@@animistchannel2983 that is certainly worth consideration - but would it be wrong to use electricity ?

[@denisestone8491]

Love you guys! I currently am in a bad situation where I am about to lose everything....but I have a plan. With the pandemic, I lost my job, have gone through most all of my savings and am facing homelessness. I am 57 years old with some health issues. I have seeds I plan to grow wherever I wind up. I love your farm and have a dream of my own to have that small slice of land one day. I will be starting over from little of nothing....with a smile and a dream. Thank you for your inspiration.💙💜💚🧡❤️

[@portialancaster3442]

I love your "be prepared, not scared" attitude, but you might reconsider your choice of corn as a supplemental grain. Corn really depletes soil nutrients very quickly and doesn't give much back to the soil. To raise enough corn for it to make a difference most farmers rely on heavy fertilization and pesticides. When I'm not living vicariously through homesteaders like you, I do family history research and have read dozens of farm inventories from 1750-1820. Farmers back then fed their cattle a mix of grasses not grains. Just thought I'd share that with you. Blessings!

[@tammymccaslin4787]

Perhaps they could incorporate a chicken composting system with bio char added, like Edible Acres does. They generate a ton of compost weekly. Not a literal ton, but a lot. Using the compost on the corn field would replace the nutrients the corn takes.

[@portialancaster3442]

Corn is fairly labor intensive. Harvesting acres a feed corn requires large equipment or a large family and some kind of silo for storage. Running enough chickens over that amount on acreage would be labor intensive as well; might as well skip corn and grow grasses.

[@lmd2454]

Yes, silage! Essentially fermenting grasses to feed over the winter. Brilliant idea!

[@tammymccaslin4787]

It sounds like they want to grow corn for themselves and at the same time experiment with grains.

[@zeviono4562]

Yes I'm big on family history research myself. Apparently in the 1830's my gg grandparents lived mostly on their stockpot - which they had near the fire most of the time. They would have their breakfast from it, add to it, then have dinner from it in the evening. So it was always on the go. Mostly grains with a bone added to it. He was a farm labourer so I guess thats where the grain came from - paid as part of his wages.

[@leniedejong9224]

God Bless you and your family. I pray everyday that God will help us all to have a time with out fear again. I pray for everyone. And I am still thinking we all need to pray for GODS HEALING HAND UP ON US ALL. AMEN. 🤗🙏

[@renanims6630]

Don’t forget, kitchen scraps are great to “slop” the hogs. Poultry love peelings, too! ☺️

[@jackiemcgregor7460]

Yes when I was a kid we raised pigs and my dad set it up with our school that we would get the food scraps. We would bring home 2 (it was a small private school) 5gal buckets of scraps that we fed the pigs. We only had 1 male and 1 female for breeding and usually kept only 3 of the babies and sold the other 4-8 babies. We also did grain from a bulk place.

[@reneebrown2968]

Amen

[@MsGrannyKathy]

I remember my Granddaddy "sloppin' the hogs" and was thinking the same thing about table scraps. I realize you probably don't have many table scraps or enough to feed the hogs, but you might have enough to feed the chickens.

[@reneebrown2968]

@@MsGrannyKathy that's what I'm thinking. I can feed about half of the feed my quail need with soldier fly larva from their poop. So every little bit helps. And though they may not have enough scraps they have all the scraps from their garden and any spoiled fruit falling off their fruit trees.

[@micheleolson9914]

I love that they don't waste anything, and feed the food scraps to the pigs. My aunt did the same thing. Funny story, one of my college roommates, her brother would buy the reject Cheerios from General Mills, here in Minnesota, and feed it to his pigs.

[@laureencortese8588]

Wow how peaceful ......Hope and her boys love the hay. I could watch this video of them enjoying the first hay feed. This city girl is a farm girl at ❤️.

[@gertgartenhaus8016]

when you growing that mutch sweet corn,you could silage the stoks and leafs as a winter food , rich invitamin c ,for the milk cow. this will work becorse the sweet corn is haveststed while the leafs are still green and as its best.

[@susancoulange382]

This was another great video. Thank you, Kevin and Sarah for your positive approach to life. "What if I couldn't buy animal feed" has been something I have thought about. My mantra is : is this sustainable? We've seen that what we take for granted can disappear over night. I've planted kale for the rabbits, but need to plant turnip greens for the chickens. I'm going to grow some fodder inside for the rabbits too. I have mini rex, which I grow for fun and profit and just bought NZ for meat and profit. Most of my chickens free range, but there isn't much for them to eat in the winter. Last winter my husband built 2 "mobile raised beds" which he covered with hardware cloth. I plant rye grass in these, in the run. It's the only way I figured I could plant seeds without the chickens eating the seeds. Once the grass is established, I pull the raised bed along, exposing the grass. I then plant more seeds. Only problem is it takes several weeks for the grass to grow and a few minutes for them to eat it. I console myself knowing at least they got their greens for the day. I, too, would like to know what ideas other people have for surviving on a small homestead if everything we know comes to a halt. I wish I had your energy. I'll be 72 next month so that ship has left the dock.

[@hbrws813]

Ha! We had ponies push open our hay storage area and dine royally on a hay roll before we realized it, too!! Your hay ring is upside down; get another year's use out of it by having a welder cut off that broken bottom ring. The new hay rings these days are not as strong as the old ones, thanks to cheap crap steel.

[@brianeisenga882]

I was wondering if anybody else noticed it was upside down.

[@brigittestach-wolf1206]

@@brianeisenga882 was wondering: the diagonal bars are usually for the cattle to put their head through...wouldn't be on the bottom, though....maybe a welder can fix that , so they can flip the thing

[@michaelskywalker3089]

Yes, most people seem too polite to point out that the hay ring is upside down, but that is a good point: that hay ring seems pretty solid despite the obvious corrosion.

[@Renee-sw4tb]

I do believe someone had already told them the ring is upside down.

[@brigittestach-wolf1206]

@@Renee-sw4tb Well, i believe as the real bottom side ist damaged, they cannot use it the proper way round anyway. So as long as it contains the hay, everything ist good for now...they both are crafty and resourceful, they'll find a solution as usual.

[@homesteadingpastor]

Enjoyed your video! I wish there were more people that would start homesteading/farming in our country like it use to be, and that would make the bartering process so much better and more popular. I feel like the food shortage for our animals could be a reality one day. That’s why we all need to prepare now and lean on each other for support and sharing ideas. May GOD continue to bless you guys. Y’all are one of our favorite channels on KZbin!! Thanks Pastor Lon!!

[@charlescoker7752]

Most people would starve trying to do a Homestead.

[@MySGarden]

I would!

[@carlaferrier2967]

Yes, agreed. Even I would probably fall short. So much to learn and hard to do by yourself. I have 12 dogs and 16 chickens. Trying to figure out how I'd feed everyone if things went south. Maybe dehydrated dog food supplemented with fresh meat for the dogs and likely free range the chickens if possible.

[@solsalia]

@@carlaferrier2967 I have a friend who looked up how to feed her dogs if there were not stores. She has LGD and little dogs. She found guinea pigs as a good source for food. The question I have then is what you feed them, you also could feed your famimy as they have rhe fat that is necessary for survival.

[@loboalamo]

@@carlaferrier2967 did you know everyone can eat dog food if they absolutely have too. There used be two bluejays who would fight my dog for is dogfood, everyday, every season. Just a funny visual I am remembering, dogfood trigger.☺️🤪

[@CassieDavis613]

It takes a few years and a lot of patience to get a homestead humming.

[@veemcg3682]

Hello from Northern Ireland. Just came upon your video and have become a new subscriber. I'm not a farmer but enjoyed seeing your animals and the lovely countryside. I like that you discuss potential problems and come to a decision about what you could do in different scenarios, and I'm sure when we do this in all areas of life we handle things better. None of us can control everything but we can all control some things and when we know we've done all we can we can control our anxiety. God bless you both and keep you well.

[@stanleypennock2118]

Losing feed mills is a valid concern! When I was young we had 8 mills with-in 10 miles of our farm, now there is only one! We brought it on ourselves because of the number of farms that bought and used portable grinders. It was handier and cheaper to grind our own feed right on the farm, but as the mills closed it caused us to lose a buyer for our excess grain. That drove down any profit we could make on it. Growing and harvesting you own grain is really the best and least costly, but you will need to get your corn crib and grainery ready for the harvest. Can be a lot of extra work before your 1st harvest. You should be able to find quality used planting and harvesting equipment or maybe have a neighbor pick your corn and combine your other grains. Here in Ohio good used portable feed grinders sell at auction for about $2500, but you may have a neighbor that you could hire to grind for you. You are really wise to be planning ahead because this could become a very real issue and hay only does so much! Bless you and yours!

[@cathyrowe594]

If Kevin & Sara got their own grinding equipment, that might be a nice income generating sideline for them. Something to think about anyway.

[@paulineherder5416]

@@cathyrowe594 lp

[@ronwells3310]

I’ve moved many a hay bales, without a helpmate. Nice to see couples working together.

[@kenhart6330]

Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Should be every homesteaders motto.

[@EllieChristine744]

I hope you fare well and that you do not get the trouble with no food available for your animals. I appreciate your channel so much, and most of all I appreciate that you take time to answer comment and questions, not everybody do. Bless you too! Regards from Sweden!

[@barrywest3758]

The key here is to incorporate the plan into one's everyday plan of the homestead's operation. Soon it will become just routine, a way of life. Enjoyed 👍

[@jeanetteiacovone1958]

I guess this was made before Henry got sick... look how happy he was. I hope he gets better soon

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Good morning Kevin and Sarah, enjoyed your video. I am so glad you were able to get the added property and glad you are enjoying your family being together. Have a great winter and be safe.👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@ashleeboivin4338]

This is such a good video and i appreciate you guys not only takig the time to think about it, but also sitting down and sharing it with us. I know hunting can be a touchy subject, but I would absolutely love to see more videos about hunting. People dont seem to know that that yummy meat they pick up from the store has not only been hunted, but also killed and processed to get it to the store. I think the people are starting to understand hunting is a necessity at times. And it truly shouldnt be frowned upon. Love yall and thank you so much.

[@lisa32469]

Hope looks so good! Shes such a pretty girl🥰

[@musicalatv]

Another advantage of moving the hay feeder around is that any of the seeds from the hay that aren't eaten can help reseed the lawn and grow better hay on your property. Do this in more areas so that you can have better coverage of the better grasses.

[@DDL2728]

Hilarious!! We say the exact same thing about weathermen - only job EVER that you can be wrong every day & still have a job!! 😆😆 It seems like they use to be better at "predicting" the weather. Perfect example, 10% chance of rain here Sunday, & it rained all day!! Love your videos!!

[@cynthiafisher9907]

I think you’re right, maybe the weather has gotten crazier and more unpredictable?

[@SteffieWeffy1]

Because of geo-engineering unfortunately...

[@michaelskywalker3089]

You are right. I do believe some meteorologists are better than others and can interpret the atmospheric signs better than others can and would be better utilized in the counties where precise and accurate forecasting are more critical than in the urban and suburban areas of our countries.

[@simonadunn7168]

You gave interesting and thoughtful responses to that question. Not everyone can have a homestead and do what you do. You certainly are both good teachers and appear to be good partners. I live in suburbia with a 1/4 acre lot that includes our house. But we are gardening more and more for our own vegetables and medicinal herbs year round. I enjoy your video and today especially enjoyed the hay ‘installations’ and watching Hope and the babies. Thank you.

[@spicelilycreations4348]

Hi Sarah and Kevin. I admire all the hard work you do for your homestead and family daily, giving your children great work ethics and values. I really enjoy watching your channel.

[@josorr]

I like the way they both talk with their hands!

[@monikahadfield4619]

We have been cattle farming in UK for past 60 years and feed ring use minimises the waste! Pretty important if you are trying to be self-sufficient and reduce your costs.

[@madchaos4912]

Hope and her babies are so beautiful. Happy Holidays to you kids.

[@cherylpeacock7298]

Hi Kevin and Sarah from late at night in New Zealand

[@cherylpeacock7298]

An awesome way to chill out after work and catch up with what’s happening with you

[@SteadfastTrailFarm]

Ah, beautiful New Zealand!! 🤩

[@sonjasmith3414]

@@SteadfastTrailFarm Quiet, it`s a secret, we don`t want everyone coming here.

[@SteadfastTrailFarm]

@@sonjasmith3414 🤣 too funny!!!

[@kathyfrance4368]

Our feed mill closed. We were at a loss because we couldn't find another that mixed the food. So, we started mixing our own and looked i to more natural ways to feed. The animals love it !

[@triciasklodowske5653]

Hope's hay feeder is great. Need one for the other cow's. Keeping the hay off the ground is so good. And the cover to protect from rain and snow and even wind. I have been saying for awhile now - if you can't grow it or raise it, then stock up on it. Think about if thing's never go back to the way they were 9 or 10 month's ago ( which they wont) what will you do. Wrap your brain around it now and make decision's now. Don't rely on store's always having thing's or even being open. Get ready and stay ready. Learn the thing's that you'll need soon. Thanks again for another great video. Stay safe and healthy. God bless

[@RudyRay01]

To supplement the feed for our dairy cows and rabbits we would plant an acre of field corn. When the ears started maturing we cut the stalks off close to the ground and put them, ears and all, through a shredder. We would feed about one corn stalk per cow per day while milking. The cows loved it and the corn lasted a long time.

[@cimarronpasshomestead5998]

Pray n trust the Lord Listen to Him and do it. We have one acre. Just chickens a little over 50 head right now. 2 ducks n one guinea 3 dogs n 2 cats. Big garden and Lots of canning n homemade goods. We stick to the bare essentials. Yes hunting would definitely be one of the tickets no doubt. We could feed all of us and our animals on hunting n fishing. There’s always a lot of and if or buts for everyone. Thank you sooo much for your video and info it was very Helpful. God bless✝️ and I agree do what ya can.🙌🏼🌻🌱

[@gingerreid8569]

Yes, we do have 2 ponds...needing to get restocked, but a source of fish...and we have neighbors that have hundreds of acres that they are allowing us this season to go and try and bring home a deer and wild hog. So far, no luck, but nice to have community that helps each other!

[@martyhanks5977]

Hey guys - another great video! Thanks for posting the important questions. Two of the important things we are doing here in our homestead is we have switched to Fermented Feed & compost for our chickens. The higher value FF is great for the birds, they are healthier & will produce more eggs...best part, since it’s fermented, it’s released triple the nutrients. So they Eat less...dropping our feed costs & consumption. I started a neighborhood compost business & will be using it to feed my 100+ chickens too. Everything they need is in compost & the fermented grains/feed is icing on the cake. So we have reduced our feed cost (no land to grow feed) to 1/4 what it was! Later as I get more compost, we’ll almost eliminate all feed for chickens. The extra eggs & heritage meat will be for sale or more batters! Like my beer brewing friends who through out 30 pounds of grain each time they make beer. So find brewers or a small brewery & see if you can barter for their spent grain. @LivingTraditionsHomestead we love your channel & hope you will look into compost & fermented chicken food as a way to eliminate feed costs. Good luck!! 👊🏻🤓

[@estellaeggleston1643]

Our pigs survived solely on hay! And it was the most beautiful lean meat ever, my brother said he never had pork taste so good

[@caseyrichardson8274]

Rabbits love bark. We live in northern Wisconsin. Over our long winters our rabbit herd can eat through several trees worth of branches. Yes they have their favorite kinds of trees but will eat most any tree. As we cut firewood for the following year they eat all the tops. It’s perfect. Then we use the debarked branches as easy-to-burn kindling in the wood stove.

[@DeepSouthHomestead]

Love the double hay spear. Place the bale on the ground use the hay spear to run up under the hay ring and use a short piece of chain to hold the top of the hay ring then lift it up and let it down over the hay.

[@gingerreid8569]

We have the old style hay rings (like at Tractor Supply), we lift it up on end, place the hay bale with open sides horizontal and put the ring overtop the hay...

[@rdlowman6]

Chain not required

[@richardparker8756]

Those aren't bales. They are tools. Danny you should know this.

[@straubdavid9]

@@gingerreid8569 What came first .... the hay or the hay ring (chicken or the egg thingy) Yep, your way seems the most sensical. Sometimes the solution is so obvious that it completely goes over your head ... forest for the trees deal .... take care.

[@monana8706]

Danny's way is how I learned. Keeps you from accidentally bending or breaking the hay ring.

[@tomdeschesne9391]

Dont forget oats. You would have oats to eat, grind for flour, grain for you livestock,... you have crop rotation, supply of straw for mulching, bedding, and composting. Keep on trucking guys!! Great job!

[@tsdun1942]

Kevin and Sarah thank you for all that you do! :) I love watching your videos and learning!

[@scottygoodwin4276]

Thank You both very much. Love your stories. GOD BLESS.

[@michael7423]

Hope and her calves look so beautiful, I like Hope’s bail feeder best! Everyone stay safe 😷 and keep well!

[@JohnTalbot-k6xi]

Relatives live in the Ozarks, they successfully grow Field Corn for the animals, use store bought seed that are tailored to their location (different than sweet corn). Planting every few weeks then let dry on the stocks, ears removed remainder processed into corn silage. They strip and grind the ears for kernels about 800 kernels per ear … corn starts based on the number of animals. Starts are always done in green houses because of unpredictable Ozark weather killing off their crops. Little more work but worth it … Good Luck with your Operation!!

[@carlinkay1151]

The Old Hay feeder is upside down....you probably know that...lol

[@perrywebb6694]

You beat me to it. I was tell them it was upside down.

[@nolawarren3560]

That in its own way was adorable.

[@missgg62]

Yep, was going to say the same thing...

[@degraafgoats]

It was broken and missing part of the structure so couldn't sit the other way

[@micheleolson9914]

Hope knew she was getting hay, she was so happy!

[@dawncooper4739]

Hunting frowned on? That's just crazy! My dad hunted deer my entire childhood. I think your lifestyle is fabulous!

[@animistchannel2983]

It's frowned on by KZbin to do videos about it. KZbin has some Bambi-brainwashed city-kids in charge, that came with being bought out by Google. They started shadow-blocking or demonetizing channels that showed hunting kills or processing. Personally, I think people like that should be banned from consuming any meat they didn't acquire and process of their own, until they get back in touch with reality.

[@Mrs.Patriot]

Great video and Kevin, you did a great job loading that hay into the feeders. That was so interesting to watch! God bless your family too.

[@chamelaroo4683]

Oh my goodness Hope is so nosy! 😆 She is such a good cow. The calves are getting so big! And Hudson looks like he has really become part of the little family.

[@happyheartgardening]

Love LOVE your property! When you two are sitting and we get a glimpse of what is behind you? B EAU TI FUL!!

[@dreediv]

the one thing i would add is sheep with your cows its a red meat that eats weeds and for a smaller farm they work well.

[@animistchannel2983]

The caution I've heard with sheep is that in some climates they will crop grass so short that it never gets tall enough for the cows, or it may kill some kinds of grass. It would be worth consulting with an agro-ecology specialist to be sure before making the move to mix the species.

[@idahobeef]

My grandparents grew pumpkins to feed the cows over the winter; they kept them in the barn and just cut them up when needed. That and they used hay of course as well as oats and random food like carrots.

[@Kingsmugi]

Good afternoon from Kenya 🇰🇪 east Africa its 14.08 here

[@robynrosenau5986]

I grew up with a grandpa that farmed and great uncles that owned a dairy farm as well as farmed. My best memories are of helping them on the farms as a child. I would love to have a homestead of my own.

[@wifarmchick7946]

Hay feeding.... Both ways play a role and we utilize both methods....We have a small herd like you. 8 Simmental, 4 Aberdeen Angus, 1 Jersey milk cow and 2 horses all living together. We live in NW Wisconsin. Unrolling is wonderful for helping pastures, it distributes manure and urine much more equally. We also find almost zero waste because the hay is not getting trampled and there is less competition due to space. However, after days of rain, the last thing we want to do is drive our skidsteer or tractor across pastures to unroll a bale. It tears up the pastures and makes damaging rutt's. Also, if we get 18" of snow in a given day the feed ring is located close to the barns, we don't have time to be plowing to make way to the pasture to unroll. So for us, we unroll when we can but during the deep snowy winter it's very difficult. Our feed rings are then kept in the same feed area and remain their until spring. In the summer we then scrape and pile the wasted hay and manure into large piles where we let them sit. We stir once or twice a summer and it breaks down into the most beautiful compost that we then use on our gardens. Last year I built 16 raised beds, 20" deep (4'x32'). We had to purchase ZERO fill or compost. My gardens did remarkable. With your poor soil conditions I can see the great advantages to feed-ring feeding because you will be building an abundance of concentrated compost that within 2 years you can utilize in your garden.

[@wifarmchick7946]

@The gardener they are and the best part... We know exactly what went into them. Our own hay, no spray, no chemicals. That's how were raise our animals...I can't buy trusted compost like this. ❤️

[@donnabrown1518]

My husband and I are currently raising chickens and plan to get a couple milk goats next year. Last year I grew some sweet corn, sorghum, and cowpeas in the garden and they did extremely well here in south central Missouri. I was thinking that next winter I would make a field of sorghum and cowpeas and then in the fall sow winter wheat into the same field. The corn would be grown with pole beans and squash and pumpkins "three-sisters style. I am already ready to raise our heritage breed chickens from eggs from our hens. We only have 1 1/2 acres so the idea of stacking functions in the garden is vital when thinking about raising our own animal feed.

[@markkristynichols845]

Hey great new mic's! Can totally hear when you turn your heads!!! At first I thought it was the bottom of your braid Sarah, then I figured it out 😂 ❤️ Kristy in WP😊🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@MYPERMACULTUREGARDEN]

I love how you think year to year !

[@shannandesh]

We’re in upper Wisconsin on 3 acres. We have an acre of garden and I have perfected canning and preservation. We bought 3 breeding silver fox rabbits for future meat. 14 chickens. And then after this pandemic, we decided to buy a 70 acre parcel of land with lakes stocked in fish, hunting land, etc. If s*** really hit the fan, we think we could live and survive okay.

[@darleneclark6098]

We basically did the same. Bought 25 A1 zoned land with a well, septic, old trailer(going to rehab for my oldest son and wife) and two beautiful year round spring fed creeks. Now we just have to sell our urban homestead in ct so we can build our dream homestead.

[@45Colleen1]

Those hay feeders are pretty nifty! What a great way to get them I there with the tractor. I do like Hope’s hay feeder better than the other. Thanks for sharing with us. God bless! 💜

[@catherinemilliganrn]

Try this: Lift bale off the ground and remove wrap. Set bale where you want it. Put ring over the top.

[@HansQuistorff]

For chicken feed I have found the easiest thing is winter wheat. The will eat it right off the stalk. A friend planted some for a cover crop then did not get it plowed in and the grain matured. he allowed me to mow it and stored the stalks in the barn. I would throw the chickens an arm full each day to harvest themselves. The orchard was left nicely mulched. Some grains got burried and grew over the winter. The next summer the big rooster would bend the stalks down so the small hens could peck the grains.

[@SteadfastTrailFarm]

Raining here in Virginia! Good advice with Greg! We have horses, goats, and chickens. I stock up on feed and have back up. With winter coming I am always planning and now with more uncertainties comes more planning! Thank you sooo much for sharing! ~jc

[@julieoneil1279]

love watching your video's you provide so very much information and you show everything in such a relaxing atmosphere please keep up the great work you are doing and the love of nature and natural lifestyle you are sharing with all of your viewers--

[@shannonmoseman4750]

Sprouts. I am getting into sprouting for my family but I have also heard of people that sprout the seeds that they feed their animals,corn barley etc. it would not be longterm but could be a good 1 season emergency supplement if you seasonally store grain and rotate through it.

[@scrappyquilter102]

Thank you for this. I am still in the rat race for another few years, but I have my own tiny homestead, a.k.a "the postage stamp". I have increased the number of my raised beds for growing vegetables each year and I get a lot of inspiration watching your videos.

[@TheInquisitiveFarmwife]

Wow... I can get a month out of a bale for my girl! Maybe you’ll get more than 10 days now that you don’t have the goats! Always look forward to your videos, love your honesty! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. By trading services, building relationships with other like-minded people , and sharing knowledge..... that’s how I would hopefully survive. An example would be your hay on the 1/2’s -- you trade your lands excess for their equipment and labor/knowledge (when/how to cut&bale) of hay, etc.

[@DamfinoFarm]

Not likely with two calves to feed as well.

[@royhuckaby5012]

As I was growing up we often would ask grocery stores whether we could have their discarded produce and diary products for our animals. My dad and Grandpa would be able to get pick-up loads to feed. A little more work but very productive!

[@missourigirl4101]

Great conversation and sharing of ideas. We had been thinking ahead as well planning for what may be coming. We have already planned and prepared for food, water and utilities Thanks for sharing.

[@labbrockington7854]

Everything you guys do seems to a better plan for down the rd if things got worse, didn't know that chicken's could eat hay so that so really interesting for me. We don't have farm animals but if we did we could grow hay for them also. I so enjoy your channel, we / people that watch can learn a lot if they wanted to. Think it's cool how you guys and your hay cutting farmer have such a way of sharing it's so biblical as well no wonder why you guy's are so blessed from God. God bless you and your family 🙏🤗🤗💖

[@davidepool5884]

We always sat the hay bail on the ground and then put the rack over it. The way you put that bail in the rack was definitely easier, plus the hay bail was going to fall apart when you took the wrap off.

[@scotthargraves576]

I was going to say the same thing.

[@kimberlyk1269]

I love those prancing baby cows!🥰

[@jeffmartin693]

I for one would like a fishing or hunting vid ever now and again.

[@happilyretiredmark2964]

Time for a couple hinges on that barn gate! Good stuff.

[@roli3342]

great minds think alike but since they haven't already there might be a reason they are not using hinges

[@hopechannelcat5462]

hope's feeder is a lot less wasteful.

[@perrywebb6694]

and calves can in there to reach finer hay to start eating.

[@stephaniemorie9923]

Thank you for sharing content that is relevant to the times we are experiencing. All of your points were spot on.

[@Luna_StarFery]

You could try growing field peas. They make great animal feed to supplement the corn you are growing. If you grow a variety that tastes good you can eat them too.

[@Junkinsally]

First, throw down a heat treated pallet, place round bale on pallet then roll the ring and flip onto bale. The pallet keeps the bale off the ground so the last bit stays half way decent. Grow sunflowers for the seeds for the small livestock like poultry and rabbits Just a small handful along with hay will feed a rabbit well providing essential fats and some protein. Chickens love them too. Great addition to food security on the homestead.

[@WildChildMetalMom]

Much love from Tennessee ❤

[@colinstace1758]

East Tennessee here 👍😊

[@BantiarnaMacRaghnaill]

Knoxville, here 💚

[@WildChildMetalMom]

Nashville here👋

[@colinstace1758]

@@BantiarnaMacRaghnaill Morristown 👍

[@wendyburston3132]

Tottenham Ontario Canada here

[@lindagullage3077]

Nice tractor is it new? Sara you look so healthy now God bless you and the doctors that helped you.