Recent Blog Posts Showing 101 - 125 of 229 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 last » Maintaining Horse Hydration: The Roles of Water and Salt Keeping your horse hydrated is a key component in keeping him healthy. There are several ways to ensure that your horse drinks enough and maintains hydration. Read more Barn Winterization Checklist Whether you farm just a few acres, raise any type of livestock or oversee a large commercial agricultural operation, your barn is a critical structure in winter. It shelters your stock from cold, protects your gear from snow and ice and stores supplies for storms. Because it is such an important... How to Make Pumpkin Planters Pumpkins are the ultimate autumn decoration, but you can do so much more than just pile them around or carve jack-o-lanterns. Pumpkin planters are easy to create and there are many ways to use them beautifully for all your fall decorating. Pick Your Pumpkin While any pumpkin can be carved as a... Refeeding the Malnourished Horse Starved horses can be a product of owner ignorance or economic hardship. Regardless of the reason, a horse may end up in a debilitated state. The goal for the new caretaker is to help the horse return to good health and appropriate body weight as quickly and safely as possible. For responsible... How to Prune Fruit Trees When it comes to fruit trees there is nothing more important than pruning. Pruning your tree will be essential in getting off to the right start. If fruit trees are left unpruned, they may struggle in growth. Even worse, if there is a drought or another unexpected issue they are likely to not grow... Helping Physically Challenged Pets Every pet owner wants their animal companion – no matter what its breed or species – to live a long, happy life. Unfortunately, even the best cared for pets can develop special needs and physical handicaps that limit their abilities. If this happens, there are many ways pet owners can help their... Summer Exercise Ideas to Enjoy With Your Pet Some form of exercise should be a part of every person’s daily routine. With the warm weather still holding strong, there’s no better time to be outside, breaking a sweat, and soaking up some sun. It’s an even greater time to start exercising and enjoying physical activity with your pet. Before... Giving Your Chickens a Dust Bath A dust bath is more than a fun game or occasional entertainment for your chickens – it is an essential part of grooming to keep the birds' skin and feathers in peak condition and free of mites, fleas, lice and other parasites. Fortunately, it is not difficult to give your chickens a dust bath to... What Is Bugging Your Garden? Many gardeners have a love-hate relationship with the bugs in their garden. There are insects that are undeniably beneficial and great residents, as they enhance pollination, improve soil quality and defend plants against more aggressive, harmful bugs and other wildlife. Other insects, however, can... Ideas for Decreasing Heat Stress in Horses As summer drags on, heat can become a serious problem for many horses. The primary way horses cool themselves is through sweating. While the exact mechanisms for inducing sweat production in horses are not yet fully understood, some experts believe that prolonged, consistently high sweat rates can... Best Ways to Get Rid of and Prevent Fleas and Ticks Fleas and ticks are no one's favorite guests, but dealing with these pests is an inevitable part of pet ownership. Fortunately, there are easy ways to get rid of fleas and ticks and prevent them from coming back. The Problems With Fleas and Ticks Fleas and ticks are more than just an itchy... Keep Your Horses Free of Parasites Inside and out, parasites are bad news for horses. They can carry disease, cause skin irritation, sores and ulcers or lead to anemia, colic, diarrhea, weight loss, lethargy and a range of other problems. A parasite-infested horse may have a dull, patchy coat and will not be able to work as hard or... Tips for Placing Your Hummingbird Feeder A hummingbird feeder can bring great joy and amazing hummingbird activity to your backyard, but you need to position the feeder properly so you don't miss an instant of the action. Where should you put your hummingbird feeder? Why Placement Matters Because hummingbirds are so tiny and fly so... Adding New Chicks to Your Flock Whether you need to replace aging hens, want to increase the diversity of your poultry or just need a few more chickens to meet your needs or increase your profits, you must take great care when adding new chicks to your flock. Fortunately, if you understand the needs of new chicks and the... Common Chick Diseases to Look Out For A healthy chick will grow strong and be a productive member of your flock, but a sick chick can quickly infect other chicks or introduce diseases to the rest of your poultry. Left untreated, many chick diseases have alarmingly high mortality rates, but fortunately it can be easy to spot diseases so... How to Raise Goats on Your Small Farm Goats can be a delightful, productive and profitable addition to your small farm. To make the most of goats, however, you have to be prepared to meet their needs. Is your farm ready for goats? Why You Need Goats If you don't have goats on your farm, you're missing out on a wide range of profitable... Tips on Bottle Feeding Calves, Lambs and Goats No matter what type of livestock you raise, bottle feeding hungry youngsters is occasionally necessary. It doesn't have to be a hassle, however, and there are many ways to make bottle feeding calves, lambs and goats easy and enjoyable for both you and the animals. Why Bottle Feed? While regular... How Exercise Affects Nutrient Requirements of the Performance Horse When feeding a performance horse, the goal is to provide adequate fuel for energy expenditure, replenish nutrients required for muscle function and repair, and support optimal health through a balanced diet. Dr. Vineyard discusses specific nutrient requirements affected by exercise and how these... Cinderblock Gardening Cinderblock gardening is all the rage for a quick, easy combination of container gardens and raised bed gardening. But what do you need to know about this technique and is it right for your garden needs and style? About Cinderblock Gardening Simply put, cinderblock gardening is using concrete... Litter Box Training Tips for Rabbits Rabbits have the potential to be very domestic creatures given proper care and training. Like cats, rabbits can be litter trained which is why many owners choose not to cage them and allow them to run free around the house. The notion that rabbits are dirty creatures is a common misconception. By... 2017 Garden Trends Gardening is an ancient art, hobby and passion, but there is always something new to try. From new cultivars to innovative techniques to completely rethought garden designs, the ever-changing nature of gardening can make it overwhelming to discover new trends and learn which ones may become your... Tips to Keep Pets and Christmas Trees Separate In many homes, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree is the undisputed centerpiece of holiday decorations. Unfortunately, the garlands, tinsel, lights, and ornaments are just as attractive to pets, but can be dangerous if cats and dogs decide this unusual tree is a new and fascinating toy. There... December Garden Ideas It may seem like there is no gardening to do during the holiday season, but in reality there is still plenty to keep enthusiastic gardeners busy even when the weather outside is frightful. Gardening in December means… Pruning for Natural Decorations Pruning berry-laden twigs, lush pine boughs and... How Supplements Can Benefit Your Horse Ideally, a natural grazing diet would meet all of your horse's nutritional needs, but that isn't always possible or practical. How, then, do you know if supplements are necessary, which ones may be best and how they can benefit your horse? Why You Might Need to Consider Supplements There are many... Autumn Cow Calf Management Tips Here are some general cow-calf management reminders for the fall season. This information has been adapted from the “Beef Cow Herd Calendar”1 developed by the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service. October Beginning in late October or November, provide supplemental feed for...
Maintaining Horse Hydration: The Roles of Water and Salt Keeping your horse hydrated is a key component in keeping him healthy. There are several ways to ensure that your horse drinks enough and maintains hydration. Read more
Barn Winterization Checklist Whether you farm just a few acres, raise any type of livestock or oversee a large commercial agricultural operation, your barn is a critical structure in winter. It shelters your stock from cold, protects your gear from snow and ice and stores supplies for storms. Because it is such an important...
How to Make Pumpkin Planters Pumpkins are the ultimate autumn decoration, but you can do so much more than just pile them around or carve jack-o-lanterns. Pumpkin planters are easy to create and there are many ways to use them beautifully for all your fall decorating. Pick Your Pumpkin While any pumpkin can be carved as a...
Refeeding the Malnourished Horse Starved horses can be a product of owner ignorance or economic hardship. Regardless of the reason, a horse may end up in a debilitated state. The goal for the new caretaker is to help the horse return to good health and appropriate body weight as quickly and safely as possible. For responsible...
How to Prune Fruit Trees When it comes to fruit trees there is nothing more important than pruning. Pruning your tree will be essential in getting off to the right start. If fruit trees are left unpruned, they may struggle in growth. Even worse, if there is a drought or another unexpected issue they are likely to not grow...
Helping Physically Challenged Pets Every pet owner wants their animal companion – no matter what its breed or species – to live a long, happy life. Unfortunately, even the best cared for pets can develop special needs and physical handicaps that limit their abilities. If this happens, there are many ways pet owners can help their...
Summer Exercise Ideas to Enjoy With Your Pet Some form of exercise should be a part of every person’s daily routine. With the warm weather still holding strong, there’s no better time to be outside, breaking a sweat, and soaking up some sun. It’s an even greater time to start exercising and enjoying physical activity with your pet. Before...
Giving Your Chickens a Dust Bath A dust bath is more than a fun game or occasional entertainment for your chickens – it is an essential part of grooming to keep the birds' skin and feathers in peak condition and free of mites, fleas, lice and other parasites. Fortunately, it is not difficult to give your chickens a dust bath to...
What Is Bugging Your Garden? Many gardeners have a love-hate relationship with the bugs in their garden. There are insects that are undeniably beneficial and great residents, as they enhance pollination, improve soil quality and defend plants against more aggressive, harmful bugs and other wildlife. Other insects, however, can...
Ideas for Decreasing Heat Stress in Horses As summer drags on, heat can become a serious problem for many horses. The primary way horses cool themselves is through sweating. While the exact mechanisms for inducing sweat production in horses are not yet fully understood, some experts believe that prolonged, consistently high sweat rates can...
Best Ways to Get Rid of and Prevent Fleas and Ticks Fleas and ticks are no one's favorite guests, but dealing with these pests is an inevitable part of pet ownership. Fortunately, there are easy ways to get rid of fleas and ticks and prevent them from coming back. The Problems With Fleas and Ticks Fleas and ticks are more than just an itchy...
Keep Your Horses Free of Parasites Inside and out, parasites are bad news for horses. They can carry disease, cause skin irritation, sores and ulcers or lead to anemia, colic, diarrhea, weight loss, lethargy and a range of other problems. A parasite-infested horse may have a dull, patchy coat and will not be able to work as hard or...
Tips for Placing Your Hummingbird Feeder A hummingbird feeder can bring great joy and amazing hummingbird activity to your backyard, but you need to position the feeder properly so you don't miss an instant of the action. Where should you put your hummingbird feeder? Why Placement Matters Because hummingbirds are so tiny and fly so...
Adding New Chicks to Your Flock Whether you need to replace aging hens, want to increase the diversity of your poultry or just need a few more chickens to meet your needs or increase your profits, you must take great care when adding new chicks to your flock. Fortunately, if you understand the needs of new chicks and the...
Common Chick Diseases to Look Out For A healthy chick will grow strong and be a productive member of your flock, but a sick chick can quickly infect other chicks or introduce diseases to the rest of your poultry. Left untreated, many chick diseases have alarmingly high mortality rates, but fortunately it can be easy to spot diseases so...
How to Raise Goats on Your Small Farm Goats can be a delightful, productive and profitable addition to your small farm. To make the most of goats, however, you have to be prepared to meet their needs. Is your farm ready for goats? Why You Need Goats If you don't have goats on your farm, you're missing out on a wide range of profitable...
Tips on Bottle Feeding Calves, Lambs and Goats No matter what type of livestock you raise, bottle feeding hungry youngsters is occasionally necessary. It doesn't have to be a hassle, however, and there are many ways to make bottle feeding calves, lambs and goats easy and enjoyable for both you and the animals. Why Bottle Feed? While regular...
How Exercise Affects Nutrient Requirements of the Performance Horse When feeding a performance horse, the goal is to provide adequate fuel for energy expenditure, replenish nutrients required for muscle function and repair, and support optimal health through a balanced diet. Dr. Vineyard discusses specific nutrient requirements affected by exercise and how these...
Cinderblock Gardening Cinderblock gardening is all the rage for a quick, easy combination of container gardens and raised bed gardening. But what do you need to know about this technique and is it right for your garden needs and style? About Cinderblock Gardening Simply put, cinderblock gardening is using concrete...
Litter Box Training Tips for Rabbits Rabbits have the potential to be very domestic creatures given proper care and training. Like cats, rabbits can be litter trained which is why many owners choose not to cage them and allow them to run free around the house. The notion that rabbits are dirty creatures is a common misconception. By...
2017 Garden Trends Gardening is an ancient art, hobby and passion, but there is always something new to try. From new cultivars to innovative techniques to completely rethought garden designs, the ever-changing nature of gardening can make it overwhelming to discover new trends and learn which ones may become your...
Tips to Keep Pets and Christmas Trees Separate In many homes, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree is the undisputed centerpiece of holiday decorations. Unfortunately, the garlands, tinsel, lights, and ornaments are just as attractive to pets, but can be dangerous if cats and dogs decide this unusual tree is a new and fascinating toy. There...
December Garden Ideas It may seem like there is no gardening to do during the holiday season, but in reality there is still plenty to keep enthusiastic gardeners busy even when the weather outside is frightful. Gardening in December means… Pruning for Natural Decorations Pruning berry-laden twigs, lush pine boughs and...
How Supplements Can Benefit Your Horse Ideally, a natural grazing diet would meet all of your horse's nutritional needs, but that isn't always possible or practical. How, then, do you know if supplements are necessary, which ones may be best and how they can benefit your horse? Why You Might Need to Consider Supplements There are many...
Autumn Cow Calf Management Tips Here are some general cow-calf management reminders for the fall season. This information has been adapted from the “Beef Cow Herd Calendar”1 developed by the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service. October Beginning in late October or November, provide supplemental feed for...
