Raise your own 
The homestead
Hunt your own, raise your own. If you already fill the freezer from the field, livestock and poultry are the natural next step toward feeding yourself - eggs, meat, milk and honey from your own backyard or acreage. Pick an animal to see what it gives you, the space and effort it takes, and how to raise it.
Beginner Laying Hens
Beginner Meat Chickens
Beginner Ducks
Intermediate Turkeys
Beginner Quail (Coturnix)
Intermediate Geese
Intermediate Guinea Fowl
Beginner Muscovy Ducks
Intermediate Squab Pigeons
Intermediate Peafowl
Advanced Emus
Beginner Bantam Chickens
Beginner Heritage Chickens
Beginner Pekin Ducks
Beginner Khaki Campbell Ducks
Intermediate Pheasants
Advanced Ostrich
Intermediate Rhea
Beginner Rhode Island Red
Beginner Plymouth Rock
Beginner Orpington
Beginner Wyandotte
Beginner Silkie
Beginner Australorp
Beginner Brahma
Beginner Leghorn
Beginner Sussex
Beginner Marans
Intermediate Cornish Cross
Beginner Indian Runner Ducks
Beginner Ameraucana
Beginner Easter Egger
Beginner Welsummer
Beginner Barnevelder
Beginner Faverolles
Beginner Cochin
Intermediate Polish
Beginner Jersey Giant
Beginner New Hampshire Red
Beginner Delaware
Beginner Buckeye
Beginner Dominique
Intermediate Hamburg
Beginner ISA Brown
Beginner Black Sex-Link (Black Star)
Advanced Sebright Bantam
Intermediate Dorking
Beginner Langshan
Intermediate Campine
Intermediate Minorca
Intermediate Blue Andalusian
Beginner Cayuga Duck
Beginner Rouen Duck
Beginner Welsh Harlequin Duck
Beginner Ancona Duck
Intermediate Bourbon Red Turkey
Intermediate Narragansett Turkey
Intermediate Broad Breasted White Turkey
Intermediate Royal Palm Turkey
Intermediate Blue Slate Turkey
Intermediate Beltsville Small White Turkey
Intermediate Embden Goose
Intermediate Toulouse Goose
Intermediate African Goose
Intermediate Chinese Goose
Intermediate Pilgrim Goose
Intermediate Sebastopol Goose
Beginner Meat Rabbits
Intermediate Goats
Intermediate Sheep
Intermediate Pigs
Advanced Beef Cattle
Intermediate Alpacas
Intermediate Dairy Goats
Beginner KuneKune Pigs
Advanced Dexter Cattle
Intermediate Nigerian Dwarf Goat
Intermediate Boer Goat
Intermediate Angora Goat
Advanced Jersey Cow
Intermediate Highland Cattle
Intermediate Berkshire Pigs
Beginner Dorper Sheep
Intermediate Merino Sheep
Beginner Katahdin Sheep
Intermediate Angora Rabbits
Beginner Guinea Pigs
Intermediate Nubian Goat
Intermediate Saanen Goat
Beginner Pygmy Goat
Beginner Kiko Goat
Intermediate Suffolk Sheep
Beginner Jacob Sheep
Intermediate Icelandic Sheep
Intermediate Tamworth Pig
Intermediate Mangalitsa Pig
Intermediate Hereford Cattle
Intermediate Alpine Goat
Intermediate LaMancha Goat
Beginner Shetland Sheep
Intermediate Romney Sheep
Beginner New Zealand Rabbit
Beginner Flemish Giant Rabbit
Advanced Guernsey Cow
Intermediate Oberhasli Goat
Intermediate Toggenburg Goat
Intermediate Hampshire Sheep
Intermediate Barbados Blackbelly Sheep
Intermediate Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig
Intermediate Hereford Pig
Intermediate Duroc Pig
Intermediate Yorkshire Pig
Intermediate Large Black Pig
Advanced Angus Cattle
Advanced Belted Galloway Cattle
Advanced Holstein Cattle
Advanced Texas Longhorn Cattle
Beginner Californian Rabbit
Beginner Rex Rabbit
Beginner Silver Fox Rabbit
Beginner American Chinchilla Rabbit
Bees & Guardians
Honey, pollination, and the animals that protect the rest.
Open the full Bees & Guardians page
Micro-livestock
Insects, worms and snails - protein, compost and animal feed from the smallest of spaces.
Open the full Micro-livestock page
Keep predators off your stock
The fastest way to lose a flock is a coyote, fox, raccoon or loose dog working the fence line at night. Good fencing and a guardian animal stop most of it - and when the pressure stays high, that is where the hunting side of Huntervale earns its keep.
How to protect your stockExplore the homestead
What should I raise?Match animals to your space, goal and experience.
Predator protectionID the threat and build a layered defense.
Homestead kitchenProcess eggs, meat, milk and honey into food.
Coop & run sizeHow much space your flock really needs.
Calculators & helpers
Egg hatch dateHatch, candling and lockdown dates by species.
Feed costHow much feed your animals eat, and what it costs.
Flock sizeHow many hens for the eggs you want each week.
Pasture stocking rateHow many animals your land can carry.
Breed selectorThe best chicken breeds for your goal.
Flock health checkerCommon poultry symptoms and what to do.
Homestead basics
Poultry feeder Less spilled feed means fewer rodents. Check price Poultry waterer Clean water is the daily job that cannot slip. Check price Electric fence kit Moving stock is easier than building a fixed fence. Check price
Chore boots Mud, manure and a hose-down at the door - Muck's farm boots, straight from the maker. Shop at Muck Boot Links go to Amazon or a partner store (such as OpticsPlanet) and may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We link gear types, not sponsors' picks: you choose the exact product.