You might not live on a farm or ranch but still have dreams of raising chickens. Homesteading isn’t just for those who live in the country, as you can get started in your backyard in the suburbs or even a bustling city with the right setup and poultry supplies from Tractor Supply. As you explore the homesteading lifestyle, follow these tips for a smooth transition.
What Is Homesteading?
With grocery stores and restaurants all over the place, it can be easy to forget where food comes from – farms. What draws people to homesteading is its emphasis on self-sufficiency. People get closer to their food by adopting farming practices, even if only on a smaller scale at first. What’s more, homesteading is incredibly rewarding for those who aspire to simpler ways of living.
It’s not just about growing your own food, either, which is part of why it’s possible to be a homesteader even if you’re in the middle of a metropolitan area. For some, living more sustainably and frugally also defines homesteading. You might create your own clothing or work on crafts, which, along with food, can become sources of income.
The most important thing to remember about homesteading is that it’s not an exact science. People living in cities and suburbs might have limitations compared to those on farms and ranches, but this can also create unique opportunities. This is your own journey with your own goals, and your vision might expand over time as you adopt more and more homesteading practices.
Steps for Getting Started with Homesteading
You might have a lot of ideas for homesteading, but make sure you do your research first, as it’s a more involved undertaking than it seems at first. Include the whole family in the decision, as this is an all-hands-on-deck lifestyle. If, for example, your partner doesn’t seem as interested in doing the work as you are, it will likely be more challenging to homestead on your own. Find books or online resources about homesteading and ask any friends who’ve already adopted homesteading for insight.
You’ve spent time learning more about homesteading and you’re sold, so where do you begin? As mentioned, you don’t necessarily have to sell your home and move out to the country (although some eventually will). Instead, consider this list as a way to gradually become more of a homesteader over time.
Budget for Your Homesteading Goals
You might intend to quit your job and become a full-time homesteader. If not, your path to homesteading likely involves small changes over time, but in either case, having a budget is essential. Your budget shouldn’t go exclusively to buying new land if that’s your goal, because you’ll need to think about purchasing supplies and equipment, plus investing in tools. Common items for homesteaders include livestock and related supplies, a range of lawn and garden tools and resources for home improvement. Don’t forget utilities and taxes, and having an emergency fund gives you peace of mind when accidents happen.
Survey Your Property
You might already live in a rural area and could have more property available for homesteading. However, you still want to plan effectively, so assess the land to determine where you might put a greenhouse, chicken coops and pens and more. If you’re going to buy livestock, what kind of handling equipment will you need to accommodate them?
Depending on where you live, there might be some restrictions about the types of structures you can have on your property. Look into the zoning laws to ensure your journey into homesteading isn’t disrupted by legal issues.
Don’t Be Discouraged About Starting Small
When land is limited, you might wonder how to begin homesteading, but you don’t have to wait until you can move. Whether you live in a planned community in the suburbs or a small apartment in the big city, here are some creative ways to start your homestead:
- Exercise your green thumb with a garden in the backyard to grow flowers, bushes and even trees if you have the space.
- Put window boxes outside an apartment window that gets a lot of sun and plant herbs or vegetable seeds.
- Clean out a fireplace and chimney that hasn’t been used for years and start burning wood.
- Consider beekeeping or raising chickens in the backyard.
Local bylaws might prevent certain homesteading activities, as well as guidelines outlined in your lease agreement or a homeowner’s association policy. Always look up possible regulations before getting into more involved homesteading activities, such as raising animals.
Try Out Different Methods for Preserving Food
When you purchase food from the grocery store, manufacturers often already incorporate preservatives into the ingredients. Since homesteading might include growing your own food, you’ll need to explore preservation methods to ensure meals don’t go to waste.
With the many ways to preserve food, it can be overwhelming to decide which is the best. One approach is to test out different methods before settling on one that works well for the food you grow. Some common food preservation techniques include:
- Freeze-drying: Involves freezing food and removing ice via sublimation, a process that turns ice into vapor
- Freezing: Slows the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria that might cause spoiling while preserving flavor and texture
- Fermenting: Uses bacteria, yeast and other microorganisms that convert carbs into organic acids when placed under anaerobic conditions
- Pressure canning: Relies on high temperatures and specialized equipment to preserve veggies, meat, dairy and other low-acid foods
- Water bath canning: Involves putting high-acid foods (fruits and some veggies) in canning jars and heating them in boiling water to eliminate microorganisms that cause spoiling
Besides preserving food, you might wish to pull out your old cookbook or invest in some new recipes. Between veggies, meat and herbs, you can whip up delicious soups, casseroles and other dishes that can become family and holiday favorites.
Prepare to Take Care of Animals
There’s a significant difference between caring for plants and supporting animals. Do you intend to bring large animals onto your homestead, such as horses, cows or sheep? Those in the suburbs or city environments might only be able to accommodate poultry or bees.
The kinds of livestock supplies you need will likely differ depending on the animal(s), but one of the most crucial considerations is their health and wellness. You might have some experience with barnyard creatures but not veterinary knowledge, so find out about veterinarians in the area who have expertise in treating large or farm animals. Determine if they’re accepting new patients and their fees (as this also should be part of your budget). If they aren’t accepting new patients, they might have referrals to other veterinary practices in the area.
Some homesteaders want to take care of their animals themselves. If you’re one of them, you will need:
- The proper livestock veterinary supplies, including first aid and wound care for treating injuries
- Products for responding to specific health concerns, such as eye and ear care
- Dewormers and vaccines for preventing parasites and common diseases
Homesteading for Beginners: Raising Chickens
Many people start with chickens, as they don’t require the same capacity as raising other animals. Plus, these lovely birds can provide eggs and meat if your goal is to grow (and maybe sell) food. To bring chickens onto your homestead, make sure you have the following items:
- Chicken pens and coops: Keep them safe and contained in coops and pens, with accessories such as poultry odor control for maintenance.
- Chicken nesting boxes: Provide hens with a secure space within the coop or pen to lay eggs.
- Chick brooders: Give chicks shelter and warmth for their well-being during the first few weeks of their life.
- Coop heaters: When temperatures drop, coop heaters ensure they stay warm and comfortable.
- Poultry containment parts and security: These go a step above coops and pens for safeguarding chickens from predators and wandering off.
- Chicken wire and poultry netting: Keep birds contained – or prevent free-range poultry from tampering with gardens – with these containment parts.
- Poultry bedding: From shavings for cushioning to nesting pads and herbs to help with egg production, you can ensure your birds stay comfortable.
- Chicken feed and treats: Ensure they get adequate nutrition with poultry feed and reward them with treats. For birds that like to go after their food, consider live bait.
- Chicken feeders and waterers: Offer them designated areas to eat and drink with feeders and waterers, plus necessary accessories such as storage, scoops, feed grinders and other parts.
- Poultry health and wellness: Protect them from pests and parasites with dewormers and fly and pest control, respond to emergencies with poultry first aid and add to their nutrition with vitamins and supplements.
- Egg hatching supplies: Tractor Supply incubators facilitate the healthy development and hatching of eggs, and you can explore incubator parts and accessories, plus egg collecting supplies to assist with these tasks.
- Poultry processing and identification: Keep track of your flock with ID bands, use processing equipment for meat production and move them around with ease using poultry carriers.
- Chicken toys, swings and perches: Who says poultry can’t have fun? Stimulate their minds and bodies with elements that add interest in the coop or pen.
Composting
Composting completes the cycle of self-sufficiency that’s a hallmark of homesteading. It takes organic food scraps, leaves and more and turns it into compost that can help enhance soil for growing crops and plants. You’ll likely have a countertop compost container in the kitchen for temporarily holding scraps until you move them to the outdoor compost bin. All it takes is time and some periodic mixing of the decomposing materials before you have soil-enriching compost.
Begin Your Homesteading Journey with Tractor Supply
The beauty of homesteading is that there’s no right or wrong. That means you can get started whether you own a farm or ranch with acres of land, live in a suburban community or dwell in the heart of the city. Wherever you live, one thing is certain – you need homesteading supplies, and you can find them in our wide range of products for gardening, farming, livestock and more. Visit your local Tractor Supply store today or browse our inventory online.