Summer’s hard on chickens—especially in hot, humid states. But sometimes we’re the ones making it worse without realizing it. These coop habits might be adding more heat, stink, and stress than necessary. Not Enough Ventilation If the coop doesn’t breathe, the heat builds up fast. Chickens don’t sweat—they pant. And if there’s no cross-breeze or…
Even if your barn seems buttoned up during the day, there’s a good chance something’s snooping around once the sun goes down. And a few small habits can practically roll out a welcome mat for every raccoon, coyote, or stray dog in the area. Leaving Feed Accessible Grain, cracked corn, and sweet feed left out…
You might think your feeding routine is solid, but some small habits are enough to invite a whole pest party. Roaches, ants, flies—you name it, they’ll find it if you’re not careful. Leaving Feed Bowls Out Too Long It doesn’t take long for leftover crumbs or spills to bring bugs in. If the animals aren’t…
Even if they don’t come inside, animals on the homestead have a way of tracking mess right up to the house. And sometimes that mess finds its way inside too. If things feel grubbier than usual, this might be why. Chickens Dust Bathing Too Close All that scratching and flapping kicks up dirt—and it doesn’t…
If your chickens are always somewhere they’re not supposed to be—like your porch, garage, garden, or neighbor’s yard—there’s usually a reason. And they’re not always trying to escape. Sometimes, they’re just following food, shade, or a bad habit you didn’t realize you taught them. Your Fence Isn’t High Enough A short fence might keep predators…
Bringing animals onto land adds a whole new layer of needs. It’s not just about fencing or feed—you want your property to actually work for the animals and make their care easier on you. These features aren’t fancy, but they make daily life smoother and safer. A Reliable Water Source Near Every Pen Hauling buckets…
Moving to the country means letting go of some old ways. These habits might work in town, but they’ll make life harder when you’re living on land. Leaving Lights On Everywhere Out here, you’ll notice the electric bill more—especially if you’re on solar or a tight budget. Leaving lights blazing in every room like you’re…
Living off a gravel or dirt road is part of rural life—but it’s not without its challenges. These are the things that’ll test your patience fast when there’s no concrete under your tires. Grocery Runs Every trip into town feels longer when the road’s rough. You’ll start rethinking that “quick errand” once you’ve bounced through…
Even if you’ve got a few acres, the way you set things up can make it all feel smaller than it should. These mistakes eat up usable space fast and make daily life feel tight. Scattering Projects All Over A coop here, garden there, shed on the far side—spreading everything out makes it harder to…
Ignoring the “small stuff” on your land usually means paying more for it later. These little oversights might not seem urgent—until they’re suddenly hard to manage. Water That Doesn’t Drain Right Even a shallow rut or low spot can turn into a mud pit after one storm. If water doesn’t flow away from your structures,…