Tag: Bear River

Benefits of Deep Bedding

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Photo by Bethany Szentesi on Unsplash

Deep bedding is a low-maintenance, cost-effective method for managing animal housing on a small homestead. It involves layering organic materials (such as straw, wood shavings, or leaves) in an animal shelter, allowing waste to accumulate while being naturally composted in place. Here are some key benefits:

1. Improved Animal Health & Comfort

*  Provides a warm, dry, and soft surface for animals, reducing stress and injuries.

* Helps prevent foot problems and joint strain, especially in livestock like pigs, goats, and chickens.

* Reduces ammonia buildup, improving air quality and respiratory health.

2. Efficient Waste Management

* Manages manure effectively by absorbing moisture and odors.

* Reduces the frequency of cleaning, saving time and labor.

* The bedding material slowly decomposes, creating nutrient-rich compost.

3. Cost Savings

* Reduces the need for frequent bedding changes, cutting down on material costs.

* Less labor-intensive than daily mucking out, saving time.

* Can be made with locally available or free materials like leaves, grass clippings, or wood chips.

4. Compost Creation & Soil Improvement

* The deep bedding process creates valuable compost that can be used in gardens.

* Provides a natural way to recycle animal waste into nutrient-rich soil amendments.

* Encourages microbial activity, promoting a healthy decomposition process.

5. Odor & Pest Control

* Proper layering and aeration help control ammonia buildup and strong odors.

* Reduces flies and other pests by keeping waste contained and decomposing efficiently.

6. Cold Weather Benefits

* Acts as natural insulation, keeping animals warm in winter.

* The composting process generates heat, providing an extra source of warmth.

* Reduces exposure to cold, damp conditions that can lead to illness.

7. Sustainable & Eco-Friendly

* Utilizes organic waste materials efficiently, minimizing waste.

* Encourages a closed-loop system of nutrient recycling on the homestead.

* Supports regenerative agriculture practices. 


Learn How We Make Deep Bedding and Turn it into Affordable, Natural, Organic Fertilizer 


Recommended Reading from the Brain Hurlburt Bookshop:

The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition
The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition (E-Book $3.99)

Roscoe and Maple Working as Dog Team for First Time

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Roscoe and Maole pulling the Toboggan for the firt time.

I’ve never had a real Dog Sled, or Team, but always dreamed about it! I’ve been able to train Roscoe to help me pull feed and water for the animals on the toboggan. Roscoe also helps me haul and bring in Firewood. Imagine what we can do when Maple and Roscoe really get things worked out, and we can do even more!  Not sure I’ll ever run the Iditarod, which was one of my somewhat wistful dreams, but together we can accomplish great things! 

Watch this video to see what a good job they did today…

It’s also so nice to see Maple and Roscoe enjoying themselves outside. Maple has only been with us about 5 weeks. She’s come so far! When she come she suffered from separation anxiety and was super hyper. She definitely still has room for improvement, but she’s come so far! She’s settled down, a lot. She’s learning to listen, and lay down when it’s time, and respond when it’s appropriate! Looking forward to see what Maple and Roscoe do in the days to come! 


Recommended Reading from the Brain Hurlburt Bookshop: 

Book: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod

mmm

 

Metering Out The Hay

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Making Hay (1872) Winslow Homer (American, 1836-

In a Post, earlier this month, Moving an 800 lb Hay Bale by Hand, I showed the size of Round Bales we get and it also shows how Is how I roll it out. Now, in this Post, I’m going to explain how I meter out the hay so that I always feed my animals the same amount, and make my bale last a set number of days! I do this using pallets! 

Metering Out The Hay

It occurred to me that each Pallet is about a Meter (39”) wide and 48” or 4 Feet Wide, 

Which made me think of the saying, “to meter out”. Which, according to Webster’s Dictionary is to,

“to give (something) to the people who one decides should get it : to give out or distribute (something)”.

I had never made a connection between the two before. Although, at least in this case, it makes perfect sense! 

Actually, while these Pallets are about a Meter wide, I actually roll the hay the other way, From end to end, or bottom to top, which is 48 inches. 

Then, after rolling it out, I roll up the amount from one Pallet. That is the amount for each the Goats, and Sheep. 

To be honest, the first couple of Bales I did this way were more by fluke than on purpose, but it worked so well, my 800 lb Bales lasted about 3 weeks, or 21 days. Which means about 38 lbs per day. The estimated combined weight of our 7 sheep is 575 lbs. While the goats weigh in at about 450 lbs total for all five. So, a total combined weight of about 1,025 lbs. Goats require about 4% of their body weight, and sheep at least 3%. So, our 800 lb bale lasting 21 days means we’re feeding and average of about 3.7% of their combined body weight. While these are just rough numbers, I love that it works out almost to the day every time, and it seems like it’s keeping the animals in pretty good shape, we also supplement their hay with a little feed, and some treats like fruits and vegetables. We do our best to help keep everybody happy! 


Recommended Reading from the Brian Hurlburt Bookshop: 

Book: Raising Goats Naturally

Raising Goats Naturally

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When we got started with Goats at Briden Farm we just jumped right in! Actually we’d had Goats before so it made it a bit easier. Actually we’d had moved the goats in before we actually lived here! However, it may have been beneficial if we had read a book! Perhaps …

Book: Raising Goats Naturally

Much of what is in this book we’ve learned through years of trial and error! It’s probably cost us far more than the cost of the book! So, here’s Your chance to Learn, if not from our mistakes, at least from a Book that will help You work with nature to raise goats to produce milk, cheese, meat, fertilizer, leather, fiber, and soap – all without relying on drugs or following the factory farm model. That’s more than We do! So, pretty sure You’ll more than get Your moneys worth, and perhaps more importantly, Save You hours of Frustration! 

The Book also includes: 

  • Breed-specific descriptions to help you choose the right goats for your goals and lifestyle
  • Detailed information on housing, fencing, breeding, health, milking, and nutrition
  • Complete recipes and instructions for making your own cheese, dairy products, and soap, as well as cooking with goat meat.

We’d be glad to hear Your Book Review in the Comments!


More Recommended Reading…

Recommended Reading from the Brian Hurlburt Bookshop
Shop Now at the Brian Hurlburt Bookshop