Orry

Hatching your own chicks at home is one of the most rewarding parts of raising a backyard flock. I have spent the last three seasons testing incubators across small batches and large hatches, and the right machine makes the difference between a 50% hatch rate and a 90%+ hatch rate. When you control temperature, humidity, … Read more

Raising baby chicks is one of the most rewarding parts of backyard poultry keeping, but those first few weeks are make-or-break. Chicks arrive from the hatchery unable to regulate their own body temperature, which means the brooder you choose directly impacts their survival, growth, and stress levels. After testing heating plates, pop-up pens, and full … Read more

If you have ever spent 30 minutes hand-plucking a single chicken on processing day, you already understand why the search for the best poultry pluckers has become a near-obsession for homesteaders and small-farm owners. Hand plucking is slow, tedious, and physically punishing work. A quality chicken plucking machine turns that grueling half-hour chore into a … Read more

Winter hits hard on the farm, and nothing tests your setup quite like keeping water from turning into a solid block of ice. I have spent years dealing with frozen buckets, broken heaters, and cattle going thirsty on sub-zero mornings. After testing dozens of products across multiple winters, I put together this guide to the … Read more

Starting your first hive is exciting, but figuring out what equipment you actually need can feel overwhelming. That is exactly why we spent weeks researching, comparing, and testing the best beekeeping starter kits available right now. Whether you want a complete package with hive boxes, tools, and a bee suit, or just the hive itself, … Read more

Starting your first honey bee colony is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can pick up. I still remember unboxing my first beehive kit three years ago, nervous and excited, with zero idea what a queen excluder actually did. What I learned quickly is that having the right starter equipment makes or breaks your … Read more

Harvesting honey by hand is slow, messy, and frankly exhausting. That is exactly why we spent three months testing the best honey extractors on the market, tracking spin time, build quality, honey recovery rate, and ease of cleaning across eight popular models. Whether you keep two hives in your backyard or manage a growing apiary … Read more

Keeping livestock contained is one of the most important jobs on any farm, and the right fence charger makes all the difference. Whether you are running cattle across 500 acres or managing a small goat paddock, the best electric fence chargers for livestock deliver a sharp, safe pulse that trains animals to respect the wire … Read more

Finding the best galvanized water troughs for your livestock, farm, or backyard project can feel overwhelming with so many sizes, brands, and steel grades on the market. I have spent months comparing tanks from Behlen Country, Tarter, Behrens, and lesser-known brands to figure out which ones actually hold up under real farm conditions. Galvanized steel … Read more

I spent three months testing vertical growing systems side by side in my apartment, and the results changed how I think about indoor gardening. The best hydroponic tower gardens can produce fresh herbs, leafy greens, and even strawberries year-round in a footprint smaller than a bookshelf. What surprised me most was how much variation exists … Read more