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NH Honey.com
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How to start
and Where to get "stuff"
for your own hobby farm.
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How To? (milk
a cow, raise chickens, keep honey bees)
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Where to get supplies and equipment for your hobby farm: Maybe you have good experience with certain companies - if so, please share! Here's what I have found to work well.
Cheesemaking equipment
(liquid rennet, cultures, etc) New England Cheesemaking Supply
Dairy Equpment
(milking pails, filters, strainers, etc) Hoegger Goat Supply
Baby Chickens and Poultry supplies Easiest way to get free-range chicken eggs is with your own chickens! They are easy to raise, don't take much space and are a delight to watch. Start with day-old baby chicks which you can get in late winter and keep in your basement or garage for a few weeks. You can make a simple brooder with a kids plastic swimming pool. Use shavings on the bottom. Lay a broom across 2 chairs over the pool and hang your red heat lamp on the broomstick. Raise and lower the light as needed to maintain warmth. When they are 8 weeks old you should be able to move them to your hen house. Chickens aren't fussy. Build a small house for your convenience, not theirs. They are happy in any shelter. Give them lots of roost space and a nest box for each 4 or 5 hens. You can get chickens at your local feed -n-seed, but I've had good luck with Murray McMurray: Murray McMurray Hatchery
Beekeeping (hives, tools, supplies) There is nothing as fascinating as beekeeping. They are the MOST amazing animals and one of the best hobbies I know. Put a hive in your backyard and you not only have pollinators for your garden, you've got pounds and pounds of surplus honey for your family. Contact your local beekeeping association to find out how to get your bees for your hive. Betterbee Beekeeping
supply
Non-electric processing equipment (butter churn, butter paddle, pumps, etc) Need a butter churn? How about a kerosene lantern? Butter paddle? These are not the easiest items to find at your local hardware store. Check out Lehmans. When I can't find something anywhere else, I check with them, and they usually have it. Originally a supplier for Amish farmers, Lehman's now has a large catalog and sells worldwide. Lehmans Have Fun!! - Kathie |
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