Our Animals

How to curate your animal's first aid kit

How to create a first aid kit to get you through labour this spring.

How to give your chickens the feed they deserve

Want to know which chicken feed is best for your birds? Look for the FeedSafe NZ mark.

Everything to know about colostrum

The very first drink your newborn animals have are the most important of their lives.

Should you raise guinea fowl?

It may be unsightly, slow-witted and produce an intolerable noise, but the guinea fowl is a useful addition to any lifestyle block.

How to hatch the best eggs

If you want happy, healthy chicks, it starts with choosing the best eggs.

This sick little piggy stayed home — and survived

The fight to save teeny, tiny Sadie-Baby.

Is my chick a male or female?

It is almost impossible to tell if a chick is male or female at hatching.

Inside an otherworldly chicken coop that lights up over winter

This unusual coop is also a feature of the landscape at night.

A beginner’s guide to breeding your dream sheep

A healthy, hardy, delicious flock comes down to one key choice.

This solar-powered coop spreads its wings daily

Looking for the perfect chicken coop design? You can find both inspiration and envy in this one.

What to do when your chook breaks a nail

It happens to all of us – here's how to deal with your chook losing a nail.

Why you should test your soil this autumn

You can pay for a professional soil test, or assess it yourself with some close observation.

Stalking and saving the banded dotterel in Kaikōura

A Kaikōura couple finds their purpose in stalking — and saving — the banded dotterel. They’ve been winging it for seven years.

Prepare your farm for the colder months ahead

Before the winter chill settles in, make sure you and your farm are well-equipped with this handy checklist.

A Motueka couple's long road to importing adorable Valais Blacknose sheep

They’re often mistaken for stuffed toys, but Valais Blacknose sheep are real and spreading their cuteness around New Zealand.

4 bugs you might see this winter

Some creepy crawlies might invade your home this winter, while others are accidental visitors.

Why clean water is the key to healthy birds

Water is the number one nutrient for poultry, and it's crucial to keep it clean.

Why cows burp less on a seaweed diet

A seaweed-rich diet may be the key to reducing burps in cattle.

Two ways to deter your cat from killing wildlife

Being a responsible cat owner also means protecting our native birds.

Why you should never hug or kiss a chicken

They’re delightful little creatures, but you need to be careful about how you share the love.

Chooks and cancer: What to look out for

Long-time poultry writer Sue Clarke answers your queries on poultry health.

16+ tips for spray-free weed control on a block

Spraying weeds is easy, but it turns out organic methods can give you the same results if you do it right. Here are 16 practical ways to control weeds without using chemicals.

How to prevent and eliminate red mites

Here’s how to fight one of the most frustrating problems for poultry owners that’s so small, it’s hard to spot.

These signs may mean your chooks are vitamin deficient

Vitamins are a tiny part of your flock’s diet, and if they’re missing, the signs can be confusing.

13 ways to prevent flystrike

Flystrike is easy to prevent, but vets still see it far too often.

Case study: A little lamb goes missing and survives

A little lamb survives the seemingly unsurvivable.

Why this market gardener believes in mob grazing

Jodi Roebuck has been mob grazing sheep for more than 10 years.

Everything to know about raising peafowl

There are few things more beautiful than a peacock strutting his stuff, fanning a full, bejewelled, iridescent tail. Don’t be sucked in, says Ross Lawrenson.

11 management tips for healthier and fatter lambs

The decisions you make about how you manage your sheep now have a big influence on the lambs you'll get in spring.

Case study: Two kunekune pigs eat rat bait (and survive)

Two cute pigs are too greedy for their own good.

Are quail better than chooks?

These tiny birds are the easiest and most efficient producers of eggs and meat you can raise.

30+ basics every block owner needs to know

With the number of lifestyle block owners rising each year, many of them new to farming, it’s important to know where to find reputable advice and help.

From mussel byproduct to healthy snack for chickens

A natural waste product from the mussel industry is now a health supplement for happy hens.

The buzz on bumblebees

If beehives aren’t your thing, there are a few simple strategies you can use to encourage another beloved pollinator to find a home in your garden.

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