By Savannah Magoteaux

Raising chickens can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, whether you’re a homesteader looking to become more self-sufficient or a backyard enthusiast seeking fresh eggs for your family. Chickens are relatively low-maintenance animals, making them an excellent choice for beginners in the world of poultry farming. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the essentials of raising chickens, from choosing the right breed to ensuring their health and happiness.

Selecting the Right Breed

Before diving into chicken-raising, it’s crucial to choose the right breed that suits your goals and environment.

Different breeds have various characteristics, including egg-laying capacity, temperament, and adaptability. Here are some popular options for beginners:
Rhode Island Red: Known for their excellent egg production and hardiness.
Plymouth Rock: Friendly birds that lay brown eggs and adapt well to various climates.

To read more, pick up a copy of the December issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

By Jared Groce

The rural land market in our six-county area of Collin, Cooke, Denton, Grayson, Montague and Wise Counties held steady in October, with an overall average price of $30,101 per acre as compared to $25,674 per acre in October of 2022, however the average number of days on the market has increased somewhat from 109 days to 165 days.

Higher interest rates have had some affect on the land transactions, but there is still a lot of cash out there that is looking for land to park on. Folks with 1031 like-kind exchange money that have a limited amount of time to get that money reinvested are leading the pack of cash buyers.

We are seeing more reductions in list prices as time passes, as many sellers were pricing their properties at prices that were months ahead of their current market price. Those sellers have realized today’s market is not increasing as rapidly and need to get their listing prices back down closer to today’s actual value.

To read more, pick up a copy of the December issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

By Barry Whitworth, DVM

Lead is one of the most common causes of poisoning in cattle. Most clinical signs of lead poisoning are usually associated with the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract.
The most common sources of lead are improper disposal of car and farm machinery batteries and used motor oil. Other sources include old structures with lead paint, linoleum, lead pipes, and grease from machinery. Since calves are more curious and prone to nibble or lick objects, poisoning is seen more frequently in calves than older cattle.

Most animals have a background level of lead. Toxicity occurs when the background level plus the amount ingested reaches a toxic level. Doses of 50 to 400 mg/kg may kill a calf. Higher doses (600 to 800 mg/kg) are required to kill adult cattle. Cattle that consume 7 mg/kg a day will eventually die from lead toxicity.

Clinical signs of lead toxicity appear acutely. Many times, producers just find dead animals. Most clinical signs observed are associated with the neurological system. One common sign is blindness. Producers may find a calf walking aimlessly or walking into objects.
Other signs are circling, head pressing, ataxia, muscle tremors, and convulsions. Occasionally, gastrointestinal system signs such as colic, anorexia, diarrhea, grinding of teeth, and frothing of the mouth precede the nervous signs.

Clinical signs of lead poisoning are similar to other nervous and gastrointestinal diseases. Some diseases that can be confused with lead poisoning are polioencephalomalacia, nervous coccidiosis, tetanus, rabies, and listeriosis.

To read more, pick up a copy of the November issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.