Featured Stories

Is Milling Your Own Lumber Worth it?

Is milling your own lumber worth it? Consider milling your own wood if you live on a farm with wooded acres and many building project needs. Read More

Orphan Calf Care
May 12, 2026 · · Cattle

Strange, unexpected things can happen to a mama cow. Learn orphan calf care from bottle and tube feeding to raising a calf with a buddy to reduce stress while keeping the immune system strong. Read More

Tails from the Trails: A Hike and a Hunt
December 31, 2025 · · Ownership

Follow Nathan Putnam and his pack goat string as they take us hiking, camping, and hunting in the backcountry of northern Idaho. Read More

2026 Coolest Coops Photo Contest!
April 3, 2026 · · Coops,Giveaways

Show off your coop in the Coolest Coop photo contest for a chance to win some amazing prizes. PLUS, your coop could be featured in the August/September issue of Backyard Poultry. Don't miss this clucking opportunity to strut your stuff and let your coop shine! Ends May 17! Read More

Visting Cake Recipes

Make simple, yummy visiting cake recipes, including Swedish visiting cake, quick German visiting cake, and New York-style crumb cake recipe using pantry ingredients for a quick cake to serve. Read More

What’s Better? Buying Bees or Catching Swarms?

There are several ways to start beekeeping. Most beginners start buying bees via packages because they are the most readily available. Another way is to catch a swarm. Read More

The Ins and Outs of Buying Bees
December 2, 2021 · · Beekeeping 101

Every spring potential beekeepers begin to get excited about starting to keep bees. They read beekeeping books and articles, and talk to experienced beekeepers about everything from setting up their apiary to buying bees. Read More

Moisture Control in The Hives: A Four-Season Approach
October 4, 2025 · · Hives & Equipment

We work with the seasons and the bees’ own incredible ability to self-regulate to keep heat, cold, and moisture in check. While it is useful to look at how bees live “in the wild” to understand their natural preferences, it’s good to remember that honey bees are adaptable and live all over the world, in all climates. Read More