This week on the ranch, we’ve got our young hens working half the barn, scratching through the bedding and cleaning up after the goats. They’re doing what chickens do best—turning packed areas into loose, manageable bedding. Watching them work reminded me how often I get asked whether goats and chickens can safely live together, so that’s what we’re diving into today. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real benefits of keeping goats and chickens together, the legitimate risks you need to manage, and the simple guidelines that make mixed housing safe. I’m also sharing what the newest research says about coccidia—specifically whether chickens can give it to goats—and how to decide if this setup is right for your farm or homestead. At the end of the episode, I’ll give you a quick preview of next week’s topic where we’re going deep into coccidia: what it is, how it works, why some strains are more dangerous, and the management shifts that helped us break the cycle of coccidiosis in our own herd. In This Episode, I Cover: Why goats and chickens can safely share space How chickens help disrupt goat parasite cycles The barn-cleanup advantage of having chickens around goats The #1 rule of mixed housing: keep goats out of chicken feed What modern research really says about coccidia and species-specific strains When mixed housing becomes risky How to set up a safe, low-stress environment for both species When you should NOT mix species—especially if anyone is sick Key Takeaways: Chickens do not give goats coccidiosis. The strains are species specific. Goats getting into chicken feed is the biggest danger—and it’s completely preventable. Dry bedding, enough space, and clean feeding areas make mixed housing much safer. Some diseases can move between species, so never mix sick animals. With the right setup, mixed species can simplify chores and support parasite management. Related Episodes: 06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals 20 | Lessons from Raising Livestock: 5 Problems That Can Be Avoided or Solved with a Good Mentor 21 | Seeking Sustainability? How to Evaluate Options and Make Decisions with a Sustainability Mindset 31 | Are Winter Heat Lamps Bad for Chickens? How to Prepare Your Flock for a Comfortable Winter All the Best, Millie Resources & Links: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts then grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Email me: millie@drycreekpastures.com See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.
In today’s episode, we talk about the mindset that actually makes farming, homesteading and livestock work sustainable. Not ease, not perfection — but gratitude, grit, and learning to find the good even when the hard days hit. I’m sharing two real-life stories from our ranch that shaped how I approach challenges, and practical ways you can apply this mindset on your own homestead. What You’ll Learn Why gratitude is a daily management tool, not a once-a-year feeling How accepting “hard” as normal keeps you steady with livestock The value in finding the good inside messy or frustrating situations What a difficult kidding season taught me about leadership and problem-solving How a major off-grid setback revealed long-term clarity we wouldn’t have gained otherwise Practical ways to build a resilient, realistic homesteading mindset Key Takeaways Gratitude keeps you grounded, especially when things go sideways Hard days aren’t a sign you’re failing — they’re part of learning and building competence Finding the good in a situation helps you move forward instead of getting stuck Livestock and off-grid life will test you; mindset determines whether you burn out or grow Long-term sustainability depends more on steadiness than skill Related Episodes 02 | Overwhelmed? 4 Steps to Create a Practical Plan for adding Livestock to Your Homestead Successfully 15 | The Most Important Lesson We Learned Going Off-Grid, and How You Can Do the Same Thing to Simplify Your Off-Grid Plan 30 | Livestock Decision-Making: What to do When You Make a Wrong Decision and How to Use that Information to Make Progress 68 | New to Raising Livestock? Risk Management Strategies When the Learning Curve is Steep All the Best, Millie Resources & Links: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts then grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Email me: millie@drycreekpastures.com See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about the transition from conventional agriculture and livestock production to a regenerative or restorative system. I spent two days in the truck, listening to Will Harris’ book, A Bold Return to Giving a Damn, and it gave me some great insights into the decades-long journey of White Oak Pastures, as well as a look into the future of our ranch. If you’re considering a production system that is closer to nature’s design or if you’re in the messy middle like we are, this episode will help you see the possibilities, problems, and the beautiful potential. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 53 | Livestock and Land Management that Works WITH Your Environment and Resources, Not Against Them 45 | Health Benefits of Ruminant Red Meat, Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed, and Special Characteristics of Goat Meat 21 | Seeking Sustainability? How to Evaluate Options and Make Decisions with a Sustainability Mindset 08 | When Animals Aren’t Working Out on the Homestead: How to Evaluate Your Livestock Projects and Decide to Keep or Sell Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, then grab your FREE Kidding Due Date Chart here: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about goat fence, specifically, a night trap which is one part of a big fence project we’re working on. A night trap is a pen that is used to keep goats in at night and when they can’t be out grazing during the winter. It’s designed to easily contain the goats as well as protect them from outside predators. We’ve built a few of these over the years, and I’m going to give you the overview of how to do it with very little tools like we did in the beginning to now, using some helpful equipment, but not required. Having a secure place to contain your goats will ease your mind and make raising goats so much easier. All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 55 | Fencing for Goats: Two Things You Must Have to Keep Your Goats Contained and Safe 56 | True or False? Goats are Escape Artists (Hint/ The Answer Is in Your Management Strategy) 13 | Using Electric Fence with Goats? What You Need to Know to Keep Your Goats Contained and Alive with Electric Netting Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about internal parasites, or worms, different species, the problems they cause, and how you can help your goats resist parasites, how to monitor your herd, and how to treat them when you need to. Internal parasites are one of the biggest problems that goat owners face, and being armed with some strategies to monitor, support, and treat your goats is the best defense against these little invaders. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Mentions: https://kinderground.org https://lakelandfarmandranch.com/usa/ Related Episodes: 08 | When Animals Aren’t Working Out on the Homestead: How to Evaluate Your Livestock Projects and Decide to Keep or Sell 17 | Do My Goats Need Mineral? How to Meet Their Micronutrient Needs and Keep the Herd Healthy 22 | What Is the Perfect Meat Goat? How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Farm or Homestead PART 1 23 | Boer vs Kiko, What Meat Goat Breed is the Best Fit for Your Farm or Homestead? PART 2 Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about breed registries, making decisions based on performance data, livestock industry problems created by breeding for maximum production, hybrid vigor, and what you need to know before you decide if you should raise registered or unregistered goats. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 22 | What Is the Perfect Meat Goat? How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Farm or Homestead PART 1 23 | Boer vs Kiko, What Meat Goat Breed is the Best Fit for Your Farm or Homestead? PART 2 27 | Which Goats Should I Keep to Breed? How to Select Replacement Does and Plan Your Goat Breeding Season 76 | How to Choose Future Breeding Bucks for Your Goat Herd Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about weaning goat kids, different methods for weaning, timing to prevent unintentional breeding by buck kids, if you should wean wether and doe kids at all, and how to decide what weaning strategy will work best for your goat herd and management system. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Mentions: 46 | Early Banding vs Late Banding in Buck Kids: Will Your Goats Be Healthy if You Band Them Early? Related Episodes: 14 | When Should My Goats Kid? Timing Your Production Cycle to Optimize Goat Fertility and Forage Nutrition 20 | Lessons from Raising Livestock: 5 Problems That Can Be Avoided or Solved with a Good Mentor 26 | Is My Goat Old Enough to Breed? How To Decide When Your Does Are Ready Have Their First Kids Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about youth livestock programs, gaining wisdom by learning from experience, and the importance of teaching kids about livestock and where their food comes from. Whether kids are involved in a formal program or have their own projects on the homestead, farm, in the back yard, or even a rented space at a nearby farm, raising livestock can be a life-changing experience for kids. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 12 | Raising Kids and Livestock? Teach Life Lessons, Build Character, and Strengthen Your Relationships While Raising Animals 18 | Interview with Sage Bradshaw on Life with Livestock and 4-H Projects PART 1 19 | Interview with Sage Bradshaw on Life with Livestock and 4-H Projects PART 2 70 | How Livestock, Chores, and Good Mentors Create Resilient, Confident Kids Who Are Prepared for the Challenges Life Brings 75 | How Livestock Shaped My Life and Why I’m Here to Help You Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about winter grazing and the different ways you can feed your livestock in a sustainable, regenerative way while meeting their needs and promoting nutrient cycling and land improvement. We’ll define terms like swath grazing, bale grazing, cover crop and residue grazing and discuss how each of them could benefit your management system. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 28 | Winter Feed for Livestock: Calculate How Much Hay You Need and a Strategy Save Money 35 | Winter Hay Feeding Evaluation: Meeting Nutritional Requirements of Goats and Reducing Hay Waste 42 | Surviving Extreme Cold with Livestock When Your Animals Aren’t Adapted to Freezing Temperatures Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about preparing for winter on the ranch and homestead, and what we do to make sure the animals and people are taken care of through the cold winter months. We’ll talk about livestock feed and water, general fall clean up that makes winter work easier, and a quick overview of what we prepare for our family that supports us through the winter as well as the rest of the year. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 28 | Winter Feed for Livestock: Calculate How Much Hay You Need and a Strategy Save Money 31 | Are Winter Heat Lamps Bad for Chickens? How to Prepare Your Flock for a Comfortable Winter 36 | What We Miss the Most While Building Our Off-Grid Life 49 | 3 Strategies to Make the Best Use of Bulk Meat Storage and Avoid Freezer Overwhelm Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about selecting replacement bucks, the criteria we use to qualify bucks as breeding stock, and we’ll walk through the sorting process and how we handled it this year. I’ll also be sharing some interesting things we observed while sorting and how it’s going to affect future decisions and data collection. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Mentions: 46 | Early Banding vs Late Banding in Buck Kids: Will Your Goats Be Healthy if You Band Them Early? Related Episodes: 24 | What Is That Smell? The Bucks are In Rut! Should You Buy a Buck to Breed Your Does or Is Leasing a Better Option? 38 | Buck Management That Will Keep You, Your Goats, and Your Neighbors Happy 62 | The Buck Effect: What Is It, What Causes It, and How It Affects Goat Herd Management Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Today’s episode is a little different. I’ve been deep in thought as I’m sure many of you have been also, reflecting on all that has happened recently. I want to share some of what I’ve been thinking about, particularly as it relates to why I care so much about raising livestock, healthy food, and self-sufficiency, as well as what’s coming up for our ranch, the meat business, and this podcast. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 01 | The Story Behind "Get Goat Wise" and How I Went from Ranch Kid to Homesteader 25 | Concerned About the Food Supply? Simple Ways to Ensure That Your Family Will Be Fed in the Event of a Food Availability Crisis 49 | 3 Strategies to Make the Best Use of Bulk Meat Storage and Avoid Freezer Overwhelm Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! It’s time for a chicken episode! Today we’re talking about what to do with all those roosters you ended up with after buying straight run chicks this year – because that was all you could find, right? We’ll talk about options to deal with this year’s roosters as well as long-term strategies for your flock, including rooster management and setting goals for meat and egg production. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Mentions: 41 | What Type of Meat Bird Should I Raise? Cornish Cross, Hybrid and Dual-Purpose Explained Related Episodes: 06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals 31 | Are Winter Heat Lamps Bad for Chickens? How to Prepare Your Flock for a Comfortable Winter Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about handling stress before butcher, and how it can affect meat quality. We’ll talk about the meat science behind stress and I’ll give you practical tips you can use to make sure you and your animals are prepared for hauling on butcher day. You’re already putting in the work to raise your own meat, and with a few management practices you can make sure that meat will be the highest quality possible. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 25 | Concerned About the Food Supply? Simple Ways to Ensure That Your Family Will Be Fed in the Event of a Food Availability Crisis 49 | 3 Strategies to Make the Best Use of Bulk Meat Storage and Avoid Freezer Overwhelm 54 | Butchering Meat Goats: How Much Meat Do I Get from a Goat Compared to Other Livestock Species? 57 | The Ideal Weight and Age for Butchering Meat Goats to Get Premium Quality Meat Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Today I’m going over the numbers from our 2025 kidding season! We’ll talk about our challenges, victories, and the things we learned this year and I’ll be sharing the actual production numbers from our herd. We’ll comb through the data, pull out the important stuff, and talk about what worked great and what we’ll change for next year. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Mentions: 26 | Is My Goat Old Enough to Breed? How To Decide When Your Does Are Ready Have Their First Kids 16 | The Results Are In! Our 2024 Kidding Season Numbers for the Meat Goat Herd, and What You Should Be Keeping Track of in Your Herd Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Today I’ve got an update from County Fair, and then we’re talking about a management decision we’re making to sell some of the goat herd. We’ll talk about the factors influencing the decision, which goats we’re selling and why, and how it will help us improve our herd long term. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 30 | Livestock Decision-Making: What to do When You Make a Wrong Decision and How to Use that Information to Make Progress Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! It’s almost time for County Fair here, and with that comes a lot of reflecting about the kids and their growth doing livestock projects. Today we’re talking about the power of animals and livestock in the lives of our kids, and how responsibility, work ethic, and good mentors can launch kids into a new level of self-confidence doing hard things even when they don’t want to or think they can’t. Whether you are interested in 4-H, FFA or giving your kids the responsibility of raising livestock outside of a formal program, this episode gives insight into some unexpected benefits when kids grow up raising animals. All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 12 | Raising Kids and Livestock? Teach Life Lessons, Build Character, and Strengthen Your Relationships While Raising Animals Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about another way to make money with goats – grazing for hire. We’ll talk about the infrastructure you need and different ways you can use the goat herd you already have to bring in some extra income while grazing your goats for other people to help clear out overgrown forage or mitigate fire risk. I’ll talk about our experience grazing for hire, what was challenging, what we loved, and what I think the future holds for this income option. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 13 | Using Electric Fence with Goats? What You Need to Know to Keep Your Goats Contained and Alive with Electric Netting Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Last week we talked about all the reasons to start with terminal livestock if you’re a beginner or just getting started raising farm animals. Today I’m going to dive into that a little deeper and talk about why you should start with smaller livestock like sheep and goats instead of cattle. We’re going to talk about meat and dairy and risk management, especially through those beginner phases where lots of mistakes and learning happen. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 67 | Why Beginners Should Start with Terminal Livestock First 06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals 47 | How to Adjust to the Flavor of Homegrown Meat and Eggs Before You Raise Your Own Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about all the reasons to start with terminal livestock if you’re a beginner or just getting started raising farm animals. I’ll explain the advantages to starting with meat animals rather than breeding stock, and how those animals will be your best teacher and set you up for success with your future breeding herds. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Related Episodes: 06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals 47 | How to Adjust to the Flavor of Homegrown Meat and Eggs Before You Raise Your Own Get your farm fresh meat here: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Connect with me: Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/
Tiffany Ford
Your information is always so helpful! I'd leave a review, but I have an Android so I can't. Hopefully you see this and can count it as 1 towards your 100! Thank you forball your advice and kindness.
Tiffany Ford
Thank you for these tips! We've raise some dairy goats for over 5 years on a few acres, but just moved to a bigger ranch and are starting into meat goats and eventually a dairy cow and other animals. Your podcast is super helpful.