Lessons From the Homestead
- lettersbyreesianal
- Oct 27
- 6 min read
What’s good, fam? Hope y’all are doing well today. Man, I ain’t going to lie, that sun tore me up earlier. Been out there working on this three-bay dog kennel, just laying flooring, and that heat was beaming down on me. But we here, we are blessed, and I got a word for you today while we set up these hatching eggs in the incubator.
The Joy (and Work) of Starting a New Flock
So check it out, today we got in a fresh batch of hatching eggs. Twenty eggs, all different breeds, but they’re good laying breeds. Straight run, too, meaning we don’t know yet how many hens versus roosters we’ll get. That’s the surprise part of the journey.
Now, I love hatching my own birds. Yeah, you can always run down to Tractor Supply or the feed store and grab chicks. Ain’t nothing wrong with that, especially if you’re new. But for me, there’s something powerful about seeing life start right here on the homestead. Watching them go from egg to chick under my care, that’s special.
And cost-wise? It stretches further. Hatching eggs is cheaper long-term once you’ve got your setup right. That’s why I invest in good incubators.
Right now, I’m using the Matty Coupe X. Digital, which turns the eggs automatically, shows humidity, temperature, and even has a candling light built in. Man, when I tell you technology has made things easier, this little box is a game-changer.
Why I Choose to Hatch My Own
Some of y’all might wonder, “Why not just buy them already grown?” Here’s my answer: I like my animals to be born here. Born and raised on this soil. It builds a connection, and I get to control the process. Plus, it saves money.
And let’s keep it real. When you hatch, not every egg’s going to make it. Some won’t be fertilized, some might crack (like one of mine just did today, barely touched it and boom, cracked). That’s part of the process. But when you set 20 eggs, even if 15 hatch, that’s still a solid start to a new flock.
Maintenance: Don’t Sleep on Your Tools
Now, let me drop a big tip for beginner homesteaders: take care of your tools.
I learned this heavily in the army. They used to drill it in us: “Take care of your weapon and it’ll take care of you.” The same applies here. Whether it’s your tractor, lawnmower, power drills, saws, if you don’t service them, don’t expect them to work when you need them most.
Imagine this: you just scored a herd of goats for a deal, but now you need stalls ASAP. If your power tools are sitting there rusted, batteries dead, chains dull, you’re already behind. Maintenance saves headaches.
So crank up that mower even in the winter. Add fuel stabilizer. Test those drills. Keep oil in your saws. Homesteading is enough work already; don’t add unnecessary struggles.
Chickens vs. Turkeys (and Why I Choose Chickens First)
Now, let’s talk poultry. Some folks ask me if turkeys are less maintenance than chickens. Nah, fam. I’ve raised both, and I’ll tell you straight: chickens are easier
.
Turkeys, especially when they’re young, are fragile. One day they fine, next day you look and one’s gone. They need more care. Chickens, on the other hand, especially laying breeds, will handle themselves with a little setup. Toss them good feed, water, a coop, and they’ll do their thing.
So if you’re starting out, I always say begin with chickens. Once you get your rhythm, you can branch into turkeys, quail, guinea fowl, even rabbits if that’s your lane. But chickens? That’s the gateway animal.
The Hard Part: Harvesting Your Own Food
Let’s keep it a buck , raising your own meat comes with emotions. It ain’t always easy harvesting something you raised from a baby. It can feel sad, even heavy.
But here’s the thing: it connects you deeper to your food. When you raise, care for, and then harvest, you appreciate every bite. You waste less. You teach your kids that food doesn’t just appear wrapped in plastic at the store.
My kids are part of this journey. They’ve seen me butcher chickens, goats, even sheep. My oldest son?
He saw me process chickens once and still won’t eat chicken to this day. He’ll eat eggs, but not chicken. And that’s okay. It’s part of learning respect for life and food.
And me? I wasn’t used to it at first either. But now? Store-bought meat doesn’t taste the same. Fresh meat, raised by your own hands, it hits different.
The Realities of Raising Meat Birds
Let me break something down for y’all that most folks don’t think about. When you go buy a 20-lb bag of wings at the store, you don’t realize how many chickens it took to fill that bag.
Every bird has only got two wings. Raise 50 meat birds? That’s just 100 wings. That’s it.
So when I was selling chicken, people would ask me for 10 lbs of wings or 5 lbs of thighs. I had to tell them: it doesn’t work like that.
If I break it down by cuts, I lose profit. The only way to make it work is to sell whole birds. That’s the reality most of us don’t see until we raise our own.
Monetizing the Homestead
Now, I know some of y’all are thinking, “Okay, but how do you actually make money doing this?” Glad you asked.
Here’s what I’ve found works:
Breeding: Sheep, goats, dogs, chickens. Breeding is steady income if you build good stock. Laying hens, especially, sell fast once they’re laying age.
Selling eggs: Low overhead, steady demand.
Content creation: Document your journey. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook. It ain’t just about monetization, it’s about building a community of folks who will support your products.
Honey & bees: I ain’t in it yet, but I’ve seen folks thrive with bees. Low maintenance once you’re set up, and honey sells for a good price.
Direct sales: If laws in your state allow, sell whole birds or livestock directly from the homestead. (Here in Georgia, regulations make it tough, but in other states it’s smoother.)
And here’s a free game: selling cuts of chicken ain’t profitable unless you’re running a large-scale setup. Stick to whole birds or live sales.
Homestead Lesson Learned the Hard Way
I’ve had my fair share of trial and error. Like that time with my rooster, “Rudy.” Big, strong bird, but aggressive. Came after my kids, even tried to spur me. I tried to kick him (missed, fell flat, my wife laughed at me). That was Rudy’s last day on the homestead.
It taught me something, though: every animal ain’t meant to stay. Sometimes you've got to make hard calls for the safety of your family and the peace of your homestead.
Final Word: Start Where You Are
Fam, let me wrap this up: start small, start smart, and don’t get overwhelmed. You don’t need every animal at once. You don’t need the biggest setup on day one.
Maybe it’s a flock of chickens. Maybe it’s a garden bed. Maybe it’s learning to make your own butter from heavy cream. Each step builds your skills and your confidence.
Take care of your tools, embrace the process, and don’t be afraid of mistakes. That’s how you learn.
Because at the end of the day, homesteading ain’t just about the food on your plate. It’s about the connection to your land, your animals, your family, and your Creator.
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