Pet & Animal

The Cardinal Rule of chicken farming? Don't get more chickens than you can care for! If you buy too many chickens for the amount of time/money/energy/space you have, chances are they are not going to flourish- and could actually get sick, or in some drastic cases, the outcome may be even worse. For example, imagine you don't have the correct watering system, or your waterer is too small for your flock -- or, you live in the Northwest where summers are hot and chickens need water. No matter the manner, without water, chickens, like people, cannot survive. Going too Big, Too Fast Chickens can also get sick if you go too big, too fast. And when that happens, it happens slowly and you might not catch it at first- Imagine your life as a chicken. If there is not enough space for the pursuit of life, liberty and the decent meal worm, you will s... Read more

PHASE I: The Brooder and your New Baby Chicks Young chicks must have a brooder for warmth and protection. Prepare the brooder by cleaning and disinfecting it before the chicks arrive. Once it has dried, cover the floor with 4 to 6 inches of dry litter material. Here's some ideas on raising chicks in this stage without electricity.  Pinewood shavings or sawdust is recommended to aid in disease prevention. Place the brooder in a draft-free location. Carefully position an incandescent bulb about a foot above the box floor to provide heat and add a second light in case one bulb burns out. Newly hatched chicks will find their perfect temperature in the brooder. If it's too hot under the bulb chicks will move away from the heat; if too cool they'll move closer. Give chicks space to move about. Baby chicks huddle together when they're co... Read more

N40 Coops 2.0 Video Premiere is going LIVE and you could win. Can't make it to your local North 40 Outfitters to attend the N40 Coops 2.0 Video Premiere? No worries. We will be streaming N40 Coops 2.0 Video Premiere Live on our North 40 Outfitters Facebook page. Watch the Premiere Live and you'll have a chance to win a coop Live. It's true. In addition to giving a coop away at each store, during the Premiere, we will also be giving away one coop online Live. Submit a question online Live, during Mr. Cluck's Live Q & A, and you will be automatically entered into our Live coop giveaway. Here's what you need to know- To watch N40 Coops 2.0 Video Premiere Live and to submit questions online Live CLICK HERE at North 40 Outfitters Facebook page March 9, 2017 6 p.m. Pacific Time. Attending the event in person? We'll give you a 50% off Nu... Read more

For N40 Coops 2.0, we asked you to show us your best coops and you answered the call. Courage takes action and you didn't disappoint. In this journey, we learned the stories behind each coop and discovered why every coop is truly special and unique. We met inspiring people and came to understand the bond that comes with owning your own animals. And, we were deeply encouraged by the people who are becoming inspired to learn more about the origins of their food. Don't know what N40 Coops 2.0 is all about? Check this out. Entries came pouring in from all over Montana, Idaho, and Washington (over a hundred plus) -but we could only choose six. The winners have been chosen. They will be revealed at our N40 Coops 2.0 Video Premiere Event and you're invited. Missed last year's N40 Coops winners? Read this. Here's what you need to know- What N40... Read more

By: Wesley Rowbotham With Christmas right around the corner, decorations are slowly being unboxed and put on display. But for a lot of people, decorating the trees in their yards can be both cumbersome and time consuming. With our DIY Bird Seed Ornaments, you can create easy outside ornaments that will both look great and attract a few extra friends to your holiday celebrations. Curious as to the types of friends you'll find, check them out here What you will need to make your Bird Seed Ornament Mason Jar Lids Wild Bird Food Flour Twine/String Straws Knox Gelatin Karo Syrup Mixing Bowl Measuring Utensils Cookie Sheet Wax Paper Need to stock up on supplies? Check out our craft section here Bird Feed Recipe 3 Cups Wild Bird Seed ½ Cup boiling water 3 tbsp Karo Syrup 1 packet unflavored gelatin ¾ Cup Flour If you need bird seed, you ... Read more

Two weeks. That is the amount of time that has gone by since our kids showed at the local fair. 4-H is definitely one of the better things I can think of to have your kids doing, but sometimes, it's not always a walk in the park. All summer the kids looked forward to showing. We had big plans for them to attend their first clip & show clinic to help them learn how to properly prepare their heifers for the fair. But like most things, it conflicted with the farm schedule. Not only did it fall on Father's Day weekend but we were putting up silage. Wanna read how this whole thing started? Checkout the first installment where we meet these good looking kids... and cows. For a moment we had planned on putting a small event on the farm for the local kids to help prepare them for the fair, but once again, we were too busy with farm work. Th... Read more

What is N40 Coops 2.0? In case you aren't in the know--N40 Coops is an annual event where we showcase the most amazing chicken coops we can find, and introduce you to the passionate people raising those chickens. We have entries from all over, and we hear some of the coolest chicken stories you can image. To help with this effort we, North 40 Outfitters, partnered up with Nutrena and together, we're on a mission to find fantastic chicken coops and their equally incredible owners. Why Are We Doing This? Last year was our first ever N40 Coops season, and needless to say, we not only received hundreds of amazing coop entries, but more importantly, we learned the stories behind each of the coops and found out why every coop is truly special and unique. We also want to encourage people to start chicken farming by showing them the fun it ... Read more

You already think about your dog's needs: you buy them food, toys, sometimes clothes... But what about ticks? Ticks are a severe irritant to your dog, and sometimes can cause diseases. So how can you keep your dog safe when you are out gallivanting around the country? Identify Tick "Time & Place" In the Northwest, ticks come out in force during the moist/warm spring months and anytime it's been rainy. That means starting around May or June, or if we are having a wet summer--you need to be ready to protect your dog from these 6-legged little beasties. Contrary to popular belief, ticks don't "climb trees" and then jump on you. In reality, a tick's favorite place is 18-24" above ground (it's called "questing" when they climb to that height- so that means tall grass and the shrubbery where you hike. Yikes. Looking for dog food, puppy tre... Read more

Well, chances are if you've landed on this page, you probably missed the most important part of dealing with ticks: How to Prevent Ticks- and you've probably just got back from a place where ticks love to live. Here is how you identify, locate and remove ticks from your furry family member. Identify a Tick problem Ticks like warm damp places between the toes, along the groin and especially in the ear canal. So if your dog is shaking his head or gets lethargic, you need to check for ticks. The #1 way to know if your dog has ticks? If you see one inside your home! Don't treat the appearance of ticks as a "one off" thing ticks are like roaches, if there's one, there are probably more. The best way to be sure you and your dog are tick-free is to do a full body tick-check.  Looking for toys to keep your furry family member occupied? Look no f... Read more

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Montana has a unique tie to ranching and livestock, and this was no more apparent to me than when I started researching brands. Montana became a territory in 1864, two years after the Homestead Act. Prior to 1873, the registration of brand information was left up to individual counties. This wasn't a functioning system because news and registrations spread more slowly (or not at all) during this time period. So down around Yellowstone you could have a ranch running the same brand as a ranch up by Glacier, and they wouldn't find out till they drove their cattle to market. This was remedied when the state enacted legislature in 1872 that centralized brand registration held by the Department of Livestock. Side note: Montana is a lot different than Idaho and Washington--because the state passed legislation designating a central housing place... Read more

The short, simple answer to this question is, of course, the cow. That's her job. The role of the cow specifically, and cow/calf production systems in general, is to profitably turn forage into beef through the production of calves. Our entire management effort centers on providing the inputs required for the cow to do her job. Not providing these inputs diminishes her chances of successfully playing her role in the cow/calf production system. As cattle producers, our responsibility is to ensure that the fundamental inputs of water and forage are provided along with supplemental nutrition and sound animal husbandry and management that prevents disease and promotes herd health. Like every living thing, the cow needs water which is the most important nutrient. Water is essential to maintaining all bodily functions and, if limited, results ... Read more