Why You Need to Diversify on the Homestead
Hey folks! Today I want to talk about something that’s crucial for anyone homesteading, farming, or trying to generate income from home—diversification. Whether you're raising animals, gardening, or doing anything in between, putting all your eggs in one basket (literally, in my case) can spell trouble.
My Business: Quail Eggs
My main business is selling quail hatching eggs. That’s my bread and butter. But here’s the thing—what happens if my quail suddenly stop laying? Well, it’s happened before. For a couple of weeks earlier this year, my birds just weren’t laying the way they should. That meant I had to set up a waitlist and email customers to let them know there would be delays. Thankfully, I identified the issue, fixed it, and things got back on track.
Still, that experience was a wake-up call.
The Danger of a Single Source of Income
If you're just getting started with quail or any other homesteading venture, here's a lesson from me to you: build in backups. No matter what your main product or service is—quail, chickens, turkeys, goats, gardening, you name it—you need to plan for downtime.
Seasons change. Demand fluctuates. Animals don't always cooperate. For example, in the winter, sales of quail eggs drop significantly. (Pro tip: winter is actually a great time to buy hatching eggs—I’ve got a whole video on that if you're interested.)
If my income is 100% dependent on hatching eggs, and the birds stop laying or sales dip, I’m in a bind.
How I Created a Buffer
I sat down and figured out what I need to make to keep the lights on. Originally, that plan was based solely on hatching egg sales. But now? I’ve diversified. That includes:
Selling pickled eggs
Selling live quail and chicks
Selling processed birds
Gardening and selling canned goods
This buffer ensures that if hatching egg sales drop, I’ve got other ways to fill in the gaps.
Ideas for Diversifying on the Homestead
Here are a few ways you might diversify your income:
Raise multiple types of animals: Don’t just raise chickens—maybe include turkeys, goats, or ducks.
Sell byproducts: Eggs, milk, compost, feathers, etc.
Preserve and sell food: Grow a garden, can your produce, and sell it during the fall and winter when fresh goods are scarce.
Offer services or products: Workshops, farm tours, soap-making, breeding stock, or even online content.
The goal here is to build resiliency into your operation.
Practice What You Preach
Right now, I’ve even got turkey eggs on lockdown—and I don’t own any turkeys! I sold off my chickens when I committed to quail full-time, but that doesn’t mean I won’t reintroduce them in the future. That’s part of my long-term diversification plan. I’m focused, but flexible.
Follow Along
If you’re interested in homesteading, off-grid living, or just generating income from home, follow along! I’ve got more content on all of this:
YouTube: Cowgirls, Jesus, and Rodeo– Check out the homesteading playlist
Facebook: Judd’s Quail
Instagram: @juddsquail
TikTok: @juddsquail
Also, if you’re in the market for quality hatching supplies, click the "Hatching Time" button at the top of my website—you’ll find pens, incubators, brooders, and more. Shoot me a message, and I’ll even send you a $25 coupon for your next order.
Thanks for tuning in, y’all. Hope you could hear me over my noisy birds!
God bless, and we’ll see you next time.