🔴 Can this strange egg affect your homestead? + Master simplification

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Thursday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: What It Means When Your Chicken Lays a Lash Egg and What to Do 🕵️

4. Personal Development: The Art of Simplification 📦

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Learn to Homestead Without the Guesswork

Remember the last time you stared at a nutrition label, wondering what half the ingredients even were? Or the frustration of spending money on “natural” products that didn’t deliver? You’re not alone.

But what if you could…

• Grow your own food without needing a green thumb?

• Whip up homemade meals, skincare, and cleaners that actually work—without breaking the bank?

• Finally feel confident that what you’re putting into your family’s bodies is safe and nourishing?

The Problem: Modern Life is Draining.

Most of us are stuck in a cycle of expensive groceries, toxic products, and a never-ending to-do list. It’s exhausting. But the solution is simpler than you think—homesteading.

Hi, I’m Lexi.

I grew up in the dirt—literally. My childhood was filled with sweaty days in the fields and learning from my family’s farm. But when I left for the city, I quickly realized something: life disconnected from nature is… harder.

Over the past decade, I’ve built a homesteading life that works for me—and now I’m sharing it with you.

The Homestead Movement: A Year to Transform Your Life.

Every month, you’ll learn one essential skill to help you take back control of your home, health, and happiness.

Here’s a sneak peek:
🌱 January: Build a Budget-Friendly Pantry
🧼 February: Create Natural Skincare
🥕 March: Start Your Garden

With challenges, product lists, pre-recorded workshops, and lifetime access, you’ll gain the tools and confidence to simplify your life—on your terms.

Why Wait? Start Your Journey Today.

You deserve a life where you’re in control of what you eat, use, and love. Let’s build that together!

POLL RESULTS FROM LAST THURSDAY

What’s Your Biggest Homesteading Challenge?

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Keeping my chickens healthy and pest-free 🐓

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Finding reliable homestead tips and resources 📚

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Balancing personal growth with daily homestead tasks 🤔

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Managing time and avoiding overwhelm ⏳

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

What It Means When Your Chicken Lays a Lash Egg and What to Do 🕵️

Ever found a strange, rubbery blob in your chicken coop and wondered, “What is this thing?” You’ve probably stumbled across a lash egg. Unlike regular eggs, these weird, sausage-like blobs are a sign that something’s not quite right with your hen’s health.

But before you panic, let’s break it all down: what a lash egg is, why it happens, and what you can do to keep your flock healthy.

What Is a Lash Egg?

A lash egg isn’t actually an egg. It’s a clump of pus, tissue, and egg bits that forms when a hen develops an infection in her oviduct (the part of her body that produces eggs). This condition is called salpingitis, and it usually means there’s a bacterial issue.

Lash eggs can look different from one another, but most are yellowish, pinkish, or beige and feel rubbery. Some have no outer shell, while others have a thin membrane. They’re often compared to little lumps of sausage—gross, but accurate.

What Causes Lash Eggs?

• Dirty Conditions: A coop with poor ventilation, damp bedding, or dirty nesting boxes is a breeding ground for bacteria.

• Stress: Chickens under stress—whether from predators, overcrowding, or extreme weather—are more likely to get sick.

• Weakened Immunity: Hens that aren’t getting proper nutrition or are already dealing with other health issues are more at risk.

Signs Your Hen Might Have Salpingitis

Spotting a lash egg is an obvious clue, but there are other symptoms you should watch for:

• Lethargy or lack of energy

• Reduced appetite and weight loss

• Fewer eggs or odd-shaped ones

• Ruffled feathers

• A swollen or inflamed vent area

• Standing in a “penguin-like” posture

• Trouble breathing (in advanced cases)

• A distended abdomen

What to Do If Your Hen Lays a Lash Egg

1. Call the Vet: This is the best first step. A vet can confirm if it’s salpingitis and may prescribe antibiotics like amoxicillin or chlortetracycline.

2. Separate the Sick Hen: If you can, move the hen to a quiet, clean space to reduce stress and prevent the infection from spreading.

3. Handle with Care: Lash eggs are full of bacteria, so wear gloves when handling them. Wash your hands thoroughly afterward, and never try to eat them (not that you’d want to).

4. Consider Natural Remedies: Some studies suggest that natural treatments, like lotus leaf extract, can help with inflammation. Talk to your vet before trying these.

Is It Contagious?

The lash egg itself isn’t contagious, but the bacteria causing it can spread to other birds through dirty bedding, shared water, or feed. That’s why it’s so important to clean your coop regularly and keep an eye on your flock.

How to Prevent Lash Eggs

Preventing lash eggs is all about maintaining good flock health and keeping their environment clean. Here are some easy steps you can take:

• Clean the Coop Regularly: Remove soiled bedding, scrub nesting boxes, and disinfect surfaces.

• Provide Proper Nutrition: A balanced diet strengthens your chickens’ immune systems and helps them fight off infections.

• Reduce Stress: Give your hens plenty of space, fresh air, and a calm environment.

• Quarantine New Birds: Keep any new chickens separated for a few weeks to make sure they’re healthy before introducing them to your flock.

• Keep the Coop Ventilated: Good airflow reduces moisture and keeps bacteria at bay.

• Schedule Health Checks: Regularly check your chickens for signs of illness so you can catch problems early.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Art of Simplification 📦

Let’s face it: life gets cluttered. Whether it’s a shed packed with tools, a kitchen overflowing with gadgets, or a to-do list longer than a row of corn, clutter has a way of creeping in and taking over. But the good news? Simplifying your life doesn’t mean you have to give up everything—it just means focusing on what truly matters.

Here’s how simplifying your physical spaces, mental load, and daily routines can help you create a more intentional and peaceful life.

How Clutter Affects Your Mental Health

Clutter can create a constant feeling of overwhelm. Every time you see piles of “stuff,” your brain registers it as a task that needs attention. This can lead to anxiety, guilt, or even decision fatigue (the stress of making too many small decisions). Simplifying your space gives your brain room to breathe, helping you feel calmer and more in control.

How to Start Simplifying

Taking the first step is often the hardest part, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s a simple roadmap to begin decluttering your life:

1. Pick One Area: Start small. Choose a single drawer, a kitchen counter, or a corner of your garden shed. Focus on this one area before moving on to others.

2. Ask Key Questions:

   • Do I use this regularly?

   • Does this bring me joy or serve a purpose?

   • Would I miss it if it were gone?

3. Sort Into Categories:

   • Keep: Items you use and love.

   • Donate/Sell: Items in good condition that others could use.

   • Recycle/Dispose: Things that are broken, expired, or no longer needed.

4. Organize Thoughtfully: For the items you keep, make sure everything has a home. Use baskets, shelves, or jars to keep similar items together. In your garden shed, for example, group tools by function—pruning tools in one spot, planting tools in another.

5. Maintain the Space: Once you’ve decluttered, commit to a quick daily tidy-up to keep it that way. A few minutes each day is much easier than a big cleanup later.

Decluttering Beyond Physical Spaces

• Streamline Your Schedule: Cut back on commitments that don’t align with your goals or values. It’s okay to say no!

• Organize Your Thoughts: Use a journal to list out tasks, ideas, or worries. This helps you clear mental clutter and prioritize what’s important.

• Simplify Daily Routines: Create easy systems for repetitive tasks. For example, set up a weekly meal plan or batch similar chores, like feeding animals and refilling water troughs.

Homestead Tie-In: The Power of a Clutter-Free Workspace

Homesteading often means juggling multiple projects, and a messy workspace can slow you down. Imagine trying to plant seeds but not finding the trowel or cooking a meal but having to dig through overflowing cabinets. A decluttered garden shed, barn, or kitchen makes everything easier.

Try this: declutter your garden shed by hanging tools on a pegboard or storing seeds in labeled jars. You’ll save time (and frustration) when everything is where it should be.

Activity: Declutter One Space and Reflect

Choose one area in your home or homestead that feels overwhelming. It could be a countertop, a drawer, or your chicken coop. Spend 30 minutes decluttering, using the steps above. Then, take a moment to reflect:

• How do you feel now that the space is clean and organized?

• Did you let go of anything that wasn’t serving you?

• How will you maintain this space moving forward?

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

Why was the cow excited for January?

Because it’s mooo year, mooo me!

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. When you and your daughter join forces to sneak those unexpected (and completely unplanned) new plants past your husband:

@antisocialplantclub

When just “taking a look” at plants turns into nothing to see here! 🪴🪴🪴😳 Who can relate?? 😂😂 And having a plant shopping buddy always make... See more

2. If you’ve never seen a pig doing zoomies, you’ve got to check out this clip! It’s more cute than hilarious, but trust me, it’s totally worth watching!

@ljfarmfam

Zoomies #pigtok #funnypets #funnyanimals #farmlife #fy

3. Just a group of cows showing they can hang with the horses in a race:

@dumblefarm

Highland cow racing!😂 #highlandcow #highlandcows #grasspuppies #hairycoo #fluffycow #highlandcowexperience #highlandcowsponsorship #funnyc... See more

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