Kid-Friendly Homestead Chores: Ducks, Goats, and Little Helping Hands

One of my favorite parts of homesteading isn’t the fresh food (though that’s a big perk!) or even the animals—it’s watching my kids jump right in and make this lifestyle their own. Around here, chores aren’t just chores. They’re muddy boots, giggles, little lessons, and plenty of “oops, I spilled the water again” moments. As well as a little fighting, they’re still kids & chores aren’t always the favorite thing to do.

My kids are still young—our son is 4, and our daughter is 7 (well, almost 8, and she will absolutely remind you of that). But even at these ages, we’ve carved out their own special jobs.

For my 4-year-old, it’s the ducks. He toddles out there with his little scoops of feed like it’s the most important mission of the day. The ducks free-range in their pen, so his big responsibility is making sure they’re fed and happy. He’ll stand there and chat with them while they eat—telling them all about his day, as if they’re his little feathered besties. Honestly, it might be the cutest thing ever. He will also chase them around for pets, even if they don’t like it.

My daughter is the goat girl. She’s old enough now to handle a little more, so she helps with filling up their feed buckets, and she’s the one who makes sure all the animals have fresh water—ducks, goats, and everyone else. In the summer especially, that water chore is a big deal. She takes it seriously, but she also has fun with it (and yes, sometimes ends up wetter than the goats).

And then there’s the garden—that’s where everybody pitches in. From tiny hands dropping seeds in the spring to bigger ones pulling up veggies in the fall, the garden is a family project. Even the messy job of weeding turns into something we all do together. (I like to think of it as less “weeds” and more “teachable patience,” but some days it’s just weeds everywhere!) Watching the kids light up when they spot the first tomato or pull a carrot out of the dirt is worth every bit of mud tracked back into the house (which very quickly gets cleaned up).

Could I do it all faster on my own? For sure. But letting the kids pitch in means they’re learning how much these animals and plants depend on us—and that even small hands can make a big difference. Plus, those moments when we’re side by side with feed buckets, water hoses, or baskets full of veggies often turn into the sweetest little chats.

It’s not always neat or efficient, but it’s ours. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade these kid-sized chores, messy gardens, and muddy farm boots for anything.