Pete, Im absolutely filled with gratitude right now, my heart is straight up beating outside my chest. My father-in-law decided to retire from his dairy herd this week after 40 years, leaving us with 85 acres (60 cultivatable acres) to farm with! We were going to try and start with some broilers on part of the farm this year and was getting ready to shoot you an email to ask a few questions, you have answered basically all of them here! For a new and young farmer, this has literally made the world of difference for me in making our dream/goal come true. I've still got my town job and we have an old old farmhouse to fix up but you are absolutely inspiring and providing an amazing wealth of information. Thank you - from a farmer north of the border.

@JustaFewAcresFarm

2 жыл бұрын

That's awesome Austin! My #1 goal is to help folks getting started out.

@Aussie-6869

2 жыл бұрын

@@JustaFewAcresFarm Thank you Pete! Been watching for two years now preparing for this moment. I have watched so many of your videos 100 of times, I will be back to watch them again as we start renovating our pastures. Feel like in many ways, I am you younger but also 20 years in the future, it is amazing to watch it all evolve! Thank you for being wonderful and sharing, I will be forever grateful!

@genewileyopa

2 жыл бұрын

@@JustaFewAcresFarm We had 12 meat birds C.C. that we got back at the end of March, and went 7 weeks They dress out at 5.5 Lbs. They were raised inside. Now we have 15 more growing. Thanks Pete. Your a big help to lots of people.

@robreesor5011

2 жыл бұрын

@@Aussie-6869 by north of the border Im guessing you mean Canada...so before you rush into chickens like Pete has or the way he sells them and such I would look into our Canadian laws around them and the requirements you need...they will be much different than the laws Pete has to work around or with in. And they may be different from province to province as well. Looking into those laws could save you some money and could also save you from catching fines if the laws arent followed. Hopefully your able to butcher them on farm like Pete can otherwise taking a heap of chickens to a butcher might get expencive. Anyway best of luck to you.👍

@bslturtle

2 жыл бұрын

Pete is a great guy and has help us bunches too! Thanks Pete (and Hillery)

Inspiring! We’re just getting our operation going on an acre. We only had a couple hundred budget, but we’re already running the incubator and making sales!

@JarodShapiro

2 жыл бұрын

Great job!!! Keep up the good work!

@suburbangardenpermaculture3117

2 жыл бұрын

When you say making sales, can you share how? As whole birds on-farm butchered, or sending to a processor? Or selling live birds?

@HomesteadForALiving

2 жыл бұрын

@@suburbangardenpermaculture3117 definitely live birds! I think that market is posed to explode with the government killing off poultry with their bird flu narrative, and egg/meat prices hyperinflating rapidly. I’m also currently raising up two dozen to slaughter and trade for a quarter of a beef cow. Essentially I’ll get organic grass fed beef for $1.50 a pound (When you factor in our chicken feed inputs) We sell chicks, and pullets have been surprisingly popular. We’ll be making lots of videos on this and how we’re marketing them soon

@nickv5013

2 жыл бұрын

@@HomesteadForALiving how do you go about finding buyers?

@jamesspry3294

2 жыл бұрын

@@nickv5013 talk to people about what you did on the weekend etc. People are crying out for authenticity! Just be genuine and honest. Also, doesn't hurt to throw them a dozen eggs, or share a wing or drumstick with them. Once they taste it... 😌

Pete your videos are always top tier . I'm glad I found your channel , I really love the vids🙏🏼👍🏼

Hilarie seems like a sweet woman and she's right there with you holding it down. You are truly blessed.

Pete, I subscribe to several regenerative farming and permaculture channels, and I've got to thank you for your succinct delivery of information. A lot of channels seem to think that viewers want to watch a bunch of off-topic vlog-type fluff before getting to the meat of the video. I'm not that kind of viewer. I don't videos from KZreadrs who think every little detail of their daily routine is soooo interesting that they don't cover the video title's topic until 5-9 minutes in. Your entire video was full of good, useful content and no fluff. Thanks!

I can't believe this is now my 3rd year of watching the broilers going out on pasture. Time really does fly!

Another great video Pete! I always enjoy watching you and Hilarie work together.

I have nothing to do with agriculture or livestock, but I could listen to you for hours, as you chatter along in your easy, straightforward style. It doesn't matter that I know precious little about cattle or chickens or pastures, your good-sense oratory holds lessons in practical thinking for many other areas of life. Thanks a million, Pete.

Great stuff Brother! Your Bride is such a gift to you and the farm.

Confident but yet humble enough understand change is a constant

One of your best episodes yet, Pete! Practical information, well thought out rational on your feeding of those feathered monsters, wise update on your tractors, and obvious care taken when you transferred the squawkers from one location to another were highlights that I soaked up. Well done, indeed---both of you.

Excellent tutorial on broiler chickens Mr. Pete! Yes sir we know Ms. Hilarie. She's the lady of few words with a big smile who's always the greatest asset of Just A Few Acres Farm. 😊

It's funny, for our poultry fly control we use jars. Then my daughter tries using ordinary fly strips and it's fun to watch the chickens pick the flies right off the strips. My daughter is trying this as an FFA project/experiment. We'll see how this goes. Experimentation I think is key to most enterprises.

@JustaFewAcresFarm

2 жыл бұрын

I am surprised you would need fly control for chickens. Ours just eat them.

@anthonyhengst2908

2 жыл бұрын

@@JustaFewAcresFarm I know. I would of thought that too. Maybe we should move them a little more often. I don't know.

@anthonyhengst2908

2 жыл бұрын

@@mwilliamshs yeah yeah, sorry I was typing in a hurry. Planting corn to much multitasking. I apologize.

@anthonyhengst2908

2 жыл бұрын

@@mwilliamshs Uncle!!! Uncle!!! I give up!!!

Hillary looked like a BOSS filling that feed trough with the 5 gallon bucket!

@JustaFewAcresFarm

2 жыл бұрын

LOL, she's done it thousands of times!

I am always eagerly awaiting your videos! They're more than interesting. You provide a ton of information and humor and a genuine example of love between a man and a woman that's real and not contrived. It's refreshing to see. Thank you both❤

Pete, your analytical skills are amazing. We enjoy your channel and wish you many successes.

Another wonderful, informative video! Your videos are a pleasure to watch!

Can’t say enough about how valuable your content has been for us! Thanks so much!

As always a great video. Great to see you and Hilarie working together and supporting each other on the farm.

I really enjoy the videos. So much practical info. We're going up up Joel Salatin's farm Saturday for the Lunatic tour. Been putting lots of things in place to start the chicken tractors out here on our farm. Will have to give the Cornish cross chickens a try. Thanks for taking time to share with us all. Best of everything to you and Hillary.

I really enjoy your videos, whenever I see a new one I watch it after I get off work to relax.

I really enjoy hearing all the birds sing throughout your videos! Thanks for the awesome input!:-)

I love how helpful you are. Sharing your knowledge along with the neat money saving ideas you’ve learned throughout the years is so kind of you! I am learning so much and am looking to you to learn about meat chickens, housing, etc before I start. Thank you so much. May you and your family be blessed.

I love how generous you are with sharing your knowledge. You are awesome!

Thanks Pete. You have answered most of my thoughts. Blessings from Ontario 🇨🇦

Another great video Pete! Sharing your knowledge along with the neat money saving ideas you’ve learned throughout the years is so kind of you! Your channel is so enjoyable You do such a great job 😀❣

You are so easy to listen to and watch and glean information from, thanks Mr. Pete 😃

Thanks Pete Very good information. Great job in explaining the importance of small farmers. We need more people like you in this country.

Good day Pete. Very informative, fun 🤩 video. Glad you keep some of your methods private from competition

Pete you are a great teacher. It is, I think, both your gift and your passion. Good work.

Your personality is wonderful!!! Your information is spot on!!! Thank you!!!

You have me so excited to start my small farm!!! Have it, just waiting till warmer weather to move in!

Thanks Pete and Hilary!!!

Environment makes a big difference in a lot of things. Thanks for the video Pete 👍

This was a really great video Pete. Thanks for sharing this. Always helpful content.

There's a lot of work that goes into raising chickens the way you do. I tip my hat to you, having the drive to do this for that many years is impressive. My wife and I did raise some Cornish cross and our first time we only lost a few, but it sure was a lot of work. Thanks Pete, have a great weekend.

Watched your farm story and being frugal and the video strating a debt free farm. These videos helped me in something that's been on my mind and I just wanted to say thanks. Also I enjoy your positive attitude it's so refreshing to see some positive. I've been trying to keep myself surrounded by positive people. It helps me stay positive. Thanks again.

I really enjoy the way you answer questions. Straight, to the point, honest and without apology for how you run your farm, but you also give the reason you do things the way you do. Thank you.

Great information, nice video, my Dad had Chicken Tractors back in 1970s, they were very heavy, frame was 3/8” rebar. But they worked. I just cut the last one up to repurpose the rebar.

Pete you explain things for a non farmer can understaand, keep up the good work.

You and Hillary make my day and leave me smiling. I love the science behind your explanations.

Good info Pete . Unfortunately I do not have a farm like you but I'm living farm life through you and Hillary. Thanks again.

We do a set up like yours for raising the Cornish cross. When we process them we cut up the carcass into pieces then put them individually into shrink bags. Otherwise we were wasting too much meat when we kept them whole.

Bought 4 of these from Hilarie, I while back they were amazing! )))

This is best work and activities to engage yourself in this young age. Thank you guys you are good inspiration for many young ppls like you. Stay blessed

Great class ! Thanks for sharing your hard earned knowledge

As always, Pete, very informative and entertaining video. Thanks.

Enjoyed the question answer with bird songs in the background today.🐦

Great video Pete. This will be our 3rd year running a similar setup. I watched your videos among others in the beginning to get started. Thank you for all that you do and good luck this season.

I love how genuine you seem! I run a skirt around my chicken tractors that I made with hardware cloth and 2×2's then I put landscaping blocks on them for weight. It stopped all predation. I have a very covered area where I raise my chickens and haven't had any issues!

Thank you for sharing your experiences. Cheers, jim

Pete, Wednesday I listened to the fieldwork podcast that had Gabe Ward as a guest and the topic was regenerative farming. The more I listened, the more I thought about your farm and how you use so many of the things they were talking about. It's good to see it in practice so much on your farm.

ALWAYS INFORMATIVE WE LOVE IT

Hello, new subscriber here. Watched your operation for over a year. As a young man, I left the farm as soon as I could but still can't get it out of my mind. The farm had a thousand stories - some hilarious, some poignant, some tragic. A true life experience.

1st time watching channel and I am seeing a lot of bright/good ideas/builds around you farm! I like!

Great video! I’m just about to start with my first batch of broilers…..thanks for the inspiration!

Our first batch of broilers was raised in a chicken tractor/mobile brooder from day one until butcher day, and they turned out great. That was at our old property. Since moving to our current/forever property each batch we've done has been in stationary brooders and then moved to open pasture with electric netting. Here are our takes on the two different methods: 1 - Having a mobile brooder gives the birds access to fresh grass and bugs from day one, and you don't have a brooder to clean. 2 - Keeping them on open pasture doesn't require the daily moves of a chicken tractor, but they poo does stay close to the feed area. 3 - As Pete mentioned in this video broilers aren't as likely to "go to bed" in the coop at night, so you might have to coax them in there every night. It takes us about a minute, because they all huddle inches from the door to the coop. Unless you have an automatic door you'd have to go out there to lock them up anyway, so this isn't a big deal to us. 4 - There is no discernible difference in flavor from chickens raised in an open pasture or moved daily in a tractor. It's somewhat easier to catch them on butcher day when they're confined to a tractor, but they are Cornish Cross are very easy to catch in an open field due to their slow movement. Red Rangers on the other hand... 5 - The most important things with either setup are predator protection, being able to easily give them feed and clean water, and what works best on your farm. We have very little flat land in North Georgia, so tractors just don't work without doing major (and very expensive) grading to eliminate uneven ground. We started our farm just a few years ago and have learned a lot in the process. The property we're on now is just shy of 25 acres and was nothing but trees when we bought it. In just two short years we've transformed that forest into a working farm with chickens and ducks (layers and meat birds), rabbits, pigs, and a huge garden where we grow flowers and produce. We're in the process of developing pasture for sheep we plan to get in Spring of 2023, so feel free to check out our channel and follow along as we continue to grow our farm!

@jaymassey2749

Жыл бұрын

We just came into some land in Madison, GA. Whereabouts are you? I'd love to talke more if you're up for it. I've become very interested in raising broilers on the property, but it definitely isn't a level place and I don't think tractors would be viable.

@RigginFarm

Жыл бұрын

@@jaymassey2749 We’re in Talking Rock, a little over two hours from you. We have posted a few hundred videos on our channel about our farming journey. Feel free to reach out with any questions, and we’ll do our best to help.

Pete... I wanted to tell you that you've been an inspiration to me over the past year or so. So much so that my wife and I recently purchased 11 acres of pasture and are starting a hay and lavender operation. Thank you!

@JustaFewAcresFarm

2 жыл бұрын

Congratulations Mike!!

Looks like summer routine is about to take off at your farm. That grass is looking good for all your critters. Hope your weather meets the schedule you have set for it...good day.

I’m so glad I found your channel. Learned quite a bit in just this video.

Still love your channel. Keep up the channel with your wisdom and insight. Thanks

Thank you Pete. I built 2 tractors and received 100 Cornish cross 3 weeks ago. The brooder was a 10x10 tent in my garage. At 2 weeks we got them into the tractors. Have not lost 1 bird yet. I have been over feeding though and will try the 12 hour on/off you mentioned. Great video. Subscribed. Thanks again.

I love your farm and family. You are a cheerful farmer. Makes me long for my father.

Thank you Pet for explaining the housekeeping of your 🐥 chicks. I become more educated when you explaining the public about the daycare of you chickens 🐔

Thank you so much for the video. You mentioned getting a power stapler. I just wanted to share that we purchased a pneumatic stapler off Amazon for about $30, that made attaching our wire very easy.

Good video Pete good to see y'all again from Louisiana

Outstanding information. Love these types of videos!

Pete a couple years ago I watched a video for a school assignment and I ended up jeep watching your videos I was always excited for a new video to come out wasn’t a big fan about the winter ones but it is what it is but you inspired me to want to be a small farmer one day and now I have my own Cornish cross broilers and some goats and we are looking to get cows you have inspired my journey and I am only 14 years old

I learned some stuff. The butchering is what has stopped me so far along with not knowing the regulations. Thank you for sharing.

Awesome video Pete. Thank you for the Q&A segment, very imformative!

gotta love the "experts" telling you how to do it pete haha

Can I start by telling you that you are one of the few KZreadrs I watch. It was so refreshing being able to see a fellow 50plus 2nd career farmer on video to inspire my husband and I that it wasn't too late for us. It is wonderful seeing young families with small kids doing the homestead thing but it is quite another seeing someone my age doing it and doing it well. I learn something new each and every video on how to do it better/smarter. What I can't find in your videos though is your chicken processing set up! Our family has done meat birds over the last 3 years so we do not need another video showing how to butcher & clean a chicken. However, the set up that you find works best for you to minimize cramped hands and sore backs would be 100% welcomed. It is physically demanding to say the least. PS the pull bar on that chicken tractor to get the birds to the front - God Send! Those tricks of the trade is what this 55 yo retired ED nurse/city girl and 68 yo retired Resp Therapist from NY - turned farmers - need the most! Keep up the great videos!!

Great job explaining these details about chicken farming.

ALWAYS SOLID INFO ‼️ THANK YOU, Vinny 🇺🇸

Great video. I really like the waterers that attach to a 5 gallon bucket. I will have to see where I can find some.

I so love chickens and hope someday to be living in the country so I can raise my own. I also love knowing I have the perfect teacher to show me how when I'm ready to begin. :)

The design of the trailer that you moved the chicks with is absolute genius!!!!

Seems you have it well organized & keeping things simple

Staple gun is one of the best and most useful tools that i ever bought! Even and cheap one is a great help...

Thank You for the video , enjoyed it very much .

Just wanted to leave a note on how much we enjoy your channel. As a collector of antique hit miss engines, I like all things farm and old farm machinery. I live in Florida, but if I’m ever in the area I will certainly hit your market. **Your cows look super! Keep up the good work!

Heros don't always wear a cape .luv u guys you inspire others .

Hello Pete and Hillary all sounds good thanks some advice. Fox was here my place it's all open and managed to kill some birds but I did not have a wire on top so I learned. Have a great day.

Thank you for sharing your experience raising broilers. I raised 50 broilers last year and will do the same this year. Your insights will help me be more successful this year. Thanks again.

@keithlewis8238

Жыл бұрын

Did you put 50 in the same size tractor he had?

Love your work, Pete! Must say you and looking fit and happy! Keep up the great work.

Great video, well done!!! Thanks much

Pete and especially Hillary (after all, every strong man has a more amazing woman striding forward beside him!), just wanted to say thanks for what you both do. I started watching the channel in 2019 while deployed with the Army and getting inspiration for my return home. We don’t have Dexter cattle but rather Maine-Anjou yet I enjoy seeing how y’all gentle and improve the quality of life for your herd and even more so, the life of the land. Now seeing y’all’s broilers and thinking “what is 7 weeks compared to the life cycle of a cow?” I may start down this venture thanks to your video here. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you and please keep it up!

Hi Pete, im also an ex-architect transitioning into farming. 6 months in, in a harsh south texas environment, i have immense respect for all farmers. I have just had 60mh winds tear though my tractors and the light Salatin style, which I made 3ft high to adjust for our temperatures suffered in the winds. I also built a Sascovich tractor style but the size of Salatins. It weighs a ton but man, they had no wind damage to structure. Just had to replace the tarp. Love you guys. I love how your family works together. God bless you all!

I'm starting a 100 acre farm. I'm making10 12'x40' skiffs that are essential high tunnels. I took Joel's design and ran with it. I'm including wheels that connect to a pto driven pump to raise and lower them. With modern tech I don't get how people still think the natural way isn't feasible. Thank you for your videos!

Thanks for that video Pete. I’m 15 and just bought 20 cornish X birds and plan to sell them. That video really helped

@edwardzarnowski5558

2 жыл бұрын

Good for you!

Great video as always Pete , thank you!

Pete thank you, I've learned so much about raising chickens, I got all the equipment I need to Bucher my chickens, so I'm giving it a go this spring, starting with 60 chick's, I'm only doing this for our family and other family members that are interested in buying for me, and your right farm raised chickens total taste great,no more store chickens , thanks Pete, your the man, canyon do video on how much to charge per pound, we'll keep on teaching, lot of us are learning, got to go ,building 2 boxes, God bless

Thanks for all your knowledge and sharing

You are not just chicken keeper!! you so wonderful moderator!! really good speaker!!

Very informative. I enjoy watching your videos.

PETE, HI , I came across this on YT, so I started looking, I grew up in JAMAICA, when it was BWI,, there were some family folks I grew up calling UNCLE&AUNT, there was a dairy farm,80 head, and lots of produce , he supplied a hospital with milk, and provisions , Auntie grew lots of flowers, which were sold at Uncles PRINTERY ,in ST ANNS BAY , then he brought back grass, about 6feet high, put into a mill, for those cows, there were lots of chickens, but most were for the home, I used to churn BUTTER, 1 GALLON CHURN, there was NO ELECTRICITY until the 1950s But I loved being there with the workers , those were the days, I LOVE your programme, explaining as you go, there were 249 acres,NOT ALL FLAT, HILLS TOO , STAY WELL,GOD BLESS 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I love the videos love the dad jokes and watching u restore the tractors wo u love like to see more butchering videos keep up the good work and continue loading videos I'll definitely be watching them

Best small farm channel out there ! (and i bet most guys watching are in love with Hillary, ha ha ha) All the best to you both!

Pete another top notch video. when it comes to mortality rate we are seeing a 5% or less per batch. we hold feed 2-3 hours on like you. we also fermented feed. we found the fermented feed has had a huge impact on the birds feed conversion rate (16٪)and their health. yes its extra work but its worth it currently. we are starting our farm with meat chickens layer.

Wow this channel is incredible