That broody hen will be a good mommy!!

I use a mobile chicken coop with electric netting and I really like it. First of all, I can determine what areas to put the chickens on throughout the year. Since they decimate an area fairly fast, moving them more often in the summer and fall works well for the soil. In the winter, I keep them closer to the house -- actually in the vegetable garden! In addition, it provides more food for them that way. You can easily design a mobile coop that works well for you.

@ravent3016

4 жыл бұрын

Plus in the garden they'll eat the slugs munching on your veggies...

@BookieLukie21

4 ай бұрын

​@ravent3016 ducks too!

I admit it! I was one of those who subscribed at the time you made this coop....still here and loving it all...especially the Sunday programs. Blessings from Australia.

Thank you for this video and all of the others too! We’re still in early planning for our homestead, but I appreciate your sharing of this experience and am excited to develop my own chicken set-up!

I’ve got a really sweet Buff Orpington who goes broody once or twice a year. Her “pecks” at my hand are just kisses. She is so gentle and trusting of me while I inspect her clutch. She’s sitting on a few eggs right now. Order a few fertilized French black copper maran eggs to slip in with her.

@janejones5362

Жыл бұрын

My buff is a really good layer. Every other day I get an egg. Even through this Winter, and it's gotten down to 18° F this year, at night.

This was the third video of yours that I’ve seen. Always a verse at the end. I love that. I’m subscribed now. Excellent verse at the end of this video.The first verse of the 34th chapter of Psalms is one of my all-time favorites. Going from memory here, I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. FYI, the other two I saw were about roosters. I appreciate your opinion.

When you said you’d been “living in catch-up mode,” I thought you meant “ketchup mode” . . . I couldn’t think of what you meant for a minute! Listening in context is important as reading in it! This is a very good, well thought out video, and I enjoyed it. Your progression in growing your homestead is thoughtful and inspiring. I hope all the very best blessings for your homestead and your family!

@nosretep1960

3 жыл бұрын

Nuances are nuances.... I was thinking Heinz?

@docholiday5119

3 жыл бұрын

Waited 5 minutes to hear him talk about "ketchup" haha

Boy, that was something else . I was thinking about pigs, but you just talked me smooth out of it. So glad you had the help you needed.

Your Barred Rocks are looking great! I have four barred rocks myself and they are for sure a great breed. Very friendly

@janejones5362

Жыл бұрын

And so pretty.

I'm thinking a pasture rotation system is what I want to do, too. I can see using tractors for meat birds in a purposeful manner (soil prep)... but the eggs layers can move where I want them. Great video!

Great idea to rotate the chickens. I can't wait to do that! You're doing great things man!!!

Many of the chicken tractors are used for fast growing meat birds or 6-7 months out of the year. I like the idea of a permanent coop where you can open up to three different pastures. Sad to downsize but necessary. You'll enjoy delicious home grown poultry. Wise decision to get the poultry moved out of the barn! 👍

I would say the paddock shift method is a great idea, and you could also free range your hayfield when you don't have any hay growing to help build fertility and manage the field.

The permanent sounds better less work as you age

I have Buff Orpingtons, I love that breed. Very docile. We did have Barred Rocks like you and they were like pets.

@tbh_idek

3 жыл бұрын

I have buff Orpington ducks

I have used chicken tractors for my layer chickens since I started keeping chickens. Since I have a neuromuscular disorder and a spinal injury, I use smaller tractors that are lighter and easier for me to move around. They can hold anywhere from 5 -10 hens but If I'm not letting them free range outside of the tractor during the day I usually only keep 5 per tractor so they have plenty of room. They are approx 6ft long and three feet wide. I built them so they were narrow enough to go through the man gates in our fences for easy maneuverability and movement to different areas of our property. They are basically a wood frame with hardware cloth sides (stronger than chicken wire to keep out predators). The top opens up for easy water and food changes and the front opens up to let the birds out. I use a piece of opaque polycarbonate corrugated roofing to cover the back half of the roof of the tractor to provide shade and shelter from the weather without adding too much weight. I put a recycled cabinet door on the back that opens down so I can access the nest boxes to collect eggs. It has 2 roost bars and two milk crate nest boxes so poop and dirty bedding falls through so it is low maintenance. I hang their waterer from the cross bar in the roof using a chain and S hooks and use a bin feeder zip tied to the hardware cloth so there isnt anything to pickup before moving the tractor. All of the access points have latches on them and I just use cheap caribeaners to keep them locked closed. We recently moved to a bigger property which has allowed me to significantly expanded my flock so I have invested in an electric poultry net setup so my chickens will only be inside the tractors at night. This allows me to run fewer tractors while giving my chickens plenty of space to roam and forage for food. They always get so excited to be moved onto new grass every morning. All that being said, I do live in the deep south where snow rarely happens and I can keep my tractors in operation almost all year. Living in Michigan might make this much harder. When we lived in Oklahoma and got freezing temps and snow for longer periods during the winter, I put my chicken tractors in my raised garden beds and covered them with tarpsto keep in the warmth and cut down the harsh wind. This allowed my chickens to till and fertilize the soil while staying cozy and warm in one place. I dont think I will have that problem this far south now

I have a permanent set-up for my layers & mobile for meat birds. I like both. I use a compost system (like edible acres) with my layers but can move mobile to areas I want extra fertility (like in the garden after the season). The mobile coop also is an extra brooder if needed or re-coop area if I have a sick/injured bird. I like having options.

@CaptainCocktale

5 жыл бұрын

I love the edible acres system and I'm considering doing this with some of my birds once my composting is back in action. We just moved to a new larger property so I will have plenty to feed them on in the compost system for sure!

We have auto watering systems and auto feeders so yeah the permanent coop is better for us too, work smarter, not harder. We have health issues so it definitely helps!

As a lapsed farmboy your videos are a real pleasure. Chased by the rooster as a youngun had issues with chickens ever since but you got me feelin like hey I could do that with the right chickens.

Coghill farm has some great vlogs on inexpensive moveable coops, not chicken tractors, and his are also in a wooded, shady area. I really enjoy your channel!

ROTATING PASTURE ACCESS AROUND THE STATIONARY COOP. Can’t wait to see how you get on. P.S. Your urban coop design and your vlog on aggressive rooster are my absolute favourites.

You could do straight up meat birds in the tractor during the summer and your layers in the permanent coop. Works great for us in ND.

@johnchase4408

5 жыл бұрын

Absolutely. Works great everywhere.

@nightlightabcd

4 жыл бұрын

Why would you keep chickens in a tractor?

@sukikite8723

4 жыл бұрын

That's just the name they give to a pen that can be moved often.

@Staygoldfarms

4 жыл бұрын

That’s the way I would do it as well. We are doing strictly layers but with incubating comes more roosters.

@mosesyang4222

4 жыл бұрын

Yea tractors in the summer and coop in the winter, especially in MN where we get 9months of winter

Yay!!!! A new chicken video! Love it! We are still towns folk, and currently have 9 chicks! Sooo excited to get natural eggs! Plus RIR, so I know those eggs taste amazing!

@christiebetts4970

5 жыл бұрын

Me too,i live in town and have nine lol! Wrll actually 4 older hens and 5 new chicks

My permanent chicken house has served me well for 20 years and was an easy project. A lean to shed facing east with a fenced yard and wire on top also.

We have a permanent coop for our layers, and from time to time we pasture raise our broilers in with our larger animals. We can actually keep them on pasture much longer than the 6-8weeks typically recommended. Because they are constantly on the move, they are healthier and less likely to develop heart issues as they grow larger. When we pasture raise, we rarely have to give grain, so thats another plus. Our larger animals (sheep or cows usually) help keep away predators.

It's a good idea to keep only the best chickens. Great video as always I love your channel!

I really enjoyed how you explained both ideas pature verses the tractor idea. I'm from NW NJ Mtn's and totally get long winters, now in TX and concidering a move out of urban area and doing commercial chickens miccrogreens and homesteading goats and hogs with my husband your thoughts got me thinking, even in TX.. We are still in planning and are shopping land compared to other you tubers, you gave me some new perspectives. We are doing 4 chickens now. I grew up raising horses, rabbits, dogs and veggies. We will will be adding you to our watch list. Thanks Again, Hope

We set up a chicken coop a few years ago by using a used construction trailer and it works great.In the winter we pull it up to a doorway in the barn and they have access to the barn and in summer we just pull it away from the barn with the tractor.These trailers are available for a good price usually and they don"t leak normally.Something like this might work well for you.I enjoy your videos...keep at it.

Love Psalm 37: 4 - a favorite! Thanks for all.

Solar powered chicken door is nice on my coup. Theres a bit of expense to start with but its worth every penny. No more running out in the morning or at night to lock them up. Rain catchment is my next project for my chickens.

@manbearpig5907

5 жыл бұрын

Hmmmm I'll have to look into that Thanks

Maybe you can do both ideas at different times. Ok. So not too feasible in winter. I like the 4pasture access idea. Makes good sense & good use of available resources. Maybe later a tiny tractor for fewer chickens easier to move.

Thank you for all of your great knowledge and really good information! It was excellent, and we feel the same way that you do, about their freedom in a pasture type setting environment. The background music is really nice, and set at the right volume setting. Thank you.

Thanks for sharing , the best change I made with my chicken coop was the deep letter method using hemp or mulch instead of wood shavings I have been doing this for 9 months now and the coop is so clean the chickens do the work all I have been doing is trowing some seed in and they scratch and turn the litter into wonderful compost,look it up .🍀

@bjenkins0344

4 жыл бұрын

Margaret, can you send a link to explain what you mean and how to do it? I just don't have the cleaning poop thing down🤭. Barbara

@margaretnugent9872

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Barbara here is a link that explains the deep litter method it’s U tube Carolina chicken coop Deep litter method explained. I am now on a year with this method and I just throw som seeds in and the hens do the work once in a while I put a small bag off hemp in and there is no smell . I have 7 hens and last year my husband built a big coop and that’s when I started this method . I never use wood shavings because they don’t work. Hope this is helpful.

I thought for sure this was going to be clickbait but you proved me wrong!

Definitely keep your hay fields. Clear out that part you mentioned for your Broilers.

Thanks for the info we are starting our operation on a small homestead and the info here was extremely helpful

I think you nailed it. That is what we plan on doing.

Great video, very well presented. Greetings from Ottawa, Canada.

Just found you in a search for "chickens" and I appreciate your down to earth style. I don't like when people babble on, thinking more is better. Stick to the point at hand, be real and as clear and concise as possible. Listened to three of your videos and that's why I subscribed! Keep it up. Simple is best :)

👍 We'll be raising new layer chicks this Spring, so like hearing your opinions from experience!

Thank god for people like you that share your knowledge

Hey Todd, I think that you are on the right path with the chickens. Smaller flock - permanent structure, less work, more time (to install a headlight on a Ford tractor). You can always build a chicken tractor to let the girls move around some in the summer, if you want. Thanks for the update and continued blessings!

@SSLFamilyDad

5 жыл бұрын

I really need to fix that headlight for you don't i!

@PaulOtis

5 жыл бұрын

@@SSLFamilyDad sounds like a good video :)

The goats appear to be listening with interest! CHEERS from Westcoast Canada!

I had Barred Rock chickens - before the fox got them. They were very good mothers.

@robertpattillo2503

2 жыл бұрын

Were your barred rocks free ranging when the fox got them?

@bjski4557

2 жыл бұрын

@@robertpattillo2503 I did free range my chickens. My most recent set of chickens I kept inside of a covered fenced area. A raccoon broke into their house during the night and got every one of them. I am giving up on chickens. I can’t tell you the number I’ve lost to predators - including coyote, fox, owl, raccoon.

Some times you have to stop,step back, re-assess, clean house, and try a new process.

Thank you for sharing. Love all your videos.

@KM-es4yx

5 жыл бұрын

Amen

You should look into Edible Acres

@williamta9408

4 жыл бұрын

What is edible acres

0:46 - I remember when you built that. It was before I was a subscriber but it popped up on my feed.

@tarantulady8565

5 жыл бұрын

argentum taibhsear Same! I subbed at that point. 😁👍

Great video I can understand the need to have the chickens their own place. here’s a brief description of what I have at my place it might help you out I have about a half acre with 5 foot tall fencing and I put a small coop in the back corner under the trees it’s about half wooded and it’s half open lawn that I keep cut and it supplies a lot of food. I have had up to 70 chickens on it at one time. I want my birds to be able to free range but I wanted them to stay inside this perimeter so I do regular monthly wing clippings and I everything‘s good. Clipping wings after dark is easiest for me.

Thanks for the link on the Farmer Brad waterer. Ive been looking for something like this for a while. I believe this will be alot more efficient and cleaner.

chixkens are a pain sometimws but I lovem..They eat all my bugs and give me eggs..Whats not to love.and my leghorn wakes me up every morning..

I like the paddock idea. We have snow here too so a tractor would sit. All the best

I love my barred rock. She is so friendly.

Hi Todd, I’ve been watching since the you built the chicken coupe at the suburban homestead, one day eventually I’m hoping my hubby lets me have some dwarf goats and chickens, but definitely goats. We have show dogs and goats milk is amazing for puppies, I’d also love to show goats too. We live on the Sunshine Coast Queensland Australia on 14 acres but 12 of that is ‘land for wildlife” that we cannot clear and we don’t want to, the Kangaroos, possums, wallabies & other critters love it. Thanks for all the tips on the goats and I’ll happily live vicariously through you and admire the kid cuteness on your farm in the mean time. 👍🏼

@PD-we8vf

5 жыл бұрын

Miss Inky his name is not Todd.

Great Video ...thank you for being a real guy Some channels are too weird. I appreciate your experience and knowledge. We just got 14// chicks and we're down to 10 so I've been watching every video available and you're the most knowledgeable and sincere. Thank you for taking me along w your ideas and giving me a few of my own for my half acre here in Colorado...we too have 6/7 months of winter and cold so it was comforting to hear that from you...I'm not alone in the cold weather world of chuckens.. Keep doing you....p

Chicken trackers on your hey field would fertilize it it would be a good to do that

My brother also put some gift chickens into a stall until a new coop could be built. Catching them for the move was much harder than what you appear to have experienced. They kept flying into the rafters/soffit where we couldn't reach them. Then several escaped from the barn and we had to snatch them out of the tree they roosted in after it got dark. It was a real keystone cop operation. In the words of the great Frank Perdue, "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken" ☺️

@SSLFamilyDad

5 жыл бұрын

Lol

Tractors are working good for us. I park them over the garden during the fall with the goats. Move them behind the cows and goats in the summer. I do have a couple permanent coops for our hard winter months Dec thru March, tractors just aren't enough to keep them warm.

@SSLFamilyDad

5 жыл бұрын

That is a good idea, permanent for winter and tractor for summer

I like that chicken water bucket system....gonna probably try a version of it..thanks for sharing.

I would think a summer "chicken tractor, (I had no idea that is what it was called) for meat birds might be a good idea, use them to eat areas like the pumpkin patch or maybe that area you you bush hogged then after 8-12 weeks they get turned into chicken nuggets and they help "weed and feed".

I remember when you moved it from suburbs! Understand the hassle of free range chickens. This year mine are all in coops with outdoor areas but not out in yard. Will be so much easier.

I think a chicken tractor would be a good way to clean up the edges of the Hayfield so if you just set it out expensively for the year to clean up the edges along the fence and then the year after you could get the swather right up against the fence

Always enjoy your videos and gain knowledge. Thanks.

I have parakeets and the cages all come with removable or slide out bottoms. I really like that you have that for your chicken coop. That is smart. I don't know why most that I see have to be bailed out rather than how you have yours. That drawer will make cleaning so much easier, and not on the ground back breaking work.

I have a mix of 9 chickens and they are full free range. Two hens went missing and came back with chicks, so I'm going to have to manage things better. I'm in NZ, so it's Fall here. In Spring, I plan to select breed Orpington Barred Rock cross for laying and meat birds. Breeders in a movable cage, meat birds will go in a tractor in paddocks until I process them, and layers, 10, will free range.

I see a comment about edible acres, awesome way they do chickens for sure!

@williamta9408

4 жыл бұрын

Where is edible acres?

I hit thumbs-up 3 times, I think it worked. Great video, oviously could have used more chicken sounds, nice to see the goats on the background. I vote for the permanent set up, as they say "time is money".

Good information! Thanks

Yeah, I like my chickens close to the house, for safety, and to care for them if they get sick. One hen caught a cold this year. I brought her in the house to cure her. I love your smaller coop. Easier to keep the chickens warm.

Nice information!I’m up to 85 hens and 5 roasters.

My hens do the same to me when their setting.

I love the broody hen telling you all about it. XD

Thank you!

I agree with you on the tractors, yet still plan to build one that fits my raised garden beds so I can let a couple yardbirds do their share of the garden work. No way I'd dream of moving tractors in the winter in Michigan, though, that's insane. If I were in your shoes, I would build a nice big coop and put it in a spot that you can drive to, but I'd remember that my tractor has pallet forks when I build it, knowing that you never know what the future may bring, and that moving the coop could be easily done with the help of Henry Ford and a T post puller.

@SSLFamilyDad

5 жыл бұрын

Great advice!

@chaddesantis4191

5 жыл бұрын

@@SSLFamilyDad thanks! Hope it helps, and thanks for sharing!

Great video and I totally agree on the rotating pasture idea. I'm not a fan of the bred for meat birds either.

@MFox-ms3jg

5 жыл бұрын

I'm just getting started in chickens and keep tweaking the coop I bought. I really like your idea of a permanent coop and rotating pastures. If I stick with the chickens long-term, I think that's the direction I want to take in improvements.

what a great farm you have

We are doing turkeys this year and Brahma chickens for meat

Set up a Smaller Winter house for the chickens that will allow their feed to grow at the winter season and keep them warmer, plus it will prep the soil for when the weather is warmer, for vegetables that won't take the early spring in your area and the summer heat

Escaping chickens could be controlled by clipping their wings.. then they couldn't even get 4 inches off the ground... !!!!!!! My broody Hens barely peck at me. Some let me look under them without complaining.

I just made a new 8×8 coup and have 5 brand spanking new dominicker chicks Yeehaw love having chickens again

Most of chickens we've had here in Florida Tavares we live at is about 52 time we went through several sets in about almost 10 years we sell and buy and do different things I got into the little bands about the Cornish hen size they're great parents that's not been bred out of them but I noticed that with a Rhode Island red I've gotten here only a couple of them will go broody once in awhile but it's hard to get them to stay with the eggs once one does it other ones try to do it.... the band you have seasons there you don't have problems with fleas a lot but we use dematious Earth that's really good to get rid of those fleas....food grade...

Hey chicken dad, I appreciate your information!!😀

I read chickens need 17 hours a day of light to lay.i get 1 egg per hen all year with lights on time.,) Love your coop

Here in the city they allow 4 chickens and one rooster. The city also requires a yearly fee of course of 35 dollars. But free organic eggs are a little pricey. So you are doing good. So if I decide to get laying chickens what would you suggest?

@SSLFamilyDad

5 жыл бұрын

I like the barred rocks for dual purpose but isa browns are the best for just laying

Have the chickens solve a problem: fertilize hay field, weed the edges, whatever. If a chicken tractor is involved or not, it doesn't matter. What else can the chickens do for you besides lay? Put em to work!

@Quarry4x4

5 жыл бұрын

Extra eggs shouldn't be a problem, loads of stuff to do with them.

So excited to see a homesteading youtuber from MI. We're getting into it and its different here, than those who do it in Southern States. Also those meatbirds if raised right wont have issues. Ive seen it done and hope to do it ourselves. Im not sure what people are doing to have meatbirds that end up crippled and what not. Their obviously not doingbit right.

@tedotway3368

4 жыл бұрын

Jessica Steingass They are over feeding and keeping them confined, the tractor system moves them everyday so have to move so their legs don’t just fold up. And it helps to fertilize the grass or garden depending on when you start.

The chicken tractor idea is to fertilize the land before the hay really gets going. Everything grows better after chickens have been on it.

I have 30 chickens and I have three roosters a Cochin up a rock and buff Orpington and I love my roosters. I have one that’s crazy. He reminds me of that rooster on the Disney show. I have four guineas that when they were babies I used to take them in right by my porch and feed them special things and to this day when we open up the coop and let them run, they come up to the porch and sit on the railing and call for me. I’m 71 years old and I absolutely love my chickens, Pigs, mini donkeys sheep goats, three horses which are beautiful lawn ornaments because the grandchildren went off to college and don’t seem to have much time to ride them anymore. So what do I do a volunteer for petting zoos that I take all my animals to up to a flea market, set up and volunteer to entertain the children with the animals. I have a big horse really big horse who loves kids and licks them licks their faces licks their head just loves the kids. He makes the adults laugh and everybody puts the kid up there to be licked. His tongue is huge. Enjoy all of life that the father has given you bless you my name is Helen.

I have Dominique and black jersey giants! Docile and productive!! 🌻

Yeah. Never been a Joel Salatin person, but I did try, briefly. Don't get me wrong. I really admire him. Just never worked for me. Mine free range on about 2-5 acres (depends on them really. Some travel further). I feed soaked grain and scraps from us. Adjust for the seasons. But otherwise it's really up to them. It's low maintenance so I don't have to move them like you would with a tractor. They always find their way to the nesting box so no surprises in hidden places. They're calm....I'm calm...we're all happy. Feed and open their door in the morning....close it at sunset....done...(thought about a timer but cost prohibitive at this time).

@SSLFamilyDad

5 жыл бұрын

That is my kind if system right there:)

I built this coop and I love it. Thanks for the free plans!

@SSLFamilyDad

5 жыл бұрын

Glad it is working out for you!

Pine City Apiary brings up a good point. To counter though, chicken tractors don't need headlights replaced so... you wouldn't have that headache.

@SSLFamilyDad

5 жыл бұрын

Lol, well. Maybe I could put headlights on the chicken tractor too and make it remote controlled

Cool practical coop. 😄

Great place you live !

At the end of this post, you show the chickens up close, and I thought you could do a fun thing, like Giant chickens attack a little Mr. Bill. You might not be old enough to remember the Mr Bill skits from Saturday Night Live. 😁

@SSLFamilyDad

5 жыл бұрын

Lol, that would be good

@mcseire

4 жыл бұрын

This gave me a giggle. I loved Mr. Bill. Oh no!

I love watching your chicken videos...I have 4 myself and I have learned a lot from your videos and good tips.

Our big, black hen (Maleficent) recently went broody for a few weeks... she's hand-raised though, so she would just growl, gripe, and puff up whenever I came to get her trove of eggs. She's all sound and fury, signifying nothing, submitting to gentle head scritches... and she made a great hand-warmer till she stopped sitting and got up off her butt to rejoin society 😂

I have enough chickens for my own use... 7 hens and 1 rooster. In the summer they run around the yard to eat grass and bugs... I did have to fence in my garden space but when everything get done, I let them into do some digging......

We have a young barred rock go Broody this year and stayed on it to raise two chicks.

1st time to your channel but I wonder if you don't want meat birds, why not build a tractor or two and order a "fry pan" or "rooster special" (they are usually super cheap for 100 like 25 to 50 cents a bird because not many people want a non egg laying bird AKA rooster) from one of the hatcheries raise them on your yard (eliminates some mowing for you plus it will fertilize your yard)for the 6 months you can raise them in a tractor and then butcher them? also I noticed many hatcheries have an assortment type special usually a straight run of heavy breeds that are in essence left overs (they are usually 5 to 10 cents cheaper than the cheapest heavy breed), and if you see 1 or 2 hens in the group of the breed and personality you want you replace an older hen or two with them and butcher the old hen. Also if you do wish to raise your own egg layers from a broody hen then that would be a good way to refresh blood lines.