You are awesome and this video is so informative, I loved this very much. Thank you for the time you put into this Amazing video.
@CANDIKONETT8 сағат бұрын
Pretty cute! 🥰
@CANDIKONETT8 сағат бұрын
😅
@blueandgoldMACAW719 сағат бұрын
They actually do it to move hens, I've never seen a hen enjoy mating with a cockerel
@gracietilert895220 сағат бұрын
This is awful. We are horrible to them.
@donnastormer9652Күн бұрын
Very helpful video thank you! I raise about 60 meat chickens a year and I replace my laying hens about every three years so that’s raising 20 more chicks. I’ve always used a Brooder until I got two Wyandot hens that go broody constantly so I put my Laying chicks under them, and there is something about chicks being raised by a mother because since I’ve been doing this, I have never literally never had pasty butt in my flock again. Another thing is I got the Merrick vaccine with my first batch of egg producers, and those were the most unhealthy adult birds I’ve ever had in my life. I will never vaccinate again.
@bronwynmeehan83032 күн бұрын
This is a great video, I took lots of notes!
@tara66964 күн бұрын
I am rescuing 11 hens one rooster that are like this. They currently have a small space but once I get them moved they will have a 10x26 area to roam (compared to their 10x10) I’m hoping this will help. Any tips???
@shirleyefting51945 күн бұрын
Great video, thank you. Just put down a sick hen at the vet ($217.) She was eating and drinking fine, but couldn’t walk 😢
@Watchoutforsnakez6 күн бұрын
Someone gave me a hen to ad to my flock. She doesn’t know me.
@tinab77916 күн бұрын
I've been sharing this video a lot lately since it's that time of year and just wanted to give an update. My original flock still sees me as mama. They literally listen to me, even when they know that I'm far enough away that I can't get to them in time to stop something. I will just holler whoever's name and say no no! And that chicken stops in its tracks, looks at me and then walks the other way. It was 1,000% worth the imprinting process. I will be using this mama power as I integrate my new group in, which is currently happening.
@alyssa17216 күн бұрын
I love my dinosaur descendant
@bazund7 күн бұрын
great editing !
@jenniferdavis80887 күн бұрын
I live in Alabama and I use the bark off the pine trees from my yard in my chicken run , we feed the squirrels and they knock the bark off chasing each other around the trees and knock it off in the process so I pick it up and put it in thier run it breaks down over time then I place it in my garden
@lisagayhart24827 күн бұрын
Just like think what was around nature 100 years ago
@xoxox.skinnychef8 күн бұрын
Gonna do mine while she’s sleeping
@jjlepepe58758 күн бұрын
One of the greatest stresses to shipped chicks aside from the obvious reasons is the coccidiosis jabs. I bought chicks from a new hatchery and they refuse to vax for coccidiosis because it is too stressful on the shipped chicks & because it is unnecessary (coccidiosis is easily treatable). I thought i had researched this well and made a good decision but I will not be getting them again now that I know this. I recently got chicks from Murray McMurray & half died. 1 arrived dead, the 3 others died within 2 days. 2 others almost died but we brought them back with honey & water. It was absolutely heart breaking. They were vaxxed for coccidiosis, came through a snow storm, and one of the chicks NEVER should have been shipped. It was ridiculously tiny. Last year, I got chicks from them and they sent a polish hen (free chick - was supposed to be a rooster) with 8 Wyandottes. The Wyandottes are top of pecking order & polish are the bottom. They almost killed the polish & had to permanently remove her. My Wyandottes seem happy but they tear each other apart constantly & I suspect a genetic issue. I am using a new hatchery for my next shipment because of all of these problems. As far as brooder plates, Murray McMurray sells an orange & grey brooder & it does NOT get hot enough. I had to replace it. They even had a video comparing brooder plates and all of the chicks went to the square yellow plate. I don’t understand why they still sell it.
@CeciliaMorris8 күн бұрын
OK, the whisky and handful of ice cream just got you a sub, LOL.
@BugT-119 күн бұрын
Would a rooster attack me when doing the dance? I have a rooster and I'm kinda scared to let him dance near me bc he seems like he might attack but idk Maybe he's happy to see me?
@arahmantushar64219 күн бұрын
Wow but why?
@ajmoody63999 күн бұрын
I have a hen she was born on Easter only incubator egg that hatched So somewhere along the way she injured herself to where she could not walk It looked like a severe case of splay leg I thought Marek disease ( but from what I have read this isn't possible through incubation uhg I have been trying for weeks to fix her legs 😢 She eats fine drinks fine just can't walk after weeks of trying to keep her in a position ( using a laundry basket with a towel Right now I'm trying to make a chicken wheelchair She has gained feelings in her wings again because she is trying to fly out of the position I have her in I am to the point I don't know what to do
@Lish91CNA10 күн бұрын
I havent even watxhed more than a few seconds but immediately knew this was going to resonate with me. We just recently lost my Moxie because my hen ended up with this exact same thing. She was an Isa Brown/RIR mix. We wnt through having a house chicken for a few months, syringe feeding, meds and all trying to help. She had Egg Yolk Periontitis once and recovered amazing once and was back to her normal self and everthing seemed great. She eventually started showing similar signs again and we tried the treatments again hopeful to have caught it in time. But she just couldnt oull through and we ultimately had to let her go. Our vet said surgery was too risky and they don't even do it and NO ONE knows anything about the implant and thought I was insane for mentioning it. 😅 We have two more of this breed and I'm worried it may happen to them in the future :(
@BIGwienie10 күн бұрын
Does it hurt the chicken?
@babzky800810 күн бұрын
It worked
@Lizzypoohxo10 күн бұрын
Wow, the chicken "professional" finally figured out that her chickens can free range and find most of their own food 😂. Miraculous.
@Country-Girl74411 күн бұрын
Yeah I used to do this all the time when they were babies :( they aren’t even chickens yet now they are just pullets and they are SOOOO louddddd
@fivefalcon601011 күн бұрын
I am glad you are making videos again. Keep it up up and look forward to the next!
@theresevanvleet167811 күн бұрын
If you soak the whole seeds until they sprout, they have more nutritional value.
@sharkeishatwerks173111 күн бұрын
Love the gravel and sand as the base suggestion
@southernyankeedoll198411 күн бұрын
Question... April 17th I had my first chics hatch out "God's way" (no incubator/no brooder). My Faverolle momma was an excellent teacher & protector from predators. At 4 wks old momma decided her chics were ready to be on their own. So, my question is at what age (these chics/3 girls, 2 boys) is it safe to move the chics into the hens coop and runs? Also, at what age is it safe to move the 2 baby roosters in with my 7 roosters who are 2.5 yrs old? I know I will have to minitor the roosters closely so they do not hurt the lil roosters. I have already trimmed all the spurs and my roosters were trained not to fight as I used a red fly swatter to break up fights when they were younger. Just the sight of the red fly swatter deters conflicts. Appreciate your input as I had learned so much more from your videos than any other chicken keeper. You are most definitely "THE GREAT CHICKEN MOMMA"!
@alexisguzman131211 күн бұрын
Where did you get those small shade tents? I love those!!!
@sheilalamothe993612 күн бұрын
You're right this is not why I come looking and How do you have so many rosters together . Have to many, and after the mating starts, they don't want their brother near any more ..
@lilyavery823012 күн бұрын
I bought mulch for the run, says it’s safe for animals… and now using corn cob bedding in the coop and built a sand box litter style under their roosts and it’s been a game changer. I scoop out the poop from the sand and 90% of their poop is gone! They of course get off the roosts and walk around… but the corn cob is clean, less dust and organic… for those who are first timers… build a litter style sandbox under their roosts.
@thefeatherbrain11 күн бұрын
Thanks for sharing that!
@juliemarr6511 күн бұрын
What do you do to build a sandbox litter style under coop?
@lilyavery823011 күн бұрын
@@juliemarr65 we set it up where we built a tray under the roosting bar. Plywood bottom with 1x4 to frame it and attached legs to sit it on and filled with sand. The roosting bar sits about a foot above it… and they poop and I scoop everything up in the morning… we got dry sand, course sand, from Lowe’s… it’s been a life saver. We use Beck’s corn cob bedding and never ever will we use pine. Corn cob is organic and composts well… no smell and low low dust. Plus, when we built the new tray sand box, we have around three feet of empty space under to build a brooder or when we introduce any new chickens to the coop, they’ll all live together. It’s like a dinner table style… imagine it like that. Hope this helps.
@Sylvia41112 күн бұрын
Thank you SO MUCH for this. I'm a brand new chicken momma and I've been so confused about all the bedding options. I trust your research and your experience. You've answered all my questions. Thank you!❤
@olson.pamela12 күн бұрын
I really like your channel but if you get drained why do it? Is it financially worth the suffering? It would be nice to hear how that plays into everything. It is very rare that homesteaders or others address the money factor. We are led to believe that KZread $ isn’t keeping them afloat.
@ittybitty770212 күн бұрын
A thoughtful chicken mom! I appreciate seeing kindness to your animals... I use Rice Hay in my run for them to tear up , full flakes, let them break it down, ... they love it. When I sprinkle u too they find grass bits to eat too. When it's really hot for them I make blocks of ice to put in their waters to help cool them too (and made a mister area too.
@ittybitty770212 күн бұрын
ps: not everywhere, just pick a area for them to relax in after hunting. I also serve up watermelon, it's like chicken candy. (all these mistakes are my computer writing for me, sorry.) BTW, Rice hay, NOT straw, alfalfa or grass. Rice has little flavor bombs they like to find.
@luiscortez517912 күн бұрын
I have this problem but I don't have a roster. I have 15 chickens and and just about all of them have this problem need help please.
@michaelhoskins200612 күн бұрын
I love your channel. Just want to ask how can I calm my roosters around my lady chickens most grateful if you reply if not, have a good day all the best.
@solinvictus642412 күн бұрын
Yea, Scratch & Peck is very good but way too expensive. I only buy some once or twice a year.
@TufiddinChannel13 күн бұрын
I don't know why my ears can tolerate the sound of crickets, wall drilling machine, and the vehicles. But I can't stand the sound of chicks; it feels very noisy 😩
@MBHeritageFarms13 күн бұрын
LOL What did I just watch
@thefeatherbrain11 күн бұрын
Welcome to my brain
@MosaicHomestead13 күн бұрын
I have never liked sand for any type of bedding, it's not a natural material habitat for chickens, I get a lot of rain and my run is a pergola roof with a sail shade until the passion fruit provides natural shade for the chickens, what has worked for me has been wood chips, I want a composting run for future garden projects, if the chicken coop produces, eggs, Compost, power, water, meat, passion fruit and entertainment, the return on investment was worth it. I see no production in sand in the coop or run, I deep litter and clean coop once a year, Compost becomes money, sand doesn't.
@thefeatherbrain13 күн бұрын
I have found sand to be a huge asset in my coop, but that's because we get really cold winters here. The first year I had chickens, I had organic bedding (wood shavings) in the coop and it was awful. Because it doesn't dry poop the way sand does and it's constantly breaking down and releasing gases, I had to have a huge amount of ventilation in the coop to prevent ammonia buildup. That's fine when your climate is warm - in fact, that ventilation is welcome by all. But in a cold climate, it means the coop is just as cold as the outdoors and the chickens really suffer. With sand, my coop barely needs any ventilation and stays much warmer. I do actually remove the poop from my sand bedding weekly and add it to the compost pile, so I don't feel it's wasted. I only replace the sand bedding in my coop every 3 years or so which means low maintenance. And I actually do think that sand is a natural material for chickens. You do find it in the wild where chickens live and forage, but I totally get your point. Organic bedding makes much more sense for your goals, climate, and circumstances. Organic bedding is also nature for chickens. And your chickens seem happy in it, so perfect fit all around!
@MosaicHomestead13 күн бұрын
@thefeatherbrain technically I have sand both in my coop and run, it's all pretty much steel reinforced block and concrete lol
@thefeatherbrain13 күн бұрын
@@MosaicHomestead Lol!!!
@ECole-le7we14 күн бұрын
How about an inground bed, a raised bed, or even a kiddie pool filled with soil located in the run where you plant some things for them to forage? It would require plants that don't require much water unless you don't mind doing that. And the plants would be need to be hardy enough to withstand the onslaught that's going to happen. You could also be ready to succession plant as needed. I also imagine you would need a rather large run to do this. But you could also add onto an existing run and let the chickens into that section off and on, i.e., open when ready, close off when knocked down. I think I saw where a chicken keeper in Australia rotated his flock in and out of several different special garden runs throughout the year. When a given garden run had been fully harvested for his family, he let the chickens in to that particular run to do the final cleanup. When they were done, he moved them to the next one to do the same thing. When they moved out, he replanted based on the season. It was a great setup.
@ronmcdowell479414 күн бұрын
I live in Florida, and sand is everywhere . My whole yard is a giant sand box.
@thefeatherbrain13 күн бұрын
So you don't have to worry about bedding at all then - it's already there for you! :)
@ECole-le7we14 күн бұрын
Hey! You have reached a subscribers milestone, right? I have been watching you for a few months, but I am not sure. If this is a milestone, congratulations! If not, congratulations anyway. You are the best, most scientific evidence based, most humane chicken channel I know either way!
@thefeatherbrain13 күн бұрын
Thank you! I do consider it a milestone for sure. :)
@ECole-le7we14 күн бұрын
Also, can you alternate/rotate between the different organic options you recommended depending on what's available, cost effective, or easily accessible?
@thefeatherbrain14 күн бұрын
Yes! You're good at this. :) I've found the chickens love when you alternate bedding. They get really excited about anything new, so when you switch the bedding up, they act like it's Christmas, even if it's a bedding they've experienced many times in the past...I guess it's like how some parents alternate toys in and out of play for their kids. A toy feels new when a kid hasn't seen it for 6 months. :)
@ECole-le7we14 күн бұрын
@@thefeatherbrain Great. Thank you.
@juliemarr6514 күн бұрын
Fantastic video. My husband and I are newbies. Our 6 chickens are about 17 weeks. Working on where to build new coop and run. For the moment their small beginning coop and run is under our deck on patio as rain we had totally muddied the yard. We let them out to free range and they run up the hill and duck cover under our side deck for shade. So, this came at a perfect time as now we can d3cide where to put the new coop and run. Thank you, I love these videos and your wisdom❤
@eseme_p14 күн бұрын
I haven't noticed before (was too concentrated on the chickens :D) but your property and location is absolutely gorgeous, nature in the US is breathtaking in so many places! I hope I can move to a bigger property soon but I think it is a bit harder to find one in Europe, we have much less space in general :D
@thefeatherbrain14 күн бұрын
Thank you! Where are you at in Europe? Lots of gorgeous places there too! But you're right, I do think larger tracts of land are likely easier to find here and probably lower cost, simply due to the lower population.
@eseme_p14 күн бұрын
@@thefeatherbrain I am located in Hungary! (really small country in EU standards even :D) we have some really beautiful locations here as well, but we are a country with mostly plains and not mountains, so I am always fascinated by huge mountains to be honest :))
@ECole-le7we14 күн бұрын
Great video. Is it okay to combine a couple of beddings, e.g., straw and dried leaves?
@thefeatherbrain14 күн бұрын
Yes! Great point! I actually prefer mixing beddings. Every bedding has its downsides, but I find when you mix them, the downsides get downplayed.
@ECole-le7we14 күн бұрын
@@thefeatherbrain Thank you!
@yogawitherikacovey420914 күн бұрын
I just stsrted letting my chickens free range this week. They are only 10 weeks old. One of them found my compost and summoned the others.
Пікірлер
You are awesome and this video is so informative, I loved this very much. Thank you for the time you put into this Amazing video.
Pretty cute! 🥰
😅
They actually do it to move hens, I've never seen a hen enjoy mating with a cockerel
This is awful. We are horrible to them.
Very helpful video thank you! I raise about 60 meat chickens a year and I replace my laying hens about every three years so that’s raising 20 more chicks. I’ve always used a Brooder until I got two Wyandot hens that go broody constantly so I put my Laying chicks under them, and there is something about chicks being raised by a mother because since I’ve been doing this, I have never literally never had pasty butt in my flock again. Another thing is I got the Merrick vaccine with my first batch of egg producers, and those were the most unhealthy adult birds I’ve ever had in my life. I will never vaccinate again.
This is a great video, I took lots of notes!
I am rescuing 11 hens one rooster that are like this. They currently have a small space but once I get them moved they will have a 10x26 area to roam (compared to their 10x10) I’m hoping this will help. Any tips???
Great video, thank you. Just put down a sick hen at the vet ($217.) She was eating and drinking fine, but couldn’t walk 😢
Someone gave me a hen to ad to my flock. She doesn’t know me.
I've been sharing this video a lot lately since it's that time of year and just wanted to give an update. My original flock still sees me as mama. They literally listen to me, even when they know that I'm far enough away that I can't get to them in time to stop something. I will just holler whoever's name and say no no! And that chicken stops in its tracks, looks at me and then walks the other way. It was 1,000% worth the imprinting process. I will be using this mama power as I integrate my new group in, which is currently happening.
I love my dinosaur descendant
great editing !
I live in Alabama and I use the bark off the pine trees from my yard in my chicken run , we feed the squirrels and they knock the bark off chasing each other around the trees and knock it off in the process so I pick it up and put it in thier run it breaks down over time then I place it in my garden
Just like think what was around nature 100 years ago
Gonna do mine while she’s sleeping
One of the greatest stresses to shipped chicks aside from the obvious reasons is the coccidiosis jabs. I bought chicks from a new hatchery and they refuse to vax for coccidiosis because it is too stressful on the shipped chicks & because it is unnecessary (coccidiosis is easily treatable). I thought i had researched this well and made a good decision but I will not be getting them again now that I know this. I recently got chicks from Murray McMurray & half died. 1 arrived dead, the 3 others died within 2 days. 2 others almost died but we brought them back with honey & water. It was absolutely heart breaking. They were vaxxed for coccidiosis, came through a snow storm, and one of the chicks NEVER should have been shipped. It was ridiculously tiny. Last year, I got chicks from them and they sent a polish hen (free chick - was supposed to be a rooster) with 8 Wyandottes. The Wyandottes are top of pecking order & polish are the bottom. They almost killed the polish & had to permanently remove her. My Wyandottes seem happy but they tear each other apart constantly & I suspect a genetic issue. I am using a new hatchery for my next shipment because of all of these problems. As far as brooder plates, Murray McMurray sells an orange & grey brooder & it does NOT get hot enough. I had to replace it. They even had a video comparing brooder plates and all of the chicks went to the square yellow plate. I don’t understand why they still sell it.
OK, the whisky and handful of ice cream just got you a sub, LOL.
Would a rooster attack me when doing the dance? I have a rooster and I'm kinda scared to let him dance near me bc he seems like he might attack but idk Maybe he's happy to see me?
Wow but why?
I have a hen she was born on Easter only incubator egg that hatched So somewhere along the way she injured herself to where she could not walk It looked like a severe case of splay leg I thought Marek disease ( but from what I have read this isn't possible through incubation uhg I have been trying for weeks to fix her legs 😢 She eats fine drinks fine just can't walk after weeks of trying to keep her in a position ( using a laundry basket with a towel Right now I'm trying to make a chicken wheelchair She has gained feelings in her wings again because she is trying to fly out of the position I have her in I am to the point I don't know what to do
I havent even watxhed more than a few seconds but immediately knew this was going to resonate with me. We just recently lost my Moxie because my hen ended up with this exact same thing. She was an Isa Brown/RIR mix. We wnt through having a house chicken for a few months, syringe feeding, meds and all trying to help. She had Egg Yolk Periontitis once and recovered amazing once and was back to her normal self and everthing seemed great. She eventually started showing similar signs again and we tried the treatments again hopeful to have caught it in time. But she just couldnt oull through and we ultimately had to let her go. Our vet said surgery was too risky and they don't even do it and NO ONE knows anything about the implant and thought I was insane for mentioning it. 😅 We have two more of this breed and I'm worried it may happen to them in the future :(
Does it hurt the chicken?
It worked
Wow, the chicken "professional" finally figured out that her chickens can free range and find most of their own food 😂. Miraculous.
Yeah I used to do this all the time when they were babies :( they aren’t even chickens yet now they are just pullets and they are SOOOO louddddd
I am glad you are making videos again. Keep it up up and look forward to the next!
If you soak the whole seeds until they sprout, they have more nutritional value.
Love the gravel and sand as the base suggestion
Question... April 17th I had my first chics hatch out "God's way" (no incubator/no brooder). My Faverolle momma was an excellent teacher & protector from predators. At 4 wks old momma decided her chics were ready to be on their own. So, my question is at what age (these chics/3 girls, 2 boys) is it safe to move the chics into the hens coop and runs? Also, at what age is it safe to move the 2 baby roosters in with my 7 roosters who are 2.5 yrs old? I know I will have to minitor the roosters closely so they do not hurt the lil roosters. I have already trimmed all the spurs and my roosters were trained not to fight as I used a red fly swatter to break up fights when they were younger. Just the sight of the red fly swatter deters conflicts. Appreciate your input as I had learned so much more from your videos than any other chicken keeper. You are most definitely "THE GREAT CHICKEN MOMMA"!
Where did you get those small shade tents? I love those!!!
You're right this is not why I come looking and How do you have so many rosters together . Have to many, and after the mating starts, they don't want their brother near any more ..
I bought mulch for the run, says it’s safe for animals… and now using corn cob bedding in the coop and built a sand box litter style under their roosts and it’s been a game changer. I scoop out the poop from the sand and 90% of their poop is gone! They of course get off the roosts and walk around… but the corn cob is clean, less dust and organic… for those who are first timers… build a litter style sandbox under their roosts.
Thanks for sharing that!
What do you do to build a sandbox litter style under coop?
@@juliemarr65 we set it up where we built a tray under the roosting bar. Plywood bottom with 1x4 to frame it and attached legs to sit it on and filled with sand. The roosting bar sits about a foot above it… and they poop and I scoop everything up in the morning… we got dry sand, course sand, from Lowe’s… it’s been a life saver. We use Beck’s corn cob bedding and never ever will we use pine. Corn cob is organic and composts well… no smell and low low dust. Plus, when we built the new tray sand box, we have around three feet of empty space under to build a brooder or when we introduce any new chickens to the coop, they’ll all live together. It’s like a dinner table style… imagine it like that. Hope this helps.
Thank you SO MUCH for this. I'm a brand new chicken momma and I've been so confused about all the bedding options. I trust your research and your experience. You've answered all my questions. Thank you!❤
I really like your channel but if you get drained why do it? Is it financially worth the suffering? It would be nice to hear how that plays into everything. It is very rare that homesteaders or others address the money factor. We are led to believe that KZread $ isn’t keeping them afloat.
A thoughtful chicken mom! I appreciate seeing kindness to your animals... I use Rice Hay in my run for them to tear up , full flakes, let them break it down, ... they love it. When I sprinkle u too they find grass bits to eat too. When it's really hot for them I make blocks of ice to put in their waters to help cool them too (and made a mister area too.
ps: not everywhere, just pick a area for them to relax in after hunting. I also serve up watermelon, it's like chicken candy. (all these mistakes are my computer writing for me, sorry.) BTW, Rice hay, NOT straw, alfalfa or grass. Rice has little flavor bombs they like to find.
I have this problem but I don't have a roster. I have 15 chickens and and just about all of them have this problem need help please.
I love your channel. Just want to ask how can I calm my roosters around my lady chickens most grateful if you reply if not, have a good day all the best.
Yea, Scratch & Peck is very good but way too expensive. I only buy some once or twice a year.
I don't know why my ears can tolerate the sound of crickets, wall drilling machine, and the vehicles. But I can't stand the sound of chicks; it feels very noisy 😩
LOL What did I just watch
Welcome to my brain
I have never liked sand for any type of bedding, it's not a natural material habitat for chickens, I get a lot of rain and my run is a pergola roof with a sail shade until the passion fruit provides natural shade for the chickens, what has worked for me has been wood chips, I want a composting run for future garden projects, if the chicken coop produces, eggs, Compost, power, water, meat, passion fruit and entertainment, the return on investment was worth it. I see no production in sand in the coop or run, I deep litter and clean coop once a year, Compost becomes money, sand doesn't.
I have found sand to be a huge asset in my coop, but that's because we get really cold winters here. The first year I had chickens, I had organic bedding (wood shavings) in the coop and it was awful. Because it doesn't dry poop the way sand does and it's constantly breaking down and releasing gases, I had to have a huge amount of ventilation in the coop to prevent ammonia buildup. That's fine when your climate is warm - in fact, that ventilation is welcome by all. But in a cold climate, it means the coop is just as cold as the outdoors and the chickens really suffer. With sand, my coop barely needs any ventilation and stays much warmer. I do actually remove the poop from my sand bedding weekly and add it to the compost pile, so I don't feel it's wasted. I only replace the sand bedding in my coop every 3 years or so which means low maintenance. And I actually do think that sand is a natural material for chickens. You do find it in the wild where chickens live and forage, but I totally get your point. Organic bedding makes much more sense for your goals, climate, and circumstances. Organic bedding is also nature for chickens. And your chickens seem happy in it, so perfect fit all around!
@thefeatherbrain technically I have sand both in my coop and run, it's all pretty much steel reinforced block and concrete lol
@@MosaicHomestead Lol!!!
How about an inground bed, a raised bed, or even a kiddie pool filled with soil located in the run where you plant some things for them to forage? It would require plants that don't require much water unless you don't mind doing that. And the plants would be need to be hardy enough to withstand the onslaught that's going to happen. You could also be ready to succession plant as needed. I also imagine you would need a rather large run to do this. But you could also add onto an existing run and let the chickens into that section off and on, i.e., open when ready, close off when knocked down. I think I saw where a chicken keeper in Australia rotated his flock in and out of several different special garden runs throughout the year. When a given garden run had been fully harvested for his family, he let the chickens in to that particular run to do the final cleanup. When they were done, he moved them to the next one to do the same thing. When they moved out, he replanted based on the season. It was a great setup.
I live in Florida, and sand is everywhere . My whole yard is a giant sand box.
So you don't have to worry about bedding at all then - it's already there for you! :)
Hey! You have reached a subscribers milestone, right? I have been watching you for a few months, but I am not sure. If this is a milestone, congratulations! If not, congratulations anyway. You are the best, most scientific evidence based, most humane chicken channel I know either way!
Thank you! I do consider it a milestone for sure. :)
Also, can you alternate/rotate between the different organic options you recommended depending on what's available, cost effective, or easily accessible?
Yes! You're good at this. :) I've found the chickens love when you alternate bedding. They get really excited about anything new, so when you switch the bedding up, they act like it's Christmas, even if it's a bedding they've experienced many times in the past...I guess it's like how some parents alternate toys in and out of play for their kids. A toy feels new when a kid hasn't seen it for 6 months. :)
@@thefeatherbrain Great. Thank you.
Fantastic video. My husband and I are newbies. Our 6 chickens are about 17 weeks. Working on where to build new coop and run. For the moment their small beginning coop and run is under our deck on patio as rain we had totally muddied the yard. We let them out to free range and they run up the hill and duck cover under our side deck for shade. So, this came at a perfect time as now we can d3cide where to put the new coop and run. Thank you, I love these videos and your wisdom❤
I haven't noticed before (was too concentrated on the chickens :D) but your property and location is absolutely gorgeous, nature in the US is breathtaking in so many places! I hope I can move to a bigger property soon but I think it is a bit harder to find one in Europe, we have much less space in general :D
Thank you! Where are you at in Europe? Lots of gorgeous places there too! But you're right, I do think larger tracts of land are likely easier to find here and probably lower cost, simply due to the lower population.
@@thefeatherbrain I am located in Hungary! (really small country in EU standards even :D) we have some really beautiful locations here as well, but we are a country with mostly plains and not mountains, so I am always fascinated by huge mountains to be honest :))
Great video. Is it okay to combine a couple of beddings, e.g., straw and dried leaves?
Yes! Great point! I actually prefer mixing beddings. Every bedding has its downsides, but I find when you mix them, the downsides get downplayed.
@@thefeatherbrain Thank you!
I just stsrted letting my chickens free range this week. They are only 10 weeks old. One of them found my compost and summoned the others.