As a farmer by birth, biologist by trade, teacher, student, and someone who appreciates entertainment, I really appreciate and love your videos. I always pick up some type of tip and always find myself smiling or chortling. Thank you.
The timing of this video could not be better. My first batch of the season will be here next Wednesday and I am getting brooder space ready for them today and tomorrow. Thanks for the tips and reminders that will help make this year a great bird season. Best of luck to you as well. Happy Day!
We've been enjoying your videos and books and now we've started our own UA-cam channel! If you want to see how we're doing, check out the 2 videos we have created so far!
Hi John. Andy Robinson here. I have a question around water and water sanitisation. I have just purchased some drinking nipples to make a bucket waterer and was recommended to add Hydrogen Peroxide (the particular product also contains silver) to keep the water clean. It is especially effective against biofilm. I have no experience with using this sort of product in their water. I raise my chickens on non chemically treated pasture in your tractor, on organic feed. The thought of being able to improve the health of my birds is appealing, but adding a chemical, even in the tiny quantity that it recommends, I am not sure about. What are your thoughts, do you have experience? I have loved finding Farm Marketing Solutions, you are doing such a great job at sharing your knowledge. Thank you very much from West Sussex, England
Hey John! Not sure if its in your area but avian flu has hit nearby us, our pasture plans are on hold sadly. Just curious if you have any tips for a chicken noob on how to navigate this situation.
I’m raising chickens for egg production and have been supplementing their feed with oyster shells. Seems they don’t take to it very well. Any other solutions to enrich their diet with calcium?
I put a sprinkling of fresh shavings on top of their bed twice a day, when I do this the birds run and flap all over the place, is there a way to add new bedding that doesn’t stress them out ?
@@rickayers3150 I had heard about green muscle luckily I must have done something right with last years batch as none of mine had it . Yes mine do tend to settle down again afterwards .
An FYI for everyone: I also am a Severely sensitive Celiac… using Organic, Gluten Free (no wheat, Barley, Rye) and Soy Free feed (Soy is often cross contaminated with Wheat) because I cannot even inhale particles, or be near a Bakery or I get severely ill. So raising “safe organic meat” that I know has not been cross contaminated in processing is another reason to raise my own meat. I get sick sometimes from beef & pork from cross contamination probably from grains it ate & spilled guts… I cannot continue to put my life in danger. So be kind to anyone who is a Celiac. I cannot afford Grass Fed & Grass Finished meats all the time. This is a homesteading solution. 👍🏼🙌🏼
After 20 years of raising pastured chickens, a bear finally got us last season, and tore our cage apart. We now have to raise our birds in a former horse barn, open on one side, and protected by Premiere electric poultry fence, which we move weekly, for a grassy paddock. There is a tack room, accessed through a chicken-sized door, where they spend the night. Not ideal, but that's life in the northwoods.
Excellent video, thank you! Any suggestions on composting, or spreading the compost bedding, from brooder? We just put our 1st batch out on grass < 2 weeks ago and just put it in a pile for now. We plan on using some wood pallets to make a compost area. I am in a medical boot & crutches moving/caring for chicks by myself 5 days a week, hubby is home on weekends. 🥵 Our ‘grass’ is very sparse and sometimes I move twice a day because they chew it down so fast! I am supplementing with sunflower seeds that I sprout. Hey does anyone know, really, if chicks will eat small acorns? Do I really need to rake them away before chicks graze that area? I didn’t read it was toxic until couple weeks ago. 🙄😞 Thanks.
Thank you! I was already feeding mine worms and introduced alfalfa and was wondering about grit so I was extremely impressed by your honesty about it and I will introduce more tomorrow 😊
Hi John. I am raising my first batch of broilers with 3 grade 7 classes. We started with 84 on April 7, and happily still have 81 big healthy birds today. Our problem is that we have had a horrible stretch of weather, and it doesn’t look like it will be viable to get the birds in their tractors for weeks yet, if at all. You have been a huge help to our learning process, and we are wondering if you could help more. Could you possibly give us some tips we need as we start to build an emergency indoor space for our birds to potentially spend the rest of their growth? Also, how dry does the ground need to be for a tractor to be a good choice ? We recently became snow-covered again, and need warmth and melt before it’s even a possibility. Thanks.
...we followed your advice for brooder setup, and have had the chicks in an empty classroom at the end of the hall until now. However, the birds were supposed to be heading outside to their tractors this week, and even though they can’t, they still need to get out of the school building. We have access to another building on the school grounds, but need to quickly set up a section for the birds by week’s end. We’re at Sagkeeng Junior High, in Manitoba, Canada. As far as we know, we are the only school in the province (possibly the country) who is raising chickens on this scale. The kids have absolutely loved the experience so far, and your videos and book have been huge for us. 😁
@@michaelthorbourne1723 same boat here! I got a bunch of 40x48 cardboard shipping totes and opened them up to form a round perimeter, add shavings, feeders, water!
@@beavesnelson8712 , our new spot is technically what will become the new Foods Lab for the school. (think quad-kitchen) Everything is new, and we are being asked to create as little lasting impression as we can. We are putting down a double layer of 6mm poly over the floor, and making walls out of plywood and chicken wire. We're struggling to find something to 'round' our corners...anybody know if making them 45's will work, or are the rounded edges more effective?
@@michaelthorbourne1723 you can insert another piece of cardboard into the corners at 45 degrees which will minimize the chance of smothered chicks. Not as good as a curved corner, but close. Or you can bend the cardboard inserts into a curve and attach them with packing tape or duct tape.
We got the new indoor space set up, and the birds are loving it. We took the opportunity to switch them to nipple waterers, which are working well, and to switch their feed from the starter to the adult mix. All is good inside. However, the third ‘Colorado Low’ in the last16 days is hitting us, and we are getting hammered with rain again. We will need to know when it is dry enough to get our birds in their chicken tractors, as we still want to pasture them. Right now everything is under water, but better weather is forecasted for next week. Oh yeah...we have an outbreak of Avian Flu in Manitoba too...does the excessive environmental moisture combine with the outbreak to effect when/if we can get our birds outside? Any guidance is appreciated, as this is my first batch ever, and I am leading learning for 3 grade 7 classes along the way. Cheers!
I would love to build your tractor style but my husband is concerned about the high winds we get here. What is your experience with high winds VS the tarps, etc.
I have 10 now. In the last 6 years I have only once had them move and one rolled in a large burst of wind. This one a new one not finished did not have a trap on the end ,which I put on all of mine. I live in ny, we get 60 to 70 mile wind at times.
Bio Char added to bedding will help with the ammonia and then add to compost for a microbe rich compost...
“So that we can… kill them and eat them.” 😳😅 That, my friend, is what you call ‘straight to the point’ lol 🍗 😋
As a farmer by birth, biologist by trade, teacher, student, and someone who appreciates entertainment, I really appreciate and love your videos. I always pick up some type of tip and always find myself smiling or chortling. Thank you.
Community is forming...
#TheGreatAwakening continues.
Optimize for Happiness, YES!
The timing of this video could not be better. My first batch of the season will be here next Wednesday and I am getting brooder space ready for them today and tomorrow. Thanks for the tips and reminders that will help make this year a great bird season. Best of luck to you as well. Happy Day!
Love your videos. We'll be butchering roosters in June . First time to butcher for us.
excellent info--- I've learned a few GOOD hints--- thank you
"Optimising for happiness!" Love it!
Your videos are always amazing!!!!!
We've been enjoying your videos and books and now we've started our own UA-cam channel! If you want to see how we're doing, check out the 2 videos we have created so far!
Will you talk about your feed mix?
I need the book in zambia
Hi John.
Andy Robinson here.
I have a question around water and water sanitisation. I have just purchased some drinking nipples to make a bucket waterer and was recommended to add Hydrogen Peroxide (the particular product also contains silver) to keep the water clean. It is especially effective against biofilm.
I have no experience with using this sort of product in their water.
I raise my chickens on non chemically treated pasture in your tractor, on organic feed. The thought of being able to improve the health of my birds is appealing, but adding a chemical, even in the tiny quantity that it recommends, I am not sure about.
What are your thoughts, do you have experience?
I have loved finding Farm Marketing Solutions, you are doing such a great job at sharing your knowledge. Thank you very much from West Sussex, England
Hey John! Not sure if its in your area but avian flu has hit nearby us, our pasture plans are on hold sadly. Just curious if you have any tips for a chicken noob on how to navigate this situation.
I’m raising chickens for egg production and have been supplementing their feed with oyster shells. Seems they don’t take to it very well. Any other solutions to enrich their diet with calcium?
I put a sprinkling of fresh shavings on top of their bed twice a day, when I do this the birds run and flap all over the place, is there a way to add new bedding that doesn’t stress them out ?
Hahaha mine do the same thing...they're just naturally flighty and they calm after less than a minute 😅
We feel that if they are doing this on a regular bases it helps prevent green muscle disease.
@@rickayers3150 I had heard about green muscle luckily I must have done something right with last years batch as none of mine had it . Yes mine do tend to settle down again afterwards .
😯😯😯
👍🇺🇦
On the way to get chicks at the post office now
An FYI for everyone:
I also am a Severely sensitive Celiac… using Organic, Gluten Free (no wheat, Barley, Rye) and Soy Free feed (Soy is often cross contaminated with Wheat) because I cannot even inhale particles, or be near a Bakery or I get severely ill. So raising “safe organic meat” that I know has not been cross contaminated in processing is another reason to raise my own meat. I get sick sometimes from beef & pork from cross contamination probably from grains it ate & spilled guts… I cannot continue to put my life in danger. So be kind to anyone who is a Celiac. I cannot afford Grass Fed & Grass Finished meats all the time. This is a homesteading solution. 👍🏼🙌🏼
I cant believe your oldest is 8 already!!!!
Very nice video. Teaching brooding and marketing. I have built 4 of your chicken tractors. They are working well for me. Thanks
must read book list for the beginner!!
The ultimate chicken guru!
What age do the chicks need to be to safely introduce them into my flock of adult chickens?
I LOVE THIS! I am learning a lot!
❤️
Your tractor makes it easy for pasture poultry raising. Easier to process a chicken. Once it is time to send them off to freezer camp.
A what age would you provide green food to chicks? I have read that it is not recommended while they are under about 8 weeks.
3 weeks they are on pasture
After 20 years of raising pastured chickens, a bear finally got us last season, and tore our cage apart. We now have to raise our birds in a former horse barn, open on one side, and protected by Premiere electric poultry fence, which we move weekly, for a grassy paddock. There is a tack room, accessed through a chicken-sized door, where they spend the night. Not ideal, but that's life in the northwoods.
Love your content John
Excellent video, thank you!
Any suggestions on composting, or spreading the compost bedding, from brooder? We just put our 1st batch out on grass < 2 weeks ago and just put it in a pile for now. We plan on using some wood pallets to make a compost area.
I am in a medical boot & crutches moving/caring for chicks by myself 5 days a week, hubby is home on weekends. 🥵 Our ‘grass’ is very sparse and sometimes I move twice a day because they chew it down so fast! I am supplementing with sunflower seeds that I sprout.
Hey does anyone know, really, if chicks will eat small acorns? Do I really need to rake them away before chicks graze that area? I didn’t read it was toxic until couple weeks ago. 🙄😞 Thanks.
Thank you! I was already feeding mine worms and introduced alfalfa and was wondering about grit so I was extremely impressed by your honesty about it and I will introduce more tomorrow 😊
Hi John. I am raising my first batch of broilers with 3 grade 7 classes. We started with 84 on April 7, and happily still have 81 big healthy birds today.
Our problem is that we have had a horrible stretch of weather, and it doesn’t look like it will be viable to get the birds in their tractors for weeks yet, if at all. You have been a huge help to our learning process, and we are wondering if you could help more. Could you possibly give us some tips we need as we start to build an emergency indoor space for our birds to potentially spend the rest of their growth? Also, how dry does the ground need to be for a tractor to be a good choice ? We recently became snow-covered again, and need warmth and melt before it’s even a possibility. Thanks.
...we followed your advice for brooder setup, and have had the chicks in an empty classroom at the end of the hall until now. However, the birds were supposed to be heading outside to their tractors this week, and even though they can’t, they still need to get out of the school building. We have access to another building on the school grounds, but need to quickly set up a section for the birds by week’s end.
We’re at Sagkeeng Junior High, in Manitoba, Canada. As far as we know, we are the only school in the province (possibly the country) who is raising chickens on this scale. The kids have absolutely loved the experience so far, and your videos and book have been huge for us. 😁
@@michaelthorbourne1723 same boat here! I got a bunch of 40x48 cardboard shipping totes and opened them up to form a round perimeter, add shavings, feeders, water!
@@beavesnelson8712 , our new spot is technically what will become the new Foods Lab for the school. (think quad-kitchen) Everything is new, and we are being asked to create as little lasting impression as we can. We are putting down a double layer of 6mm poly over the floor, and making walls out of plywood and chicken wire. We're struggling to find something to 'round' our corners...anybody know if making them 45's will work, or are the rounded edges more effective?
@@michaelthorbourne1723 you can insert another piece of cardboard into the corners at 45 degrees which will minimize the chance of smothered chicks. Not as good as a curved corner, but close. Or you can bend the cardboard inserts into a curve and attach them with packing tape or duct tape.
We got the new indoor space set up, and the birds are loving it. We took the opportunity to switch them to nipple waterers, which are working well, and to switch their feed from the starter to the adult mix. All is good inside.
However, the third ‘Colorado Low’ in the last16 days is hitting us, and we are getting hammered with rain again. We will need to know when it is dry enough to get our birds in their chicken tractors, as we still want to pasture them. Right now everything is under water, but better weather is forecasted for next week.
Oh yeah...we have an outbreak of Avian Flu in Manitoba too...does the excessive environmental moisture combine with the outbreak to effect when/if we can get our birds outside? Any guidance is appreciated, as this is my first batch ever, and I am leading learning for 3 grade 7 classes along the way. Cheers!
I would love to build your tractor style but my husband is concerned about the high winds we get here. What is your experience with high winds VS the tarps, etc.
I have 10 now. In the last 6 years I have only once had them move and one rolled in a large burst of wind. This one a new one not finished did not have a trap on the end ,which I put on all of mine. I live in ny, we get 60 to 70 mile wind at times.