Hi Art...chickens don't really mind the cold that much..just make sure they keep dry...chickens don't care much for walking on snow if they aren't used to it...just clear out an area for them to feed and water and they will be fine..thanks and thumbs up
Loved the opening shot of you walking barefoot in the snow, LOL!! And loved that while you were still talking about the straw, one of the chickens walked over & started throwing it around! :D
Thx for your time taping, edeting and posting and responding. That is taking you way more time then for me to watch these nice video's. What you do during commute I'm doing watching you guys on a day my brain and body are working against me and list my reseach for another day. I love the food for thought you through in every ones ans a while.
Art and Bri, I love your vlogs! Have you seen the video on FB about a cat who stayed with the mama goat for three days before she gave birth to her kids? The cat massaged her stomach for three days, slept on top of the goat at night to keep her warm, and became friends will all THREE of her goats kids. You two are wonderful....as well as all of your children. love, Susan
Just be careful not to insulate too much. This is a mistake that many make because they think their chickens are cold. Believe it or not, chickens have a harder time in the heat than they do in the cold. And it's not that your chickens don't like the snow, they're just not used to it. I live in the Midwest and my chickens don't mind the snow at all. Great videos Art!
There are open areas behind the laying boxes and plenty of cracks, plus the straw is not airtight. Also, they will have all the straw pulled out by the time it "warms up" later this week. Thanks.
Many of the chickens in our flock have been through six winters with us now, so they are used to snow ... and they still don't like it. Many chickens don't. I know quite a few chicken keepers with flocks that are snow haters, and also quite a few with flocks that don't mind it at all. I'm used to snow too, after 35+ years living here in Ontario, Canada ... but I still don't much like it either.
I loved the intro shots you guys do...so beautiful. Alot of the folks below do not realize that Justin raised this flock in the chickshaw method a long time & overwintered them with even less insulation that Art is doing. Now I am not a big fan of cramming all those birds in the shaw...but it worked for Justin just fine and his birds look great. And the best thing about the Shaw is the doodoo dropping onto the ground like bunnies. Since he got up early in the AM and let them out it was not a big deal..because chickens love to bunch up. My chickens have a very nice barn with about 12 inches of straw & it's very snuggily in there...but they still snuggle in a corner on top of each other for comfort and warmth. I agree with you Art that moving that much compost out from chickens is a pain. I like your idea of building a greenhouse and giving them that extra insulation in the winter next year. I have to admit that my chickens are given the option of freerange, but in Ohio when it blows windy in winter they do NOT want to wander but they stay in our barn. If there's rain, wind or snow they stay in. Everyone has their own way of doing things...and Justin's method worked for this flock & I know you guys will have a fantastic garden this year because of their input. ((be careful not to cover all the air intake on the Shaw. Since their are stacked in there they need some holes for airflow without being blown on too much. I'd keep the passive wind side open on the bottom for wind to be able to circulate in or punch small holes in the cardboard o.- ))
art if it snows more on your straw. I have found that if you rake it all up in a pile then the chickens will spread it out over the snow then. saving the need for more straw on the ground. love your vids, happy winter.
Enjoyed this video. We also built Justin's Chickshaw, but ran the roosts across instead of front to back. For the extreme cold, we put foil insulation just on the sides, left the front open. We also hung feed bags across the nesting boxes. They all did fine and in VA, we had similar 8 degree days with 8 inches of snow. We laid cardboard in front of their Chickshaw, in a path to the chicken tractor, where we keep the food and water. Our goats and chickens are mobile and kept in the same fence. Once the goats tasted chicken food, we had to make a place for the chickens to eat, without the goat's "help". See our setup on FB at Lovebird Homestead Farm
They are now your birds and your homestead - husband them as you will. :) What you said in this video makes sense. Stacking functionality and managing resources is where it is at. Maybe next year you can grow some of your own bedding, livestock insulation, and feed. The chickshaw looks fine - they just need wind protection from the bottom. Putting straw on the snow was just what they needed.
Love that you talked to us thru the coup. We are so thankful you are taking such good care of the chickens that we all know and love. Blessings sweet family.
Wow Art your "Big picture" makes so MUCH sense with why you prefer your chickens right where they are..Thank you for explaining it ...:-)))....I am continuing to red flag and report that idiot ..have a GREAT day with your family!!!
Awesome thank you. You have helped me to have the idea to put straw in where my feeding station is for my feral cats! Just came back in from outside of placing that straw awesome.😁🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱💖
My chickens were just fine this year with temps as low as 0 degrees this winter. White leghorns which are known for getting frost bit on their combs. I agree with getting some straw on the land and helping that garden grow....never hurts to have some good biomass....and a nice warm place for mice to sleep lol ....enjoyed the video brotha!
Awesome video. I have followed you and Brianna from your 1st video. You guys are really bringing that homestead to life. I'm excited to see what all the spring and summer have in store.
If you can get them, wood chips (and even better kiln dried wood shavings/ sawdust) are awesome for animal pens. Wood has a carbon to nitrogen ratio of between 400 parts c to n and 500 c/n. It balances a LOT of nitrogen out, which helps keep the nitrogen from volatilizing off as ammonia. Straw is also good with a c/n ratio of 50 for oat straw and 150 for wheat straw. Where i am, I use wood shavings just because it's the same price approximately as oat straw (and it cleans out easier since it doesn't mat together) but that probably changes based on where you are. Great videos! I loved the opening scene.
dear a+b, I want to express my deepest appreciation for your efforts. my chickens are totally free range. they choose crowding together at the top of the arbor. go figure!? now...when it rains, they go for the cedar tree. imagine 12 chicken butts sticking out of a cedar. I worry but I don't control them. if they want the barn, they have access and a chicken approved heat lamp! Nope, they vote cedar! bahaha
glad you got the feathered family some straw. mine love it. yes next season as you expand a larger chicken house is on your list. that's a lot of stress on your birds in the chickshaw, a great idea. my flock loves to roost up high. they naturally will roost in trees as they are birds. my silkie rooster will even go up and snuggel with the hens at night. we are in central texas and have had sevear freeze. costal hay and sourgum straw is what we get here it is a two fold blessing item. one for the insulating and second for my scratching composters. your learning by living it and that's a very good thing. I have a fenced chicken yard with 2 coups and a pet rescue pig who lives with the chickens. we built him his own cool heavy duty house up off the ground. in fall to early spring they all free range the large garden area through a gate. in about 3 hours they go back to their area. they are comfortable in their area.. you are using the first principalof permaculture. take time and observe your surroundings. I am a garden writer have a fb group Bloom Where Your Planted. come visit the site. love the goat girls! and yes I too love pie. butter crust most excelleng bri.
Jannie Vaught there is plenty of room in that Chickasaw birds squeeze together when it's cold to keep warm...even in my big coop they all huddle together...they all have their line in the hierarchy and are fine🐔🐓🐔🐓🐔🐓❤️❤️❤️
Excellent job insulating the chickshaw, you did a wonderful job with all of the straw and even the cardboard. Smart with all of it. I'd have left the bales whole though. 🌾Merry meet 🌿
Hilarious bare feet. Reminds me of our chickens when we first let them out each day. They find many interesting places to get out of the snow, but have learned to deal. They love to go next to our house by the basement Windows. We too had to put up a bit of insulation and wind break, makes quite a difference. Still well ventilated. We had -22 before the holiday and are expecting -12 this weekend. They seem fine and are eating well and 4 of the five are laying daily. Had one egg freeze solid and crack a bit. But it was fine to eat when it thawed. I always wondered what would happen. Great videos.
I also like the way you started the show with your frozen feet in the snow (I've gone barefoot in the snow before --- just for a minute or less...probably won't ever do that again...l.o.l.). And I LOVE the snow scene / music start too! P.S. I would be honored if you might check out my channel, and if you like it, share it. This would be especially for Bri, because it's intended for women, but I do happen to know that men are encouraged by it too...so all are welcome! The Christmas videos are especially nice...Part 2 was my trip to my brother's house (Jordan and Julianna). A new one will be uploaded each Thursday, from now on...Thank you for your time!
No room in my greenhouse but the chicken tractor is against the west wall for this cold spell which will be a planting bed in the spring and it is blocking the cold wind. They are able to get out in the tractor and dig in the morning so I give them their soaked grain at sunset to keep warm at night.
Art this was a very interesting informative vlog ! Enjoyed every minute... no time wasted. Liked the way you start at the barn, then you move to the chick shaw and continue your work has you talk to viewers... transition was smooth, tone of voice was even and your retain attention throughout. Great Job! if I may put in my five cents worth... :)
Great logic, thanks for sharing. We would like to get chickens in the near future, so I'm researching to figure out care for them, housing for them, and all that's involved in raising them.
More great ideas and innovations to come. Next I am going to try an intensive composting method using chickens inspired by Geoff Lawton. Also turning over the idea of temporary straw bale housing that would last for a season or two then be composted. Stay tuned.
This is important cause im moving from Hawaii to Indiana, I bought a farm. And i want lots of chickens. But snow is my enemy. But i have to retire somewhere. So show us how and what to do my friend.
the effort shines through.. and thanks Uncle Art, for the farming input and out put idea... put me into deep thought about the upcoming year.. felt kinda different this vid, somehow it was different, in a good way.. MAYBE IT WAS uNCLE aRT "heralding the moon" heee hee : )
I truly love these videos but we all must do what is good for our own good Art and Bri are only giving different idea I love that but I also live upstate in new york were I have snow 4 months out of the year.So we all need to do what is best for us take any ideas that may be helpful to where you live.....:)
Nice vid Art! Looks like y'all have made a cozy little nest for your feathered friends. I have 3 turkeys & 3 chickens who have literally been roaming around our property for weeks, refuse to come home to roost in the hen house. I don't know what to make of it. We've had freezing temps & snow this week. A high of 18 degrees the other day. Yet there they are, sleeping in the bamboo & walking around the homestead aimlessly all day. Anyway... :-/
I think I would use the barn because I am a scaredy cat. I would be too worried my chickens would freeze - BUT... I live in Canada, so they probably would lol! By the way your barn is AMAZING.
We rarely have to buy straw, every year in the fall I put signs on our main road and advertise on the FB trading posts for peoples left over fall decorations of whole pumpkins and straw bales. It seems like such a waste that people spend money to decorate and then throw it in the trash. I have had a great response of people wanting to give me their leftover holiday decorations
Art, the chickens need some air, unless your going to move the Chickasaw every few days, because chickens can die if the ammonia from their waste builds up! Blessings!
Made a video showing how to report tho's for stealing. I posted the link on your last video and gave you guys a shout out. Hope it helps. Thanks for all you guys do. Keep up the hard work. God Bless.
Like the government they will take their sweet time to fix it! I wonder how many other places this person is stealing from? Hope its resolved for you soon!
Art, I have a friend who has a farm in Westfield NC. He makes hay. He complains that a bale of straw costs far more than a bale of hay. He thinks that a bale of hay, which has food value in it, should be worth more than straw. Just a thought. You may be able to spread hay for less money than the straw bales.
True, depending on the time of year etc. One thing to consider is the nitrogen content of hay is so much higher than straw so it does not work for a "brown" material in the same way as straw to balance out chicken manure and food scraps. I just saw some round straw bales with water damage for $5 each on craigslist, about 3 hrs drive away. If I had the truck and trailer to haul them I would be jumping on this. We are watching for something more local.
Just wondering if you could just put the chickens in the barn on the bitterly cold nights? Just January? The straw and cardboard should help with the wind.
Art, I really appreciate sharing your vision and practices of permaculture in relation to your homestead. I also am trying to start homesteading but only on 1/3 acre😳😳 but appreciated all the advice I can get from you and Justin Rhodes. Can you give me a few references for a beginner and can you suggest chickens suitable for Fl climate to be irises for egg laying not meat👩🏻🌾👩🏻🌾👩🏻🌾👩🏻🌾thanks
Thank you for the information! I'm in North Florida, we get the occasional freeze: maybe as low as 25-29° and never snow. You mentioned subzero weather which we don't get so do you think siding on the chickshaw should be enough?
Have you thought about adding cayenne pepper to the chicken feed during the winter? It helps raise their internal body temperature which might be beneficial if you are keeping them outdoors for the colder months.
That's great. There are some people who believe that cayenne pepper doesn't work, or doesn't work for them. However, there are plenty of people who find it does, and of course there is the science behind it. Hope you guys find something that works for you. As always, love your videos. C: Here is a study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in 2008: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18539598 Effect of capsaicin on thermoregulation: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843897/ www.moonlightmileherbs.com/Fueling_Our_Poultry's_Energy_BYP_Oct_Nov_2010.pdf
Justin explained that he left the front open to allow air flow to keep the chickshaw dry so that the chickens didn't get frostbite but you sealed it up. Why?
Do you know, that when theres a ring around the moon, that IF you count the stars inside the ring, That will tell you how many days before a rain or snow.
You mentioned putting a hog in with the chickens, a word of warning hogs like chickens if they get a taste of the chickens blood they have been known to devour them whole with hardly a sqwak from the chicken
In this system hogs do what chickens can't. In an intense deep bedding system chickens can "cap" the bedding with their wet manure. They also have a limited reach into the compost, requiring significant human labor in the form of regularly deeply turning compost. Hogs can do this work, as they are aggressive diggers and love to hunt for corn deep in the bedding as they stir everything. These two animals can do ALL the work of composting. Very few people are doing this it seems and it is one of my dreams. The greenhouse has to have concrete or wood walls several feet high to contain the building bedding material. Joel Salatin keeps his layers like this in the winter. Yes the hogs have to be segregated. Joel uses a movable open bottomed hog pen which he rotates through the greenhouse. You could also allow the hogs in maybe one day per week while the chickens were outside in a run. Or you could divide half and half and they could take turns. Show less
Oh ART AND BRI...I just went over to the idiots UA-cam channel and they shut it down due to numerous complaints of copyright issues LOLOLOLOLLL ..POWER OF THE UA-cam CHANNEL/SUBSCRIBER ..LOLOLOLOLLL so happy for you all ..ok now go back to being super AWESOME !!!!
Justin did a vlog about his reasons for insulating as much/as little as he did. He didn't cover the front, on purpose. So why now did you add the cardboard. Aren't you worried about moisture buildup?
Patricia Wykoff is right. Justin did a vlog saying don't insulate too much. I think that given the weird extremes in weather, sometimes let the dinos spend the night at Barn land Resort. lol
ART and BRI I see your point, but I believe that in agreement with you and Justin...the moisture is the killer, not the temperature. Insulating could result in keeping moisture in. Also, in agreement with you, it is not your intention to keep straw and cardboard there long, so really.....why bother?
I bet that electric fence is not as effective with that snow.I would personally work with nature all that snow sure would had work as the straw in the bottom.Just a few observations can wait to see the kids to be born.
Electric fences can be less effective in the snow, not usually because the snow grounds the fence, but because the snow insulates the animals from the ground so they get less shock. If you live in an area with long lasting snow on the ground and want to use electric fencing, or a very dry region for that matter, then a hot/ground fence is a good choice. With this fence, ground wires are worked into the fence design or netting. The animal has to touch two wires to get a shock but there is no dependence on an earth based ground system. These nets are available from premier 1, our fence supplier but not really appropriate for this area.
Hahaha: Leaky systems! Are you suggesting your "Chicksaw" is not leaky? What about nitrogen mineralizaiton and volitization? What is your C/N ratio? How much N loss do you experience from leakage from soil leaching? I'm all for small acreage farming and true permaculture but seriously this is BS. Large scale responsible farms pay for and implement testing to create an efficient system maximizing inputs and outputs. This can include composting, waste water, volatile emissions, and production receipts. I LOVE that you are doing your best to raise chickens sustainably and be a great animal husband looking after the well fare of your chickens. There is a LOT to applaud in this video and your methodology. Great channel and good content. I only ask for a little more research!
Hi Art, we are new to your channel; which part of the States are you? (That's assuming you are in the States!) Another interesting video. BP12 - Pa and Grampa.
When you were talking about greenhouse chickens you mentioned how a hog would stay with them. I suggest against this, pigs are omnivorous and may try to kill and eat your chickens. I do like the greenhouse idea though. Might have to try that.
In this system hogs do what chickens can't. In an intense deep bedding system chickens can "cap" the bedding with their wet manure. They also have a limited reach into the compost, requiring significant human labor in the form of regularly deeply turning compost. Hogs can do this work, as they are aggressive diggers and love to hunt for corn deep in the bedding as they stir everything. These two animals can do ALL the work of composting. Very few people are doing this it seems and it is one of my dreams. The greenhouse has to have concrete or wood walls several feet high to contain the building bedding material. Joel Salatin keeps his layers like this in the winter. Yes the hogs have to be segregated. Joel uses a movable open bottomed hog pen which he rotates through the greenhouse. You could also allow the hogs in maybe one day per week while the chickens were outside in a run. Or you could divide half and half and they could take turns.
A 1x3 foot window is basically wide open where the nesting boxes are and those chickens have torn down some of the straw today. No worries there. Thanks.
You won't care for my comments but I mean them in the most constructive way. Your coop is too small for the number of birds you have and without a full bottom under them, they can't keep the heat in. If you had put the straw bales intact, around the coop, the chickens wouldn't tear them apart and the wind won't carry the straw away. Personally, they should move into the barn, inside their coop and then you can let them out into a stall during the day. Weekly, you move the waste and dirty straw they create where you want it. Use a sled to move the waste. It's not as big a chore as you imagine if you do it weekly and then your investment in the birds isn't at risk. Your goats are warm and dry, don't the chickens deserve the same treatment?
LL Cam, I am with you on your comment. If you have a perfectly good barn, then by all means you should use it. Its not that hard to haul the waste from 30 chickens, and they will do a lot better in the barn. Just my opinion.
LL Cam I agree about using the full uncut bales around the base of the coop ... maybe Art could raise the coop a couple inches to alow that. BUT I was raised with the belief that it's not the cold that will get a chicken down, rather it's the heat and lack of proper ventilation and water! So, I understand your point of view but I personally would not keep them barned up for the winter season. Art's point about "composting in place" is a VERY good one especially as the homesteader gets older and finds it more difficult to do the shoveling and hauling! I think it's very important to set up the homestead in an efficient manner that will pay big dividends further down the road. Just my 2 cents but I do respect your thoughts!
Yeah, I think for insulating purposes the intact straw bales are better. The birds will scratch the loose straw out pretty fast, or it will blow out in a stiff wind. We always wet straw or hay right away when we use it for mulch, to keep it from blowing away. Though I think the chickens will be fine outside and in the coop in its present size, especially with the siding Art put up. It's not like they are inside it all day long. The goats in the barn are protected from wind, but they don't get the heat benefit of sun. We once kept a few Black Japanese Bantams and let them run loose in the yard all the time. At night they'd roost high in our hemlock trees. When it got into the low 20s, I'd have to climb the trees in the dark to get them down to keep their combs from freezing. It was a pain. -Art's Dad
Bitty Beans actually y'all are wrong and need to watch Justin Rhodes channel and get his permaculture chickens video. Chickens only need to have one square foot of space especially in the winter to help keep them warm and having them in the chickshaw prevents moisture build up which causes diseases. If you think hauling a ton literally of poop and straw sounds better up a hill then go to their house set it up for the and then haul it for them come this late spring. People do the best they can I used to think the way y'all do but I have put in to practice the things Rhodes and others have taught me and they are right. Look them up and put into practice and you'll see.
It would have required more expense to insulate with full bales. Which would have required proabably twice as many bales and this is intended to be temporary. Additionally as the full bales get wet they will promote more mold and other things that can promote disease or outright kill the chickens. Also the loose straw will be spread and valuable for the garden area where the now moldy bales will not be.
Glad to see the hay/straw coming out now.. I was yelling at the tv for Bri to put hay down for the chickens so they could come out and eat their food on the first snowy morning.. but I guess she couldn't hear me. lol Keep that hay around! Good Luck
I find your comment of being a "Leaky Pipe" a very stupid comment. I do not let anything go to waste on my farm. We either spread it all on our field with a manure spreader or we knife it in.
God expects us to protect our animals that give us so much. It's not about how much trouble it is for us. Don't have that many chickens if you can't keep them more comfortable. Yes, I have chickens. I've loved your site but this is very upsetting.
I love that you care enough to do a little extra for the chickens. You and Bri have big hearts and it shows in your entire family.
Hi Art...chickens don't really mind the cold that much..just make sure they keep dry...chickens don't care much for walking on snow if they aren't used to it...just clear out an area for them to feed and water and they will be fine..thanks and thumbs up
Chickens look great...And they are fine as long as they are out of the wind...They need to have air flow...You all are are doing a great job...
Loved the opening shot of you walking barefoot in the snow, LOL!! And loved that while you were still talking about the straw, one of the chickens walked over & started throwing it around! :D
Thx for your time taping, edeting and posting and responding. That is taking you way more time then for me to watch these nice video's. What you do during commute I'm doing watching you guys on a day my brain and body are working against me and list my reseach for another day. I love the food for thought you through in every ones ans a while.
Love your overall view on inputs and outputs. Yall keep making videos and i will keep watching
Art and Bri, I love your vlogs! Have you seen the video on FB about a cat who stayed with the mama goat for three days before she gave birth to her kids? The cat massaged her stomach for three days, slept on top of the goat at night to keep her warm, and became friends will all THREE of her goats kids. You two are wonderful....as well as all of your children. love, Susan
That is really sweet! I will have to find that video and check it out. I know my kids will love to see that! Thanks for watching!!!
Just be careful not to insulate too much. This is a mistake that many make because they think their chickens are cold. Believe it or not, chickens have a harder time in the heat than they do in the cold. And it's not that your chickens don't like the snow, they're just not used to it. I live in the Midwest and my chickens don't mind the snow at all. Great videos Art!
There are open areas behind the laying boxes and plenty of cracks, plus the straw is not airtight. Also, they will have all the straw pulled out by the time it "warms up" later this week. Thanks.
Many of the chickens in our flock have been through six winters with us now, so they are used to snow ... and they still don't like it. Many chickens don't. I know quite a few chicken keepers with flocks that are snow haters, and also quite a few with flocks that don't mind it at all. I'm used to snow too, after 35+ years living here in Ontario, Canada ... but I still don't much like it either.
Hi..... Art, thank you for sharing your video homestead 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 🎥👍👍👍
I loved the intro shots you guys do...so beautiful. Alot of the folks below do not realize that Justin raised this flock in the chickshaw method a long time & overwintered them with even less insulation that Art is doing. Now I am not a big fan of cramming all those birds in the shaw...but it worked for Justin just fine and his birds look great. And the best thing about the Shaw is the doodoo dropping onto the ground like bunnies. Since he got up early in the AM and let them out it was not a big deal..because chickens love to bunch up. My chickens have a very nice barn with about 12 inches of straw & it's very snuggily in there...but they still snuggle in a corner on top of each other for comfort and warmth. I agree with you Art that moving that much compost out from chickens is a pain. I like your idea of building a greenhouse and giving them that extra insulation in the winter next year. I have to admit that my chickens are given the option of freerange, but in Ohio when it blows windy in winter they do NOT want to wander but they stay in our barn. If there's rain, wind or snow they stay in. Everyone has their own way of doing things...and Justin's method worked for this flock & I know you guys will have a fantastic garden this year because of their input. ((be careful not to cover all the air intake on the Shaw. Since their are stacked in there they need some holes for airflow without being blown on too much. I'd keep the passive wind side open on the bottom for wind to be able to circulate in or punch small holes in the cardboard o.- ))
Thanks. There are lots of open areas still. The laying crate area is like a 1x3 ft window.
art if it snows more on your straw. I have found that if you rake it all up in a pile then the chickens will spread it out over the snow then. saving the need for more straw on the ground. love your vids, happy winter.
Enjoyed this video. We also built Justin's Chickshaw, but ran the roosts across instead of front to back. For the extreme cold, we put foil insulation just on the sides, left the front open. We also hung feed bags across the nesting boxes. They all did fine and in VA, we had similar 8 degree days with 8 inches of snow. We laid cardboard in front of their Chickshaw, in a path to the chicken tractor, where we keep the food and water. Our goats and chickens are mobile and kept in the same fence. Once the goats tasted chicken food, we had to make a place for the chickens to eat, without the goat's "help". See our setup on FB at Lovebird Homestead Farm
Nice.
They are now your birds and your homestead - husband them as you will. :) What you said in this video makes sense. Stacking functionality and managing resources is where it is at. Maybe next year you can grow some of your own bedding, livestock insulation, and feed.
The chickshaw looks fine - they just need wind protection from the bottom. Putting straw on the snow was just what they needed.
Thanks.
Nice method! We enjoy watching your channel!
Love that you talked to us thru the coup. We are so thankful you are taking such good care of the chickens that we all know and love. Blessings sweet family.
Wow Art your "Big picture" makes so MUCH sense with why you prefer your chickens right where they are..Thank you for explaining it ...:-)))....I am continuing to red flag and report that idiot ..have a GREAT day with your family!!!
Awesome thank you. You have helped me to have the idea to put straw in where my feeding station is for my feral cats! Just came back in from outside of placing that straw awesome.😁🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱💖
My chickens were just fine this year with temps as low as 0 degrees this winter. White leghorns which are known for getting frost bit on their combs. I agree with getting some straw on the land and helping that garden grow....never hurts to have some good biomass....and a nice warm place for mice to sleep lol ....enjoyed the video brotha!
Y'all are such an amazing family God bless you
Good organic fertilizer... I think you guys are doing a great job!
Big chicken composting setup video coming soon. Thanks.
You did a wonderful job with the chickens. They sure do look good!
Beautifully done
Awesome video. I have followed you and Brianna from your 1st video. You guys are really bringing that homestead to life. I'm excited to see what all the spring and summer have in store.
If you can get them, wood chips (and even better kiln dried wood shavings/ sawdust) are awesome for animal pens. Wood has a carbon to nitrogen ratio of between 400 parts c to n and 500 c/n. It balances a LOT of nitrogen out, which helps keep the nitrogen from volatilizing off as ammonia. Straw is also good with a c/n ratio of 50 for oat straw and 150 for wheat straw. Where i am, I use wood shavings just because it's the same price approximately as oat straw (and it cleans out easier since it doesn't mat together) but that probably changes based on where you are. Great videos! I loved the opening scene.
The music in the beginning was a very nice touch, keep up the good work :)
dear a+b, I want to express my deepest appreciation for your efforts. my chickens are totally free range. they choose crowding together at the top of the arbor. go figure!? now...when it rains, they go for the cedar tree. imagine 12 chicken butts sticking out of a cedar. I worry but I don't control them. if they want the barn, they have access and a chicken approved heat lamp! Nope, they vote cedar! bahaha
Funny yes. I have seen chickens choose a tree roost over a pen on bitter nights.
Homesteader tip.. ALWAYS cut the twine on a bale NEXT to the knot.
Glad y'all are feeling better! Love the videos ❤
glad you got the feathered family some straw. mine love it. yes next season as you expand a larger chicken house is on your list. that's a lot of stress on your birds in the chickshaw, a great idea. my flock loves to roost up high. they naturally will roost in trees as they are birds. my silkie rooster will even go up and snuggel with the hens at night. we are in central texas and have had sevear freeze. costal hay and sourgum straw is what we get here it is a two fold blessing item. one for the insulating and second for my scratching composters. your learning by living it and that's a very good thing. I have a fenced chicken yard with 2 coups and a pet rescue pig who lives with the chickens. we built him his own cool heavy duty house up off the ground. in fall to early spring they all free range the large garden area through a gate. in about 3 hours they go back to their area. they are comfortable in their area.. you are using the first principalof permaculture. take time and observe your surroundings. I am a garden writer have a fb group Bloom Where Your Planted. come visit the site. love the goat girls! and yes I too love pie. butter crust most excelleng bri.
Jannie Vaught there is plenty of room in that Chickasaw birds squeeze together when it's cold to keep warm...even in my big coop they all huddle together...they all have their line in the hierarchy and are fine🐔🐓🐔🐓🐔🐓❤️❤️❤️
Excellent job insulating the chickshaw, you did a wonderful job with all of the straw and even the cardboard. Smart with all of it. I'd have left the bales whole though.
🌾Merry meet 🌿
Hilarious bare feet. Reminds me of our chickens when we first let them out each day. They find many interesting places to get out of the snow, but have learned to deal. They love to go next to our house by the basement Windows. We too had to put up a bit of insulation and wind break, makes quite a difference. Still well ventilated. We had -22 before the holiday and are expecting -12 this weekend. They seem fine and are eating well and 4 of the five are laying daily. Had one egg freeze solid and crack a bit. But it was fine to eat when it thawed. I always wondered what would happen. Great videos.
Your chicken coup looks good! You did a great job!
I also like the way you started the show with your frozen feet in the snow (I've gone barefoot in the snow before --- just for a minute or less...probably won't ever do that again...l.o.l.). And I LOVE the snow scene / music start too!
P.S. I would be honored if you might check out my channel, and if you like it, share it. This would be especially for Bri, because it's intended for women, but I do happen to know that men are encouraged by it too...so all are welcome! The Christmas videos are especially nice...Part 2 was my trip to my brother's house (Jordan and Julianna). A new one will be uploaded each Thursday, from now on...Thank you for your time!
No room in my greenhouse but the chicken tractor is against the west wall for this cold spell which will be a planting bed in the spring and it is blocking the cold wind. They are able to get out in the tractor and dig in the morning so I give them their soaked grain at sunset to keep warm at night.
Art this was a very interesting informative vlog ! Enjoyed every minute... no time wasted. Liked the way you start at the barn, then you move to the chick shaw and continue your work has you talk to viewers... transition was smooth, tone of voice was even and your retain attention throughout. Great Job! if I may put in my five cents worth... :)
I decided that as much as possible I should do my talking videos while working. They are more interesting that way. Thanks.
Great logic, thanks for sharing. We would like to get chickens in the near future, so I'm researching to figure out care for them, housing for them, and all that's involved in raising them.
More great ideas and innovations to come. Next I am going to try an intensive composting method using chickens inspired by Geoff Lawton. Also turning over the idea of temporary straw bale housing that would last for a season or two then be composted. Stay tuned.
Great information! Thank you!
This is important cause im moving from Hawaii to Indiana, I bought a farm. And i want lots of chickens. But snow is my enemy. But i have to retire somewhere. So show us how and what to do my friend.
what a cool song selection, well done champs. gettin' my detroit house vibe's on..
mielies..
swop the normal rations with more mielies or corn, thats what we call corn in south africa, good for evening heat production..
Glad you like it. I ventured to soundcloud for this. Usually we use youtube music.
the effort shines through.. and thanks Uncle Art, for the farming input and out put idea... put me into deep thought about the upcoming year.. felt kinda different this vid, somehow it was different, in a good way.. MAYBE IT WAS uNCLE aRT "heralding the moon" heee hee : )
I truly love these videos but we all must do what is good for our own good Art and Bri are only giving different idea I love that but I also live upstate in new york were I have snow 4 months out of the year.So we all need to do what is best for us take any ideas that may be helpful to where you live.....:)
Glad to see you are feeling better, great video, love that Donald (The Watch Goose) much more than THE Donald in Wash.DC.
My goats love to be off the ground when they sleep you have a great channel
It teaches me a lot
Nice vid Art! Looks like y'all have made a cozy little nest for your feathered friends. I have 3 turkeys & 3 chickens who have literally been roaming around our property for weeks, refuse to come home to roost in the hen house. I don't know what to make of it. We've had freezing temps & snow this week. A high of 18 degrees the other day. Yet there they are, sleeping in the bamboo & walking around the homestead aimlessly all day. Anyway... :-/
good job Art!
I hauled straw in my van once....and it took like a YEAR to get it all out! lol!
I think I would use the barn because I am a scaredy cat. I would be too worried my chickens would freeze - BUT... I live in Canada, so they probably would lol! By the way your barn is AMAZING.
We rarely have to buy straw, every year in the fall I put signs on our main road and advertise on the FB trading posts for peoples left over fall decorations of whole pumpkins and straw bales. It seems like such a waste that people spend money to decorate and then throw it in the trash. I have had a great response of people wanting to give me their leftover holiday decorations
Great ideas!!!
Art, the chickens need some air, unless your going to move the Chickasaw every few days, because chickens can die if the ammonia from their waste builds up! Blessings!
It was only for the night b/c of the negative temperatures.
Made a video showing how to report tho's for stealing. I posted the link on your last video and gave you guys a shout out. Hope it helps. Thanks for all you guys do. Keep up the hard work. God Bless.
Thanks much. I believe we have reported them to the full extent that we are able.
Like the government they will take their sweet time to fix it! I wonder how many other places this person is stealing from? Hope its resolved for you soon!
The account has been terminated.didn't take too long.
S. B. Hel ya !! GOOD WORK ALL!!!! WIN FOR THE GOOD GUY!!
Consider an old cloth tarp for a movable flap both ends of the Chick Shaw :-) Be Blessed in 2017
haha I felt like I was a chicken being scolded here: 5:30 hahaha :P
nice video shot, creative :)
I was actually talking to the chickens. i think they were listening.
Sooooo interesting 👍👏👏🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓❤️
Your doing a great job, be careful you still give them enough ventilation. A humid coop brings a multitude of health issues.
Art, I have a friend who has a farm in Westfield NC. He makes hay. He complains that a bale of straw costs far more than a bale of hay. He thinks that a bale of hay, which has food value in it, should be worth more than straw. Just a thought. You may be able to spread hay for less money than the straw bales.
True, depending on the time of year etc. One thing to consider is the nitrogen content of hay is so much higher than straw so it does not work for a "brown" material in the same way as straw to balance out chicken manure and food scraps. I just saw some round straw bales with water damage for $5 each on craigslist, about 3 hrs drive away. If I had the truck and trailer to haul them I would be jumping on this. We are watching for something more local.
Just wondering if you could just put the chickens in the barn on the bitterly cold nights? Just January? The straw and cardboard should help with the wind.
Art, I really appreciate sharing your vision and practices of permaculture in relation to your homestead. I also am trying to start homesteading but only on 1/3 acre😳😳 but appreciated all the advice I can get from you and Justin Rhodes. Can you give me a few references for a beginner and can you suggest chickens suitable for Fl climate to be irises for egg laying not meat👩🏻🌾👩🏻🌾👩🏻🌾👩🏻🌾thanks
Thank you for the information! I'm in North Florida, we get the occasional freeze: maybe as low as 25-29° and never snow. You mentioned subzero weather which we don't get so do you think siding on the chickshaw should be enough?
Have you thought about adding cayenne pepper to the chicken feed during the winter? It helps raise their internal body temperature which might be beneficial if you are keeping them outdoors for the colder months.
We have heard of this but need to read more.
That's great. There are some people who believe that cayenne pepper doesn't work, or doesn't work for them. However, there are plenty of people who find it does, and of course there is the science behind it.
Hope you guys find something that works for you. As always, love your videos. C:
Here is a study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in 2008: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18539598
Effect of capsaicin on thermoregulation:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843897/
www.moonlightmileherbs.com/Fueling_Our_Poultry's_Energy_BYP_Oct_Nov_2010.pdf
Thanks for the information!
👍great video, very informative.
Before we get into the chickens, where you get that track from...I'm loving it !!!!
good work brother
Thanks much.
Justin explained that he left the front open to allow air flow to keep the chickshaw dry so that the chickens didn't get frostbite but you sealed it up. Why?
There is plenty of ventilation and it was just for the coldest nights of the year.
Okay. I was just wondering.
Exactly - this is an unusually cold snap. With the bales being broken up, the chickens will have it all torn apart by next week!
Do you know, that when theres a ring around the moon, that IF you count the stars inside the ring, That will tell you how many days before a rain or snow.
You mentioned putting a hog in with the chickens, a word of warning hogs like chickens if they get a taste of the chickens blood they have been known to devour them whole with hardly a sqwak from the chicken
In this system hogs do what chickens can't. In an intense deep bedding system chickens can "cap" the bedding with their wet manure. They also have a limited reach into the compost, requiring significant human labor in the form of regularly deeply turning compost. Hogs can do this work, as they are aggressive diggers and love to hunt for corn deep in the bedding as they stir everything. These two animals can do ALL the work of composting. Very few people are doing this it seems and it is one of my dreams. The greenhouse has to have concrete or wood walls several feet high to contain the building bedding material. Joel Salatin keeps his layers like this in the winter. Yes the hogs have to be segregated. Joel uses a movable open bottomed hog pen which he rotates through the greenhouse. You could also allow the hogs in maybe one day per week while the chickens were outside in a run. Or you could divide half and half and they could take turns.
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nice vlog 😍😍
I understand but I’d still move my chickens because they r my work force n want n need to keep them happy n healthy
💛💛💛
Oh ART AND BRI...I just went over to the idiots UA-cam channel and they shut it down due to numerous complaints of copyright issues LOLOLOLOLLL ..POWER OF THE UA-cam CHANNEL/SUBSCRIBER ..LOLOLOLOLLL so happy for you all ..ok now go back to being super AWESOME !!!!
love what youre doing! how much acres is your farm?
We have 4-5 open and semi open, then a lot of wonderful woods.
Justin did a vlog about his reasons for insulating as much/as little as he did. He didn't cover the front, on purpose. So why now did you add the cardboard. Aren't you worried about moisture buildup?
Patricia Wykoff is right. Justin did a vlog saying don't insulate too much. I think that given the weird extremes in weather, sometimes let the dinos spend the night at Barn land Resort. lol
It was only for the night or 2 that we have had extreme cold temps.
ART and BRI I see your point, but I believe that in agreement with you and Justin...the moisture is the killer, not the temperature. Insulating could result in keeping moisture in. Also, in agreement with you, it is not your intention to keep straw and cardboard there long, so really.....why bother?
Patricia Wykoff Justin didn't have 6 inches of snow he would have done the same
It was negative temps for a couple of nights. They probably would have been fine but were just giving a little insurance.
Won’t some varmints make warm nests for themselves in the hay under the coop?
First view and first like!!! For the first time!!!
I bet that electric fence is not as effective with that snow.I would personally work with nature all that snow sure would had work as the straw in the bottom.Just a few observations can wait to see the kids to be born.
Electric fences can be less effective in the snow, not usually because the snow grounds the fence, but because the snow insulates the animals from the ground so they get less shock. If you live in an area with long lasting snow on the ground and want to use electric fencing, or a very dry region for that matter, then a hot/ground fence is a good choice. With this fence, ground wires are worked into the fence design or netting. The animal has to touch two wires to get a shock but there is no dependence on an earth based ground system. These nets are available from premier 1, our fence supplier but not really appropriate for this area.
Hahaha: Leaky systems! Are you suggesting your "Chicksaw" is not leaky? What about nitrogen mineralizaiton and volitization? What is your C/N ratio? How much N loss do you experience from leakage from soil leaching? I'm all for small acreage farming and true permaculture but seriously this is BS. Large scale responsible farms pay for and implement testing to create an efficient system maximizing inputs and outputs. This can include composting, waste water, volatile emissions, and production receipts.
I LOVE that you are doing your best to raise chickens sustainably and be a great animal husband looking after the well fare of your chickens. There is a LOT to applaud in this video and your methodology.
Great channel and good content. I only ask for a little more research!
get turkeys in the spring please
Could you please add in the description, the name of the editing software that you use. Thanks!
We use adobe premier pro.
Cold feet 🦶🏾🦶🏾 🦶🏾 🥶🥶🥶
How much is the straw in North Carolina where you get it????
Excellent use of your
πόδια
pódia
(feet....I used Google Translate to pick a language!) I don't get out much. :) p.s. it is GREEK lol.
I love your videos but just wondering did you make sure there were no chickens under your chicsha😂
Yes, they all went into the coop before I finished the straw.
I really like that music by Joakim Karud. I clicked the link to listen to it, but I didn't take me to THAT specific song. Anyone know the name of it?
Hi Art, we are new to your channel; which part of the States are you? (That's assuming you are in the States!) Another interesting video. BP12 - Pa and Grampa.
Mountains of NC.
When you were talking about greenhouse chickens you mentioned how a hog would stay with them. I suggest against this, pigs are omnivorous and may try to kill and eat your chickens. I do like the greenhouse idea though. Might have to try that.
In this system hogs do what chickens can't. In an intense deep bedding system chickens can "cap" the bedding with their wet manure. They also have a limited reach into the compost, requiring significant human labor in the form of regularly deeply turning compost. Hogs can do this work, as they are aggressive diggers and love to hunt for corn deep in the bedding as they stir everything. These two animals can do ALL the work of composting. Very few people are doing this it seems and it is one of my dreams. The greenhouse has to have concrete or wood walls several feet high to contain the building bedding material. Joel Salatin keeps his layers like this in the winter. Yes the hogs have to be segregated. Joel uses a movable open bottomed hog pen which he rotates through the greenhouse. You could also allow the hogs in maybe one day per week while the chickens were outside in a run. Or you could divide half and half and they could take turns.
My mistake, I thought you were going to keep them together. Good luck!
what about the cat and dog - do you let them in at night or when its cold ?
They sleep in the barn. Oreo comes in on some of the coldest nights.
👏💖
☺👍
Please be careful with sealing the chickshaw and great videos!!! :)(;
A 1x3 foot window is basically wide open where the nesting boxes are and those chickens have torn down some of the straw today. No worries there. Thanks.
I love watching your videos and have been watching for over a hour straight. I was wondering what you do for income?
Art works full time as an RN. Thanks for watching!
ART and BRI that's awesome thanks for the quick answer
they need new straw in tthe laying boxes please
I assure you they have plenty. We replenish it often, you may just not see it on the vlog.
AND, you think that the chickens wont pick it apart, making holes for winter air to get in underneath the house.?????????????????
You won't care for my comments but I mean them in the most constructive way. Your coop is too small for the number of birds you have and without a full bottom under them, they can't keep the heat in. If you had put the straw bales intact, around the coop, the chickens wouldn't tear them apart and the wind won't carry the straw away. Personally, they should move into the barn, inside their coop and then you can let them out into a stall during the day. Weekly, you move the waste and dirty straw they create where you want it. Use a sled to move the waste. It's not as big a chore as you imagine if you do it weekly and then your investment in the birds isn't at risk. Your goats are warm and dry, don't the chickens deserve the same treatment?
LL Cam, I am with you on your comment. If you have a perfectly good barn, then by all means you should use it. Its not that hard to haul the waste from 30 chickens, and they will do a lot better in the barn. Just my opinion.
LL Cam I agree about using the full uncut bales around the base of the coop ... maybe Art could raise the coop a couple inches to alow that. BUT I was raised with the belief that it's not the cold that will get a chicken down, rather it's the heat and lack of proper ventilation and water! So, I understand your point of view but I personally would not keep them barned up for the winter season. Art's point about "composting in place" is a VERY good one especially as the homesteader gets older and finds it more difficult to do the shoveling and hauling! I think it's very important to set up the homestead in an efficient manner that will pay big dividends further down the road. Just my 2 cents but I do respect your thoughts!
Yeah, I think for insulating purposes the intact straw bales are better. The birds will scratch the loose straw out pretty fast, or it will blow out in a stiff wind. We always wet straw or hay right away when we use it for mulch, to keep it from blowing away. Though I think the chickens will be fine outside and in the coop in its present size, especially with the siding Art put up. It's not like they are inside it all day long. The goats in the barn are protected from wind, but they don't get the heat benefit of sun. We once kept a few Black Japanese Bantams and let them run loose in the yard all the time. At night they'd roost high in our hemlock trees. When it got into the low 20s, I'd have to climb the trees in the dark to get them down to keep their combs from freezing. It was a pain. -Art's Dad
Bitty Beans actually y'all are wrong and need to watch Justin Rhodes channel and get his permaculture chickens video. Chickens only need to have one square foot of space especially in the winter to help keep them warm and having them in the chickshaw prevents moisture build up which causes diseases. If you think hauling a ton literally of poop and straw sounds better up a hill then go to their house set it up for the and then haul it for them come this late spring. People do the best they can I used to think the way y'all do but I have put in to practice the things Rhodes and others have taught me and they are right. Look them up and put into practice and you'll see.
It would have required more expense to insulate with full bales. Which would have required proabably twice as many bales and this is intended to be temporary. Additionally as the full bales get wet they will promote more mold and other things that can promote disease or outright kill the chickens. Also the loose straw will be spread and valuable for the garden area where the now moldy bales will not be.
Glad to see the hay/straw coming out now.. I was yelling at the tv for Bri to put hay down for the chickens so they could come out and eat their food on the first snowy morning.. but I guess she couldn't hear me. lol Keep that hay around! Good Luck
I actually did put hay down that day, I just didn't vlog it.
Wow! Great job Bri.. I guess you could hear me.. I wish my football team could hear me when I yell to them too!
Where is your country
The goats are still pregnant right?
Yes. Should have kids in the next 3 weeks. Watching for early signs of kidding every day. Will keep you up to date.
Art needs a tripod for his camera so he can get it off the ground.
I find your comment of being a "Leaky Pipe" a very stupid comment. I do not let anything go to waste on my farm. We either spread it all on our field with a manure spreader or we knife it in.
Do you have very many chickens kill?
From winter weather? No.
I was talking about other wild animals killing them.
I hate waste.
be very careful with hogs around chickens - especially chicks - hogs love chicken.... :-(
God expects us to protect our animals that give us so much. It's not about how much trouble it is for us. Don't have that many chickens if you can't keep them more comfortable. Yes, I have chickens. I've loved your site but this is very upsetting.