I use a mobile chicken coop with electric netting and I really like it. First of all, I can determine what areas to put the chickens on throughout the year. Since they decimate an area fairly fast, moving them more often in the summer and fall works well for the soil. In the winter, I keep them closer to the house -- actually in the vegetable garden! In addition, it provides more food for them that way. You can easily design a mobile coop that works well for you.
This was the third video of yours that I’ve seen. Always a verse at the end. I love that. I’m subscribed now. Excellent verse at the end of this video.The first verse of the 34th chapter of Psalms is one of my all-time favorites. Going from memory here, I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. FYI, the other two I saw were about roosters. I appreciate your opinion.
I admit it! I was one of those who subscribed at the time you made this coop....still here and loving it all...especially the Sunday programs. Blessings from Australia.
I’ve got a really sweet Buff Orpington who goes broody once or twice a year. Her “pecks” at my hand are just kisses. She is so gentle and trusting of me while I inspect her clutch. She’s sitting on a few eggs right now. Order a few fertilized French black copper maran eggs to slip in with her.
When you said you’d been “living in catch-up mode,” I thought you meant “ketchup mode” . . . I couldn’t think of what you meant for a minute! Listening in context is important as reading in it! This is a very good, well thought out video, and I enjoyed it. Your progression in growing your homestead is thoughtful and inspiring. I hope all the very best blessings for your homestead and your family!
Just found you in a search for "chickens" and I appreciate your down to earth style. I don't like when people babble on, thinking more is better. Stick to the point at hand, be real and as clear and concise as possible. Listened to three of your videos and that's why I subscribed! Keep it up. Simple is best :)
Thank you for all of your great knowledge and really good information! It was excellent, and we feel the same way that you do, about their freedom in a pasture type setting environment. The background music is really nice, and set at the right volume setting. Thank you.
Thank you for this video and all of the others too! We’re still in early planning for our homestead, but I appreciate your sharing of this experience and am excited to develop my own chicken set-up!
Thanks for sharing , the best change I made with my chicken coop was the deep letter method using hemp or mulch instead of wood shavings I have been doing this for 9 months now and the coop is so clean the chickens do the work all I have been doing is trowing some seed in and they scratch and turn the litter into wonderful compost,look it up .🍀
Hi Barbara here is a link that explains the deep litter method it’s U tube Carolina chicken coop Deep litter method explained. I am now on a year with this method and I just throw som seeds in and the hens do the work once in a while I put a small bag off hemp in and there is no smell . I have 7 hens and last year my husband built a big coop and that’s when I started this method . I never use wood shavings because they don’t work. Hope this is helpful.
Hey Todd, I think that you are on the right path with the chickens. Smaller flock - permanent structure, less work, more time (to install a headlight on a Ford tractor). You can always build a chicken tractor to let the girls move around some in the summer, if you want. Thanks for the update and continued blessings!
I have a permanent set-up for my layers & mobile for meat birds. I like both. I use a compost system (like edible acres) with my layers but can move mobile to areas I want extra fertility (like in the garden after the season). The mobile coop also is an extra brooder if needed or re-coop area if I have a sick/injured bird. I like having options.
I love the edible acres system and I'm considering doing this with some of my birds once my composting is back in action. We just moved to a new larger property so I will have plenty to feed them on in the compost system for sure!
I would say the paddock shift method is a great idea, and you could also free range your hayfield when you don't have any hay growing to help build fertility and manage the field.
We set up a chicken coop a few years ago by using a used construction trailer and it works great.In the winter we pull it up to a doorway in the barn and they have access to the barn and in summer we just pull it away from the barn with the tractor.These trailers are available for a good price usually and they don"t leak normally.Something like this might work well for you.I enjoy your videos...keep at it.
ROTATING PASTURE ACCESS AROUND THE STATIONARY COOP. Can’t wait to see how you get on. P.S. Your urban coop design and your vlog on aggressive rooster are my absolute favourites.
Yay!!!! A new chicken video! Love it! We are still towns folk, and currently have 9 chicks! Sooo excited to get natural eggs! Plus RIR, so I know those eggs taste amazing!
As a lapsed farmboy your videos are a real pleasure. Chased by the rooster as a youngun had issues with chickens ever since but you got me feelin like hey I could do that with the right chickens.
My permanent chicken house has served me well for 20 years and was an easy project. A lean to shed facing east with a fenced yard and wire on top also.
Tractors are working good for us. I park them over the garden during the fall with the goats. Move them behind the cows and goats in the summer. I do have a couple permanent coops for our hard winter months Dec thru March, tractors just aren't enough to keep them warm.
I have parakeets and the cages all come with removable or slide out bottoms. I really like that you have that for your chicken coop. That is smart. I don't know why most that I see have to be bailed out rather than how you have yours. That drawer will make cleaning so much easier, and not on the ground back breaking work.
Solar powered chicken door is nice on my coup. Theres a bit of expense to start with but its worth every penny. No more running out in the morning or at night to lock them up. Rain catchment is my next project for my chickens.
Thanks for the link on the Farmer Brad waterer. Ive been looking for something like this for a while. I believe this will be alot more efficient and cleaner.
Many of the chicken tractors are used for fast growing meat birds or 6-7 months out of the year. I like the idea of a permanent coop where you can open up to three different pastures. Sad to downsize but necessary. You'll enjoy delicious home grown poultry. Wise decision to get the poultry moved out of the barn! 👍
We have auto watering systems and auto feeders so yeah the permanent coop is better for us too, work smarter, not harder. We have health issues so it definitely helps!
We have a permanent coop for our layers, and from time to time we pasture raise our broilers in with our larger animals. We can actually keep them on pasture much longer than the 6-8weeks typically recommended. Because they are constantly on the move, they are healthier and less likely to develop heart issues as they grow larger. When we pasture raise, we rarely have to give grain, so thats another plus. Our larger animals (sheep or cows usually) help keep away predators.
Maybe you can do both ideas at different times. Ok. So not too feasible in winter. I like the 4pasture access idea. Makes good sense & good use of available resources. Maybe later a tiny tractor for fewer chickens easier to move.
I have a mix of 9 chickens and they are full free range. Two hens went missing and came back with chicks, so I'm going to have to manage things better. I'm in NZ, so it's Fall here. In Spring, I plan to select breed Orpington Barred Rock cross for laying and meat birds. Breeders in a movable cage, meat birds will go in a tractor in paddocks until I process them, and layers, 10, will free range.
I'm thinking a pasture rotation system is what I want to do, too. I can see using tractors for meat birds in a purposeful manner (soil prep)... but the eggs layers can move where I want them. Great video!
Yeah, I like my chickens close to the house, for safety, and to care for them if they get sick. One hen caught a cold this year. I brought her in the house to cure her. I love your smaller coop. Easier to keep the chickens warm.
Coghill farm has some great vlogs on inexpensive moveable coops, not chicken tractors, and his are also in a wooded, shady area. I really enjoy your channel!
Here in the city they allow 4 chickens and one rooster. The city also requires a yearly fee of course of 35 dollars. But free organic eggs are a little pricey. So you are doing good. So if I decide to get laying chickens what would you suggest?
I agree with you on the tractors, yet still plan to build one that fits my raised garden beds so I can let a couple yardbirds do their share of the garden work. No way I'd dream of moving tractors in the winter in Michigan, though, that's insane. If I were in your shoes, I would build a nice big coop and put it in a spot that you can drive to, but I'd remember that my tractor has pallet forks when I build it, knowing that you never know what the future may bring, and that moving the coop could be easily done with the help of Henry Ford and a T post puller.
Great video I can understand the need to have the chickens their own place. here’s a brief description of what I have at my place it might help you out I have about a half acre with 5 foot tall fencing and I put a small coop in the back corner under the trees it’s about half wooded and it’s half open lawn that I keep cut and it supplies a lot of food. I have had up to 70 chickens on it at one time. I want my birds to be able to free range but I wanted them to stay inside this perimeter so I do regular monthly wing clippings and I everything‘s good. Clipping wings after dark is easiest for me.
My brother also put some gift chickens into a stall until a new coop could be built. Catching them for the move was much harder than what you appear to have experienced. They kept flying into the rafters/soffit where we couldn't reach them. Then several escaped from the barn and we had to snatch them out of the tree they roosted in after it got dark. It was a real keystone cop operation. In the words of the great Frank Perdue, "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken" ☺️
I really enjoyed how you explained both ideas pature verses the tractor idea. I'm from NW NJ Mtn's and totally get long winters, now in TX and concidering a move out of urban area and doing commercial chickens miccrogreens and homesteading goats and hogs with my husband your thoughts got me thinking, even in TX.. We are still in planning and are shopping land compared to other you tubers, you gave me some new perspectives. We are doing 4 chickens now. I grew up raising horses, rabbits, dogs and veggies. We will will be adding you to our watch list. Thanks Again, Hope
@@robertpattillo2503 I did free range my chickens. My most recent set of chickens I kept inside of a covered fenced area. A raccoon broke into their house during the night and got every one of them. I am giving up on chickens. I can’t tell you the number I’ve lost to predators - including coyote, fox, owl, raccoon.
Most of chickens we've had here in Florida Tavares we live at is about 52 time we went through several sets in about almost 10 years we sell and buy and do different things I got into the little bands about the Cornish hen size they're great parents that's not been bred out of them but I noticed that with a Rhode Island red I've gotten here only a couple of them will go broody once in awhile but it's hard to get them to stay with the eggs once one does it other ones try to do it.... the band you have seasons there you don't have problems with fleas a lot but we use dematious Earth that's really good to get rid of those fleas....food grade...
Great Video ...thank you for being a real guy Some channels are too weird. I appreciate your experience and knowledge. We just got 14// chicks and we're down to 10 so I've been watching every video available and you're the most knowledgeable and sincere. Thank you for taking me along w your ideas and giving me a few of my own for my half acre here in Colorado...we too have 6/7 months of winter and cold so it was comforting to hear that from you...I'm not alone in the cold weather world of chuckens.. Keep doing you....p
Set up a Smaller Winter house for the chickens that will allow their feed to grow at the winter season and keep them warmer, plus it will prep the soil for when the weather is warmer, for vegetables that won't take the early spring in your area and the summer heat
Hi Todd, I’ve been watching since the you built the chicken coupe at the suburban homestead, one day eventually I’m hoping my hubby lets me have some dwarf goats and chickens, but definitely goats. We have show dogs and goats milk is amazing for puppies, I’d also love to show goats too. We live on the Sunshine Coast Queensland Australia on 14 acres but 12 of that is ‘land for wildlife” that we cannot clear and we don’t want to, the Kangaroos, possums, wallabies & other critters love it. Thanks for all the tips on the goats and I’ll happily live vicariously through you and admire the kid cuteness on your farm in the mean time. 👍🏼
At the end of this post, you show the chickens up close, and I thought you could do a fun thing, like Giant chickens attack a little Mr. Bill. You might not be old enough to remember the Mr Bill skits from Saturday Night Live. 😁
Yeah. Never been a Joel Salatin person, but I did try, briefly. Don't get me wrong. I really admire him. Just never worked for me. Mine free range on about 2-5 acres (depends on them really. Some travel further). I feed soaked grain and scraps from us. Adjust for the seasons. But otherwise it's really up to them. It's low maintenance so I don't have to move them like you would with a tractor. They always find their way to the nesting box so no surprises in hidden places. They're calm....I'm calm...we're all happy. Feed and open their door in the morning....close it at sunset....done...(thought about a timer but cost prohibitive at this time).
we had a Rhode island red rooster. he died of gapeworm about two weeks ago. than Smor, one of our black star hens went broody. two weeks later a chick hatch. it hatch today. so we are going to see the sex of it.
Proud of you for having the courage to do a reset. I agree with you that you need to do what requires less work in the future. Less daily work is always best. Allowing you to do other things.
I think a chicken tractor would be a good way to clean up the edges of the Hayfield so if you just set it out expensively for the year to clean up the edges along the fence and then the year after you could get the swather right up against the fence
I hit thumbs-up 3 times, I think it worked. Great video, oviously could have used more chicken sounds, nice to see the goats on the background. I vote for the permanent set up, as they say "time is money".
I'm just getting started in chickens and keep tweaking the coop I bought. I really like your idea of a permanent coop and rotating pastures. If I stick with the chickens long-term, I think that's the direction I want to take in improvements.
So excited to see a homesteading youtuber from MI. We're getting into it and its different here, than those who do it in Southern States. Also those meatbirds if raised right wont have issues. Ive seen it done and hope to do it ourselves. Im not sure what people are doing to have meatbirds that end up crippled and what not. Their obviously not doingbit right.
Jessica Steingass They are over feeding and keeping them confined, the tractor system moves them everyday so have to move so their legs don’t just fold up. And it helps to fertilize the grass or garden depending on when you start.
May we suggest you watch Justin Rhodes, Red Tool House, Cog Hill Farm, etc. about raising meat birds. They have all raised the "typical" Cornish Cross meat birds and they were very healthy without leg issues. About 20-25% of their feed comes from the grass and bugs. Also check out Justin Rhodes' video on 20 ways to cut feed costs. We were born and raised in SE Michigan, and are very aware of the kind of weather there. You would probably only run tractors from about May through September (for about 4 weeks) and have enough chickens in the freezer for an entire year. Chicken tractors aren't meant to be used in the winter. We did have a question about why you don't process your own chickens? Especially if you have a small number of them.
my buff is the best mama, she's 4 and has only gone broody once but she was take any new pullets I have an mother them (show them where and how to eat, protect them from the rest of the flock)
I would think a summer "chicken tractor, (I had no idea that is what it was called) for meat birds might be a good idea, use them to eat areas like the pumpkin patch or maybe that area you you bush hogged then after 8-12 weeks they get turned into chicken nuggets and they help "weed and feed".
I would go with a heritage chicken some can get huge and then each year you need to hatch more so when they get older you get them in the freezer and each year you can get more in there if that makes since to ya
Hey - noticed the Spartan Hat ! I'm going to try your plans for the Suburban Chicken Coop here in Comstock Park Michigan - this year . I love chickens and am a fan of your channel as well.
I have 30 chickens and I have three roosters a Cochin up a rock and buff Orpington and I love my roosters. I have one that’s crazy. He reminds me of that rooster on the Disney show. I have four guineas that when they were babies I used to take them in right by my porch and feed them special things and to this day when we open up the coop and let them run, they come up to the porch and sit on the railing and call for me. I’m 71 years old and I absolutely love my chickens, Pigs, mini donkeys sheep goats, three horses which are beautiful lawn ornaments because the grandchildren went off to college and don’t seem to have much time to ride them anymore. So what do I do a volunteer for petting zoos that I take all my animals to up to a flea market, set up and volunteer to entertain the children with the animals. I have a big horse really big horse who loves kids and licks them licks their faces licks their head just loves the kids. He makes the adults laugh and everybody puts the kid up there to be licked. His tongue is huge. Enjoy all of life that the father has given you bless you my name is Helen.
I remember when you moved it from suburbs! Understand the hassle of free range chickens. This year mine are all in coops with outdoor areas but not out in yard. Will be so much easier.
Why I asked that question because I've noticed a population of rats hanging around I've killed a few with my Henry 22 I'll get out there sometimes Early in the Morning by two or three in the morning on the weekends and take a few of them out just cut down on the population but it just seems like they end up coming back..we had to take down one chicken pen that we had out there and they had like 30 rats under there......
The chicken tractors seem better suited to the cornish cross. They stay in there for 4 to 5 weeks then it's harvest time. You stated you don't like that type of chicken so I'm guessing you are leaning toward a freedom ranger or similar breed. I like your 4 paddock idea for the layers but for 8 chickens, the area you have looks plenty big enough.
I have 30-35 sell just enough eggs at work so I have fresh eggs and it just buys the feed! I have 4 day feeders and the ducks shack up with them in the winter. I save a lot of money mixing my own feed for winter! I agree with the coop though tractors are a pain especially when working a lot of overtime and have cattle,gardens,crops ect. We do free range in the summer!
Do you not have issues with predators like hawks? I noticed there wasn’t a top to the run. Looking to do something similar but I have seen a big hawk around our 6 acres.
I really like your coup ,easy clean that sounds good lol ,i did make one its not bad but i think i should of had the nest boxes to the side instead of the back as when front door open i think the draft comes through and straight to back ,as i find them settling down at the side of door so they dont really like like the set up .Im surprised you dont process your birds yourself ? interesting vids keep em coming .you might wanna look at my channel ive all sorts on it ive some vintage tractors you might like .take care keep safe ,Ant from Wales UK .
I use a mobile chicken coop with electric netting and I really like it. First of all, I can determine what areas to put the chickens on throughout the year. Since they decimate an area fairly fast, moving them more often in the summer and fall works well for the soil. In the winter, I keep them closer to the house -- actually in the vegetable garden! In addition, it provides more food for them that way. You can easily design a mobile coop that works well for you.
Plus in the garden they'll eat the slugs munching on your veggies...
@ravent3016 ducks too!
This was the third video of yours that I’ve seen. Always a verse at the end. I love that. I’m subscribed now. Excellent verse at the end of this video.The first verse of the 34th chapter of Psalms is one of my all-time favorites. Going from memory here, I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. FYI, the other two I saw were about roosters. I appreciate your opinion.
That broody hen will be a good mommy!!
I admit it! I was one of those who subscribed at the time you made this coop....still here and loving it all...especially the Sunday programs.
Blessings from Australia.
I’ve got a really sweet Buff Orpington who goes broody once or twice a year. Her “pecks” at my hand are just kisses. She is so gentle and trusting of me while I inspect her clutch. She’s sitting on a few eggs right now. Order a few fertilized French black copper maran eggs to slip in with her.
My buff is a really good layer. Every other day I get an egg. Even through this Winter, and it's gotten down to 18° F this year, at night.
Boy, that was something else . I was thinking about pigs, but you just talked me smooth out of it. So glad you had the help you needed.
I have Buff Orpingtons, I love that breed. Very docile. We did have Barred Rocks like you and they were like pets.
I have buff Orpington ducks
When you said you’d been “living in catch-up mode,” I thought you meant “ketchup mode” . . . I couldn’t think of what you meant for a minute! Listening in context is important as reading in it! This is a very good, well thought out video, and I enjoyed it. Your progression in growing your homestead is thoughtful and inspiring. I hope all the very best blessings for your homestead and your family!
Nuances are nuances.... I was thinking Heinz?
Waited 5 minutes to hear him talk about "ketchup" haha
Just found you in a search for "chickens" and I appreciate your down to earth style. I don't like when people babble on, thinking more is better. Stick to the point at hand, be real and as clear and concise as possible. Listened to three of your videos and that's why I subscribed! Keep it up. Simple is best :)
Thank you for all of your great knowledge and really good information! It was excellent, and we feel the same way that you do, about their freedom in a pasture type setting environment. The background music is really nice, and set at the right volume setting. Thank you.
Thank you for this video and all of the others too! We’re still in early planning for our homestead, but I appreciate your sharing of this experience and am excited to develop my own chicken set-up!
Thanks for sharing , the best change I made with my chicken coop was the deep letter method using hemp or mulch instead of wood shavings I have been doing this for 9 months now and the coop is so clean the chickens do the work all I have been doing is trowing some seed in and they scratch and turn the litter into wonderful compost,look it up .🍀
Margaret, can you send a link to explain what you mean and how to do it? I just don't have the cleaning poop thing down🤭. Barbara
Hi Barbara here is a link that explains the deep litter method it’s U tube Carolina chicken coop Deep litter method explained. I am now on a year with this method and I just throw som seeds in and the hens do the work once in a while I put a small bag off hemp in and there is no smell . I have 7 hens and last year my husband built a big coop and that’s when I started this method . I never use wood shavings because they don’t work. Hope this is helpful.
Hey Todd, I think that you are on the right path with the chickens. Smaller flock - permanent structure, less work, more time (to install a headlight on a Ford tractor). You can always build a chicken tractor to let the girls move around some in the summer, if you want. Thanks for the update and continued blessings!
I really need to fix that headlight for you don't i!
@@SSLFamilyDad sounds like a good video :)
I have a permanent set-up for my layers & mobile for meat birds. I like both. I use a compost system (like edible acres) with my layers but can move mobile to areas I want extra fertility (like in the garden after the season). The mobile coop also is an extra brooder if needed or re-coop area if I have a sick/injured bird. I like having options.
I love the edible acres system and I'm considering doing this with some of my birds once my composting is back in action. We just moved to a new larger property so I will have plenty to feed them on in the compost system for sure!
I would say the paddock shift method is a great idea, and you could also free range your hayfield when you don't have any hay growing to help build fertility and manage the field.
We set up a chicken coop a few years ago by using a used construction trailer and it works great.In the winter we pull it up to a doorway in the barn and they have access to the barn and in summer we just pull it away from the barn with the tractor.These trailers are available for a good price usually and they don"t leak normally.Something like this might work well for you.I enjoy your videos...keep at it.
ROTATING PASTURE ACCESS AROUND THE STATIONARY COOP. Can’t wait to see how you get on. P.S. Your urban coop design and your vlog on aggressive rooster are my absolute favourites.
Yay!!!! A new chicken video! Love it! We are still towns folk, and currently have 9 chicks! Sooo excited to get natural eggs! Plus RIR, so I know those eggs taste amazing!
Me too,i live in town and have nine lol! Wrll actually 4 older hens and 5 new chicks
As a lapsed farmboy your videos are a real pleasure. Chased by the rooster as a youngun had issues with chickens ever since but you got me feelin like hey I could do that with the right chickens.
My permanent chicken house has served me well for 20 years and was an easy project. A lean to shed facing east with a fenced yard and wire on top also.
Tractors are working good for us. I park them over the garden during the fall with the goats. Move them behind the cows and goats in the summer. I do have a couple permanent coops for our hard winter months Dec thru March, tractors just aren't enough to keep them warm.
That is a good idea, permanent for winter and tractor for summer
You could do straight up meat birds in the tractor during the summer and your layers in the permanent coop. Works great for us in ND.
Absolutely. Works great everywhere.
Why would you keep chickens in a tractor?
That's just the name they give to a pen that can be moved often.
That’s the way I would do it as well. We are doing strictly layers but with incubating comes more roosters.
Yea tractors in the summer and coop in the winter, especially in MN where we get 9months of winter
Nice information!I’m up to 85 hens and 5 roasters.
I have parakeets and the cages all come with removable or slide out bottoms. I really like that you have that for your chicken coop. That is smart. I don't know why most that I see have to be bailed out rather than how you have yours. That drawer will make cleaning so much easier, and not on the ground back breaking work.
Your Barred Rocks are looking great!
I have four barred rocks myself and they are for sure a great breed. Very friendly
And so pretty.
Great idea to rotate the chickens. I can't wait to do that! You're doing great things man!!!
Solar powered chicken door is nice on my coup. Theres a bit of expense to start with but its worth every penny. No more running out in the morning or at night to lock them up.
Rain catchment is my next project for my chickens.
Hmmmm
I'll have to look into that
Thanks
Thanks for the link on the Farmer Brad waterer. Ive been looking for something like this for a while. I believe this will be alot more efficient and cleaner.
Love Psalm 37: 4 - a favorite! Thanks for all.
Many of the chicken tractors are used for fast growing meat birds or 6-7 months out of the year. I like the idea of a permanent coop where you can open up to three different pastures. Sad to downsize but necessary. You'll enjoy delicious home grown poultry. Wise decision to get the poultry moved out of the barn! 👍
The goats appear to be listening with interest! CHEERS from Westcoast Canada!
We have auto watering systems and auto feeders so yeah the permanent coop is better for us too, work smarter, not harder. We have health issues so it definitely helps!
I read chickens need 17 hours a day of light to lay.i get 1 egg per hen all year with lights on time.,)
Love your coop
We have a permanent coop for our layers, and from time to time we pasture raise our broilers in with our larger animals. We can actually keep them on pasture much longer than the 6-8weeks typically recommended. Because they are constantly on the move, they are healthier and less likely to develop heart issues as they grow larger. When we pasture raise, we rarely have to give grain, so thats another plus. Our larger animals (sheep or cows usually) help keep away predators.
👍 We'll be raising new layer chicks this Spring, so like hearing your opinions from experience!
chixkens are a pain sometimws but I lovem..They eat all my bugs and give me eggs..Whats not to love.and my leghorn wakes me up every morning..
Maybe you can do both ideas at different times. Ok. So not too feasible in winter. I like the 4pasture access idea. Makes good sense & good use of available resources. Maybe later a tiny tractor for fewer chickens easier to move.
I have a mix of 9 chickens and they are full free range. Two hens went missing and came back with chicks, so I'm going to have to manage things better. I'm in NZ, so it's Fall here. In Spring, I plan to select breed Orpington Barred Rock cross for laying and meat birds. Breeders in a movable cage, meat birds will go in a tractor in paddocks until I process them, and layers, 10, will free range.
I'm thinking a pasture rotation system is what I want to do, too. I can see using tractors for meat birds in a purposeful manner (soil prep)... but the eggs layers can move where I want them. Great video!
Yeah, I like my chickens close to the house, for safety, and to care for them if they get sick. One hen caught a cold this year. I brought her in the house to cure her. I love your smaller coop. Easier to keep the chickens warm.
Coghill farm has some great vlogs on inexpensive moveable coops, not chicken tractors, and his are also in a wooded, shady area. I really enjoy your channel!
Here in the city they allow 4 chickens and one rooster. The city also requires a yearly fee of course of 35 dollars. But free organic eggs are a little pricey. So you are doing good. So if I decide to get laying chickens what would you suggest?
I like the barred rocks for dual purpose but isa browns are the best for just laying
I agree with you on the tractors, yet still plan to build one that fits my raised garden beds so I can let a couple yardbirds do their share of the garden work. No way I'd dream of moving tractors in the winter in Michigan, though, that's insane.
If I were in your shoes, I would build a nice big coop and put it in a spot that you can drive to, but I'd remember that my tractor has pallet forks when I build it, knowing that you never know what the future may bring, and that moving the coop could be easily done with the help of Henry Ford and a T post puller.
Great advice!
@@SSLFamilyDad thanks! Hope it helps, and thanks for sharing!
Great video I can understand the need to have the chickens their own place. here’s a brief description of what I have at my place it might help you out I have about a half acre with 5 foot tall fencing and I put a small coop in the back corner under the trees it’s about half wooded and it’s half open lawn that I keep cut and it supplies a lot of food. I have had up to 70 chickens on it at one time. I want my birds to be able to free range but I wanted them to stay inside this perimeter so I do regular monthly wing clippings and I everything‘s good. Clipping wings after dark is easiest for me.
My brother also put some gift chickens into a stall until a new coop could be built. Catching them for the move was much harder than what you appear to have experienced. They kept flying into the rafters/soffit where we couldn't reach them. Then several escaped from the barn and we had to snatch them out of the tree they roosted in after it got dark. It was a real keystone cop operation.
In the words of the great Frank Perdue, "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken" ☺️
Lol
I really enjoyed how you explained both ideas pature verses the tractor idea. I'm from NW NJ Mtn's and totally get long winters, now in TX and concidering a move out of urban area and doing commercial chickens miccrogreens and homesteading goats and hogs with my husband your thoughts got me thinking, even in TX.. We are still in planning and are shopping land compared to other you tubers, you gave me some new perspectives. We are doing 4 chickens now. I grew up raising horses, rabbits, dogs and veggies. We will will be adding you to our watch list. Thanks Again, Hope
I had Barred Rock chickens - before the fox got them. They were very good mothers.
Were your barred rocks free ranging when the fox got them?
@@robertpattillo2503 I did free range my chickens. My most recent set of chickens I kept inside of a covered fenced area. A raccoon broke into their house during the night and got every one of them. I am giving up on chickens. I can’t tell you the number I’ve lost to predators - including coyote, fox, owl, raccoon.
Most of chickens we've had here in Florida Tavares we live at is about 52 time we went through several sets in about almost 10 years we sell and buy and do different things I got into the little bands about the Cornish hen size they're great parents that's not been bred out of them but I noticed that with a Rhode Island red I've gotten here only a couple of them will go broody once in awhile but it's hard to get them to stay with the eggs once one does it other ones try to do it.... the band you have seasons there you don't have problems with fleas a lot but we use dematious Earth that's really good to get rid of those fleas....food grade...
I just made a new 8×8 coup and have 5 brand spanking new dominicker chicks
Yeehaw love having chickens again
Great Video
...thank you for being a real guy
Some channels are too weird.
I appreciate your experience and knowledge. We just got 14// chicks and we're down to 10 so I've been watching every video available and you're the most knowledgeable and sincere. Thank you for taking me along w your ideas and giving me a few of my own for my half acre here in Colorado...we too have 6/7 months of winter and cold so it was comforting to hear that from you...I'm not alone in the cold weather world of chuckens..
Keep doing you....p
Definitely keep your hay fields. Clear out that part you mentioned for your Broilers.
Set up a Smaller Winter house for the chickens that will allow their feed to grow at the winter season and keep them warmer, plus it will prep the soil for when the weather is warmer, for vegetables that won't take the early spring in your area and the summer heat
Hi Todd, I’ve been watching since the you built the chicken coupe at the suburban homestead, one day eventually I’m hoping my hubby lets me have some dwarf goats and chickens, but definitely goats. We have show dogs and goats milk is amazing for puppies, I’d also love to show goats too. We live on the Sunshine Coast Queensland Australia on 14 acres but 12 of that is ‘land for wildlife” that we cannot clear and we don’t want to, the Kangaroos, possums, wallabies & other critters love it. Thanks for all the tips on the goats and I’ll happily live vicariously through you and admire the kid cuteness on your farm in the mean time. 👍🏼
Miss Inky his name is not Todd.
I love my barred rock. She is so friendly.
Thank you for sharing. Love all your videos.
Amen
At the end of this post, you show the chickens up close, and I thought you could do a fun thing, like Giant chickens attack a little Mr. Bill. You might not be old enough to remember the Mr Bill skits from Saturday Night Live. 😁
Lol, that would be good
This gave me a giggle. I loved Mr. Bill. Oh no!
The permanent sounds better less work as you age
Chicken trackers on your hey field would fertilize it it would be a good to do that
I like that chicken water bucket system....gonna probably try a version of it..thanks for sharing.
Yeah. Never been a Joel Salatin person, but I did try, briefly. Don't get me wrong. I really admire him. Just never worked for me. Mine free range on about 2-5 acres (depends on them really. Some travel further). I feed soaked grain and scraps from us. Adjust for the seasons. But otherwise it's really up to them. It's low maintenance so I don't have to move them like you would with a tractor. They always find their way to the nesting box so no surprises in hidden places. They're calm....I'm calm...we're all happy. Feed and open their door in the morning....close it at sunset....done...(thought about a timer but cost prohibitive at this time).
That is my kind if system right there:)
we had a Rhode island red rooster. he died of gapeworm about two weeks ago. than Smor, one of our black star hens went broody. two weeks later a chick hatch. it hatch today. so we are going to see the sex of it.
Proud of you for having the courage to do a reset. I agree with you that you need to do what requires less work in the future. Less daily work is always best. Allowing you to do other things.
I have Dominique and black jersey giants! Docile and productive!! 🌻
I think a chicken tractor would be a good way to clean up the edges of the Hayfield so if you just set it out expensively for the year to clean up the edges along the fence and then the year after you could get the swather right up against the fence
I hit thumbs-up 3 times, I think it worked. Great video, oviously could have used more chicken sounds, nice to see the goats on the background. I vote for the permanent set up, as they say "time is money".
Great video and I totally agree on the rotating pasture idea. I'm not a fan of the bred for meat birds either.
I'm just getting started in chickens and keep tweaking the coop I bought. I really like your idea of a permanent coop and rotating pastures. If I stick with the chickens long-term, I think that's the direction I want to take in improvements.
So excited to see a homesteading youtuber from MI. We're getting into it and its different here, than those who do it in Southern States.
Also those meatbirds if raised right wont have issues. Ive seen it done and hope to do it ourselves. Im not sure what people are doing to have meatbirds that end up crippled and what not. Their obviously not doingbit right.
Jessica Steingass They are over feeding and keeping them confined, the tractor system moves them everyday so have to move so their legs don’t just fold up. And it helps to fertilize the grass or garden depending on when you start.
I like the paddock idea. We have snow here too so a tractor would sit. All the best
It's a good idea to keep only the best chickens.
Great video as always I love your channel!
Hey chicken dad, I appreciate your information!!😀
Cool practical coop. 😄
Pine City Apiary brings up a good point. To counter though, chicken tractors don't need headlights replaced so... you wouldn't have that headache.
Lol, well. Maybe I could put headlights on the chicken tractor too and make it remote controlled
I thought for sure this was going to be clickbait but you proved me wrong!
Would you be able to do a video on the chicken incubator and that whole process... tired of buying chickens from the big box stores. Thanks.
Yes but not until end of the year when I start breeding again
SSLFamilyDad wonderful... thank you.
Buy from the same Hatchery as the big box store.
The chicken tractor idea is to fertilize the land before the hay really gets going. Everything grows better after chickens have been on it.
0:46 - I remember when you built that. It was before I was a subscriber but it popped up on my feed.
argentum taibhsear Same! I subbed at that point. 😁👍
May we suggest you watch Justin Rhodes, Red Tool House, Cog Hill Farm, etc. about raising meat birds. They have all raised the "typical" Cornish Cross meat birds and they were very healthy without leg issues. About 20-25% of their feed comes from the grass and bugs. Also check out Justin Rhodes' video on 20 ways to cut feed costs. We were born and raised in SE Michigan, and are very aware of the kind of weather there. You would probably only run tractors from about May through September (for about 4 weeks) and have enough chickens in the freezer for an entire year. Chicken tractors aren't meant to be used in the winter. We did have a question about why you don't process your own chickens? Especially if you have a small number of them.
my buff is the best mama, she's 4 and has only gone broody once but she was take any new pullets I have an mother them (show them where and how to eat, protect them from the rest of the flock)
Thanks for the info we are starting our operation on a small homestead and the info here was extremely helpful
I would think a summer "chicken tractor, (I had no idea that is what it was called) for meat birds might be a good idea, use them to eat areas like the pumpkin patch or maybe that area you you bush hogged then after 8-12 weeks they get turned into chicken nuggets and they help "weed and feed".
Some times you have to stop,step back, re-assess, clean house, and try a new process.
I love the broody hen telling you all about it. XD
I would go with a heritage chicken some can get huge and then each year you need to hatch more so when they get older you get them in the freezer and each year you can get more in there if that makes since to ya
Hey - noticed the Spartan Hat ! I'm going to try your plans for the Suburban Chicken Coop here in Comstock Park Michigan - this year . I love chickens and am a fan of your channel as well.
Glad to hear it, hope you like the coop!
We have a young barred rock go Broody this year and stayed on it to raise two chicks.
I have 30 chickens and I have three roosters a Cochin up a rock and buff Orpington and I love my roosters. I have one that’s crazy. He reminds me of that rooster on the Disney show. I have four guineas that when they were babies I used to take them in right by my porch and feed them special things and to this day when we open up the coop and let them run, they come up to the porch and sit on the railing and call for me. I’m 71 years old and I absolutely love my chickens, Pigs, mini donkeys sheep goats, three horses which are beautiful lawn ornaments because the grandchildren went off to college and don’t seem to have much time to ride them anymore. So what do I do a volunteer for petting zoos that I take all my animals to up to a flea market, set up and volunteer to entertain the children with the animals. I have a big horse really big horse who loves kids and licks them licks their faces licks their head just loves the kids. He makes the adults laugh and everybody puts the kid up there to be licked. His tongue is huge. Enjoy all of life that the father has given you bless you my name is Helen.
Good info..thank you👍👍👍
You should look into Edible Acres
What is edible acres
I remember when you moved it from suburbs! Understand the hassle of free range chickens. This year mine are all in coops with outdoor areas but not out in yard. Will be so much easier.
Always enjoy your videos and gain knowledge. Thanks.
Why I asked that question because I've noticed a population of rats hanging around I've killed a few with my Henry 22 I'll get out there sometimes Early in the Morning by two or three in the morning on the weekends and take a few of them out just cut down on the population but it just seems like they end up coming back..we had to take down one chicken pen that we had out there and they had like 30 rats under there......
The coop provides warmth and protection from the elements for living things.
The chicken tractors seem better suited to the cornish cross. They stay in there for 4 to 5 weeks then it's harvest time. You stated you don't like that type of chicken so I'm guessing you are leaning toward a freedom ranger or similar breed. I like your 4 paddock idea for the layers but for 8 chickens, the area you have looks plenty big enough.
I have 30-35 sell just enough eggs at work so I have fresh eggs and it just buys the feed! I have 4 day feeders and the ducks shack up with them in the winter. I save a lot of money mixing my own feed for winter! I agree with the coop though tractors are a pain especially when working a lot of overtime and have cattle,gardens,crops ect. We do free range in the summer!
Thar is a great way to go!
Greg from Bay City. 4 hens from TSC, 1 mo. Designing coop in my head-subdivision.
I think you nailed it. That is what we plan on doing.
Thank u for making the videos very appreciated
Do you not have issues with predators like hawks? I noticed there wasn’t a top to the run. Looking to do something similar but I have seen a big hawk around our 6 acres.
It's called wire on top of there pen.🤠👍Took me just a few seconds to figure that one out.
how do you keep the chickens inside the fence, won't they fly over the fence and get out?
I really like your coup ,easy clean that sounds good lol ,i did make one its not bad but i think i should of had the nest boxes to the side instead of the back as when front door open i think the draft comes through and straight to back ,as i find them settling down at the side of door so they dont really like like the set up .Im surprised you dont process your birds yourself ?
interesting vids keep em coming .you might wanna look at my channel ive all sorts on it ive some vintage tractors you might like .take care keep safe ,Ant from Wales UK .