I have raised Cornish Cross chickens for three years, and you have helped immensely, bought your book on Amazon, usually run two batches a year spring and fall start with 60 birds loose around 5 due to that’s the way it goes, just expect it, and move on, the last Batch was a good one, 57 birds made it to the freezer, ran the for 6 weeks to the day, average weight 4-1/2 lbs to 5 lbs total time to process with my son and daughter helping was just short of 4 hours from beginning till the end, glad to see more videos from you, Monnie
Great video, love the style. One tip, add a couple of lights to get rid of the shadows... some cheap photo studio lights or even those clamp on brooder lights with a homemade diffuser.
Does anyone know how often you can go over the same spot and how long between each time is needed? was hoping to run multiple batching in a small plot but not sure what the tolerance is.
Late reply here but might help someone else. At the bare minimum you would want a 3-4 week rest before returning the animals to allow the sun to do its job of disinfecting. Also depends on how long you kept them on the land before you moved them. A good rule of thumb for any animals is to move them atleast every 21 days and rest for 21 days, again depends on the amount of animals you have and land size.
Im sorry if i miss that information in video. But how often can you use same place again for a chickens? Is it just matter of grass/weed growing back to its original state or it will die and i need to seed it? Or is there more aspect in it? Im just wondering if you can use same place for another "season" of 35+- days chickens raising.
I would say yes, i use Johns tractor design. I start with 35 birds per pen. ( you will loose one or two ). But i move my tractors morning and night. It does keep them cleaner and they get more grass and bugs. So i would assume they grow faster becuse i finish out a 4.5 pound average at 47 days old..
Rick Ayers I run a hoop house design tractor , but I've been giving my birds 4sq feet each on pasture. I don't have the room for time for twice a day moves.
Thank you for sharing your knowlege. How about the space requirement for pasture pig?hope you make a video of this. I am a mechanical engineer from Philippine I am passionate about farming.
Typically, chicks will only need about 1/2 a square foot per bird. So, you can fit 4x as many birds in the space while brooding for the first 3 weeks. I like to keep 5x 36 square ft tractors that'll keep 18-20 birds each. In summer months while it's hot out, I'll brood in a tractor. Up to 80 birds in a tractor to brood.
I've raised my share of birds. I don't think they will get bigger. Let's take the Cornish cross bird. I butcher the males at week 6 at the latest and females 7-9 weeks. Bigger is not better when it comes to Cornish cross. The meat is very dry if you let them get bigger. Chic f, Wendy's, McDonald's, KFC, Tyson, ect all have adapted to butchering at those dates for moist meat. If your looking for a regular heritage breed the larger the area the bigger they will get. Sand Hill preserve raises breeds for productions
You are the best. I just purchased your book on the chicken tractors and I am learning so much!! Thank you sir!
Sir, you have just convinced me to do this on my 1/3 acre. Thanks for putting this together!!
Did you do it?
Not yet. Still working on the coop
I have raised Cornish Cross chickens for three years, and you have helped immensely, bought your book on Amazon, usually run two batches a year spring and fall start with 60 birds loose around 5 due to that’s the way it goes, just expect it, and move on, the last Batch was a good one, 57 birds made it to the freezer, ran the for 6 weeks to the day, average weight 4-1/2 lbs to 5 lbs total time to process with my son and daughter helping was just short of 4 hours from beginning till the end, glad to see more videos from you, Monnie
Thanks so much for making this video. It is so difficult to plan without having calculations!
This is just what I needed! I can't wait to get the book and watch the rest of this series!
Great video, love the style. One tip, add a couple of lights to get rid of the shadows... some cheap photo studio lights or even those clamp on brooder lights with a homemade diffuser.
Cool! It's amazing how little space you really need provided you can move the chickens everyday.
Hello. When you say "3 Weeks Brooder / 5 Weeks Field"; Does "Brooker" mean raising in a coop / "Field" means keeping it by grazing in the pasture?
I made mine 8x10 about 40 inches high and fit 40 in it easy. You just have to move them once a day untill they're larger then move them twice.
Does anyone know how often you can go over the same spot and how long between each time is needed? was hoping to run multiple batching in a small plot but not sure what the tolerance is.
Late reply here but might help someone else. At the bare minimum you would want a 3-4 week rest before returning the animals to allow the sun to do its job of disinfecting. Also depends on how long you kept them on the land before you moved them. A good rule of thumb for any animals is to move them atleast every 21 days and rest for 21 days, again depends on the amount of animals you have and land size.
Hey John how much acres would I need for about 2500 Laying hens
Im sorry if i miss that information in video. But how often can you use same place again for a chickens? Is it just matter of grass/weed growing back to its original state or it will die and i need to seed it? Or is there more aspect in it?
Im just wondering if you can use same place for another "season" of 35+- days chickens raising.
Thanks John. Math....I love chicken math.
John could you cover the difference between the cornish cross and red ranger on pasture.
I think he already has a video on that (cornish cross has a better profit)
John do you feel you get a larger bird with more space? I look at it as cleanliness, twice the space 1/2 the manure.
I would say yes, i use Johns tractor design. I start with 35 birds per pen. ( you will loose one or two ).
But i move my tractors morning and night. It does keep them cleaner and they get more grass and bugs. So i would assume they grow faster becuse i finish out a 4.5 pound average at 47 days old..
@@rickayers3150 good to know!
Rick Ayers I run a hoop house design tractor , but I've been giving my birds 4sq feet each on pasture. I don't have the room for time for twice a day moves.
Thank you for sharing your knowlege. How about the space requirement for pasture pig?hope you make a video of this. I am a mechanical engineer from Philippine I am passionate about farming.
How many chickens do I need to raise in order to afford 2 daily workers and make profit?
Amazing video John 😎
How tall is too tall for the grass so chickens can still get around
Try and keep it chest high.
I cut mine down to about 3 inches when they're just out of the brooder and about 4 inches a couple weeks after.
Thanks! That was so helpful!
You have me wondering how much brooder space does each chick need?
Typically, chicks will only need about 1/2 a square foot per bird. So, you can fit 4x as many birds in the space while brooding for the first 3 weeks. I like to keep 5x 36 square ft tractors that'll keep 18-20 birds each. In summer months while it's hot out, I'll brood in a tractor. Up to 80 birds in a tractor to brood.
@@robertsmith2199 Thanks for replying, Sir.
I can prove that you can raise 30 CC in a 66' x 40' old garden plot. :)
I've raised my share of birds. I don't think they will get bigger. Let's take the Cornish cross bird. I butcher the males at week 6 at the latest and females 7-9 weeks. Bigger is not better when it comes to Cornish cross. The meat is very dry if you let them get bigger. Chic f, Wendy's, McDonald's, KFC, Tyson, ect all have adapted to butchering at those dates for moist meat. If your looking for a regular heritage breed the larger the area the bigger they will get. Sand Hill preserve raises breeds for productions
At 6 weeks, what's a typical weight?
ln = linear
What type of person would not be nice in this comment section?