Before anyone panics -- I don't necessarily recommend feeding raw eggs to chickens; some people believe it can cause spontaneous egg eating. We've never had an egg eater, which is probably largely because our girls spend the day free ranging, so they have plenty to keep them busy. If I throw them an egg and it doesn't break, they just look at me dumbfounded, haha. Egg eating is more common among bored, confined flocks. So don't risk it if you don't want to!
I had a pet rooster as a child, that pretty much free-ranged all day, no fenced yard; his territory. My future ex-husband, who lived in the area, told me my rooster would chase him out of the yard when he cruised by. I should have listened.
Love how you talk so fast and yet are clear and concise!!!! You would make a good public speaker or a news lady!!!!!!!!! By the way i raised chickens most of my life and ( that's 72 years) can't imagine being without them. Keep up the good work!!!!
You would crack up if you saw my chicken house. I added a solar automatic door, exhaust fan and a small usb fan for each nest box. My girls love the fan. In the really hot summer they go under their house and sit in front of a Ryobi Battery fan. I am 79 and at age 75 I did my first build ever. I built a beautiful house and elevated run. I have built 4 more since. I envy your farm space. Good info.
For getting the chicks to eat out of my hand I ordered some Grubterra with your coupon code haha. My chicks would never eat out of my hands before that but they did immediately with the Grubterra. Now they come up to me anytime I'm around them. I have Easter Eggers, Rhode Island Reds and Golden Stars.
Thanks for the video! About the hard boiled eggs question, I know the best way! Pressure cooking. The egg shells practically sliiiide right off. 7 mins in the Instant Pot with a quick release and ice water shock. This way makes amazing hard boiled eggs. My kids and I love them.
Chicken health kit! Sterile gloves, antibiotic spray like Vetrycin, Enfabril (common antibiotic for respiratory infection), Corid (for coccidosis), and Ivermectin (for mites), superglue for broken beaks or nails, water based lubricant, epsom salt, syringes, Blu-Kote I've accumulated all this and more in a year, it would have been easier if I had the basics first though!
@@dorriwaldera3081 I havent had to use all of it. I do not understand why you have to tell me you havent had any problems in so many years. It is unhelpful
@@thesadgardener I don’t think she was trying to be rude, just trying to show the other end of the spectrum. If I were thinking about getting chicks and came across your list, I might “chicken out” and that’s not necessary. Chickens are often easier than what you’ve gone through with your ladies. I hope it smooths out well for you. ❤️
@@TheFickleFauxsteader I think if this list causes anyone to not get chickens then they shouldn't. It's super important to have these medications and supplies for really common situations. But then again, most people treat their chickens as disposable and will let them die from easily prevented deaths
I just started raising chickens. Have no idea what I'm doing. Watching as many videos as I can to learn how to be a good chicken mama. Thank you for sharing your experiences and tips. We have golden comets, brown isa, australorp, cuckoo marans, easter egger, & smoky pearl. I'm hoping I haven't bit off more than I can chew. Don't plan to eat any right now, maybe later if the food shortage becomes severe.
We've had our chickens for 2 months and have already had to put 2 down because of respiratory infections. It's hard and I cried, but it was a valuable lesson. Also, we had an encounter with a coyote while our chickens were free ranging and our rooster ran out to face the coyote so the hens could run away. We scared the coyote away before he could get our rooster. He is a good rooster and is always trying to protect them ❤️ He also will keep the top hens from picking on our smallest most scared hen.
@@CTR6067 Yeah we tried VetRX, these girls were just too sick. whoever we bought them from was not taking care of them. they were sick when we bought them ☹️
Looks like you are going to have to fence the area that you want your chickens to free range. Coyotes will be back. I lost my prized rooster to a fox. Now I am fencing.
We just got our first chicks this year and we LOVE those babies (they’re about 4 weeks). My kids and I are constantly holding them and they love us, too! They come to us as soon as we open the top to our brooder wanting us to hold them. I can’t even imagine killing them after they get too old. I hate that people do that, too. Anyway, getting these girlies is one of the BEST decisions I have made. 🐥💛
THANK YOU! I am just starting to research chickens and your videos are an amazing resource! I also LOVE how you freely say when you don't know something, how often you tell people to go research and form their own opinions, and how generous you are with your advice and "what worked for you" experience. So many people fail to understand that every situation is different and seeking out expert advice (esp medical) is critical in severe situations. You have such a "natural" delivery style - it is really really good. I don't know when I will get my flock but I now know WAY more about it thanks to you!
Just thought that I would share my years of experience with you all. Having a well ventilated coop BEFORE you put your chicks into it is a MUST!!! I live on the north Oregon coast. The temp. usually never goes about 80* even in the summer months. But about 3-4 years ago, we had a summer with a one day temp. of 110. My hens had a covered well ventilated place to stay but 16 of them entering the coop to lay their eggs, but never walked back out alive. I was in Penn./Florida at the time and my son never opened up the coop’s ventilation door. That year I was left with only two laying hens when the summer ended. It was very heart breaking and my son felt even worse. Although we have not had a temp. that high since then, please make sure that you have a ventilation door and when the temp. climbs above 60* continuously, open up that door and lock it into the open position for the rest of the summer.
I just got 5 chickens my first backyard chickens and thankfully they are very quiet they hardly make noise which is so weird lol we also have 2 acres of land so we don’t mind it
I tend to have videos going on in the background while I am doing simpler work for my job. You do a great job conveying information in a way where I don't have to look at the video all the time to understand fully what's going on. Thank you for doing such a great job!
I live in a very hot and dry area, my coop has ¼ in hardware cloth floor, with the same material making a long vent at the top. In winter I just put vinyl across the floor, and cut up t-shirts across the vent. Our freezes are very rare, and since their door faces a walled corner I never close it. They're set in the winter, and all that ventilation lets all that crappy heat out in the summers. Cleaning is super easy, just drag a small trowel towards myself and all the poop ends up in the bucket I'm holding.
I am getting chickens and know nothing! I have a few months to research and prepare. Your videos are extremely helpful, encouraging and informative. The commenters are the same! I'm learning from you AND them. I have just subscribed and look forward to learning more. Thank you!
Great video just as a small comment...layer feed won’t make your hens lay more, that is mostly breed dependent (hybrid commercial hens are specifically bred to lay as many eggs as possible...which isn’t natural or particularly healthy) Layer feed is there to provide the correct balance of nutrients, protein and calcium necessary for them to be able to lay strong shelled eggs, rich yolked eggs and keep their nutrition balanced. If you free range it is less important as they tend to eat what their body needs BUT chickens love treats and will often fill themselves too much on food that isn’t as balanced for them if it’s offered. So I would always make sure that they get their layer feed early in the day and then save any ‘treats’ until the afternoon. Kitchen scraps in a good variety are great (we aren’t allowed to do that in the Uk🙄) and feeding them back their eggshells gives them plenty calcium so thats not so much of an issue but if you have a tiny garden; or keep them penned then personally I would just make sure they get their layer feed first thing, additional stuff later
With hard boiled, I have found if you immediately run cold tap water over them, and let it run for a couple of minutes, the quick cooling helps pull the egg from the shell.
The varied diet I believe is essential! The birds r happier & u can sometimes save boocoo bucks... I have had windfalls with local bakery calling they overcooked an oven of bread, so I got 30 loads for free! My birds loved it
In spring and summer I Put the grass clippings in the open chicken yard. They like to get the bugs and it keeps their feet dryer if it has been raining. When it gets dirty I just rake up the grass and compost it.
I raised all my poultry together. Geese, guiena, muscovy, ducks, chickens. I ran a pygmy goat too. Occasionally my pot bellied pigs, all seemed happy. My poultry yard was just over half an acre.
I have had several Roosters that would protect the flock and the funny part is my smaller bantham roosters are more protective than my Brahmas which are 5 times bigger.
I am so glad I found your channel. We have been backyard chicken owners for only 4 months. We got 4 young layers from a farm converting to ducks and geese and 2 mature Wyandottes from our previous egg lady. They got along pretty well at the start but there was more bullying happening and I realized I did not build a chicken coop that gave them enough floor space after watching your videos. Starla had all her back feathers pulled or broken from my bigs and the two smallest would not come out of the nesting boxes for almost 3 weeks. I had to change some things. They are still getting used to the addition but no more bullying and it makes my heart happy to see the two littles out all day in the sunshine. I am so happy I found your videos. Thank you
Love the general info provided. Love it. I’m in az so have different struggles but thought I’d add the issue with tomato is the the greens… leaves stems… it’s nightshade plant… same with eggplant.
Thanks so much for your videos I watched the one about how to get chicks to be friendly as well as several others and my chickens love being in my arms now. I have 2 that walk into my hand so I will put them in my lap for some love and we are almost don't with a coop designed roughly from yours and we are doing the deep bed method. Very excited they are only 2 months at the moment can't wait for them to be bigger lol
We got 6 sexed Easter Egger hens from TSC in August. They're just now laying. Turns out 1 was a Rooster. He's amazing and is the leader. We had a tragic loss when our 2nd hen (flash) couldn't pass her first egg and lost her guts. We had no idea what to do. She died. Now we know and were scared but from what I read it's a rare thing. They free range all day. But now going to get 4 or 5 more because we don't want to stress the hens that much with the rooster. He's VERY active. We love having so many different looking chickens.
Really helpful video, thank you!! I had a lot of trouble choosing the right ground cover for the run. Mostly because wood chip wasn't available in small quantities. I ended up using straw for a while and one hen started eating it and got an impacted crop. So avoid straw!! I use large play bark which works well in our damp weather. I scoop poop daily and top up the bark every few months as it degrades.
The weather is why I moved to Fl. From Northern Wisconsin. One Christmas vacation and by Feb. I was living in Florida. I have been her 40 years and never want to leave.
I love all poultry. I spend hours with them. They give me joy. Definitely, the more time you spend with them, especially as babies, the more friendly they are.. in my experience. I have 2 Bantam Phoenix hens that will fly up on my arm when I give the signal. One does better than the other. So cool. Chicken problems. I've taken afew chickens and my pet turkey to the vet. In my experience, some chicken problems can come from where you buy your chickens. My 2 silver Wyandottes.. one died of tumor, which I thought was water belly but vet said tumor. The other has been diagnosed the same. Have an Easter Egger now with chronic ear problems. My vet has been treating for almost a year now. And both my Barred rocks have died.. vet was able to see one of them. All are from a certain hatchery. I did order more birds from this hatchery before realizing it may be the genetics of the chickens they use. My chickens are more than just chickens, they are our pets. We love them like our cats and dogs. Thanks Oak Abode.. love your videos!!!
HEYY! fellow wisconsinite here! I'm also a new chicken cooper and trying to learn as much info as I can before my chickens arrive! This stuff gets pretty deep in the need to knows. A little overwhelming but I know it will be worth it
I have raised all different types of chickens for 20 years and you are totally right about the rooster if you get a good rooster count your blessings and alot had to do with breed and luck!!!
I WI here. I use deep littler method. I have not cleaned out my coop since Oct? It never stinks.. I did add some layers in over the winter cold months. My chickens do go out almost daily even in the winter, so sure it is different if they stay in the coop 2/7. Once I get my new composting system set up I will be cleaning it, and get it set for summer.
Bantams such as Pekins and Belgium d'ucccles are friendly and docile. Bantams actually grow faster to maturity than standard chickens but of course are smaller in size, I think that is what you meant.
Thank you SO MUCH! One question I have is this: when and how do you train the chickens to free range and then return home when there is not a fenced in/restricted area?
Yes,your Chicken coop and the chickens are seemingly good.The coop build in protective and secure pattern.I am sure the weather will not savage the chickens.I am sure some ventilate windows are in the other side of the coop.I observed you are having ample knowledge about poultry keeping. Good Luck Anton London
you said that you used 2x2s for roosts in the beginning but found that 2x4s were better for the birds with the only shortcoming being the birds pooping on the 2x4 roosts. My question is that with a 2x2 actually being 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 would ripping a 2x4 down to 1-1/2 x 2-1/2 provide them with a more comfortable roost plus prevent the poop from ending up on the roosts?
Love your videos I’ve taken a lot of inspiration building my coop. I’m in Georgia and my chicks are around 5-6 weeks old and mostly feathered.... weather is 50-70 degrees you think they will be fine outside? Also I have a large run what i built and I’m trying to figure out the best thing to put as floor. I have lots of leaves in the yard, I’m reading wood chips too and straw
Instead of soaking pasty butts in water, especially when they are chicks, I take a small bowl of warm water, q tips and softer ply paper towels and depending on how bad it is I dip the q tips or the corner of a paper towel and gently clean them that way because the little ones go downhill fast if they arent warm enough. I have been raising my chickens for almost 10 years now and not all hens will raise their chicks after their eggs hatch. I have had hens sit on their eggs and as soon as they hatch they peck them to death. I have a few "foster" hens that will raise any chick.
I feel it when she said the hardest part is when your chicks are getting big and making messy and their ready to go outside and your ready for them to go out but its still too cold.... we're in south dakota and our chicks are huge and ready to go to the outside coop but it was 5 degrees the other day.
After five years I once again have chickens Betty. and Harold but they’re both girls love the babies they’re about the size of a crow right now love your Channel
I'm super late to the party :( we have our two new hens, and they are about 6 weeks old. We just moved them to their coop outside. Quick question, what do we do about the flies that accumulate around the coop?
You should never wash your eggs, that´s an American thing! Eggs are already covered with a thin protective layer. If you wash them you remove this layer. EU regulations prohibid the washing of eggs for consumption. In the US they wash the eggs and apply a protective coating afterwards.
@@TamyXx because they are in a clean nest. Chickens won´t lay/hatch eggs in a dirty nest. And unlike ducks they don´t go in water so there is no mud in theorie pen either. And in an industrial setting the brooders are of course kept clean in the first place.
Can you show us your compost area? is it enclosed so you can put the hens in there for a while or do you take some of the compost to them? how does it work?
We've heard out west is hot, but they say, it's a dry heat . Now we in the cold part of the country can say , it's a dry cold. " The other dry temp that is more tolerable 🥶🥵
I live in the north - in the summer out sun rises at 4am and sets at around 11pm. My neighbors would be quite upset with loud chickens outside at 4am. Anyone have any tips?
My Rooster (Sweet William) did set off an alarm for the hens if eagles or hawks were seen here in the wilderness. And he would run all over to make sure the whole group was protected and hiding. He would also break up squabbles in the coop when the hens were fighting over one nest box. I would love another rooster like him again when the time comes!
I hope my roosters are like that. I didn't plan on having chickens, but 2 roosters just showed up, a few weeks ago. 2 weeks later, a hen flew in. I've just been letting them free-range in my 1/2 acre yard, and giving them food and water. I read that 2 roosters can't live with 1 hen, but so far we've only had one moderate fight, w/o injuries, soon after the hen arrived. I live in the suburb of a small city in so California, to but we do have racoons, smaller hawks, owls, and occassionally coyotes. They fly high up into my big trees to roost. My yard is fenced, 6' in back and 4' in front. I haven't been able to pick them up or pet them yet. They look a lot healthier than they did, and they are safer than running in the street with dogs chasing them, like they were for the first 2 weeks, so I was hoping they could just hang out, without a coup. Do you think that's possible? And do I need to separate the hen from the roosters? Thanks!
Great video! Thank you! I wonder if letting the girls out a little later in the morning would help appease an complaints. That and gift eggs. :) I think kids and other dogs/equipment are certainly louder than the chicks!
Before anyone panics -- I don't necessarily recommend feeding raw eggs to chickens; some people believe it can cause spontaneous egg eating. We've never had an egg eater, which is probably largely because our girls spend the day free ranging, so they have plenty to keep them busy. If I throw them an egg and it doesn't break, they just look at me dumbfounded, haha. Egg eating is more common among bored, confined flocks. So don't risk it if you don't want to!
Hi I am from India and am raising some chickens and some of them are eating wood chips any idea why
We do the same thing. No issues.
@@mathewjacob3075 because who doesn't eat chips!!
What are the symptoms of sour crop?
I had a pet rooster as a child, that pretty much free-ranged all day, no fenced yard; his territory.
My future ex-husband, who lived in the area, told me my rooster would chase him out of the yard when he cruised by. I should have listened.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sometimes they know before you do xD
If you have a plywood floor it's a good idea is to install linoleum on your floor. It's a lot easier to clean and it will last forever.
Love how you talk so fast and yet are clear and concise!!!! You would make a good public speaker or a news lady!!!!!!!!! By the way i raised chickens most of my life and ( that's 72 years) can't imagine being without them. Keep up the good work!!!!
Hello Woody Jade, what was the longest a chicken lived with you?
@@HJ-le7ce About 9 yrs...........
@@woodyjade9097 ok thank you 😍
You can freeze eggs to,crack open into a muffin pan & freeze,then pop out and toss in freezer bag...
You would crack up if you saw my chicken house. I added a solar automatic door, exhaust fan and a small usb fan for each nest box. My girls love the fan. In the really hot summer they go under their house and sit in front of a Ryobi Battery fan. I am 79 and at age 75 I did my first build ever. I built a beautiful house and elevated run. I have built 4 more since. I envy your farm space. Good info.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video! It was very informative!
Thank you for watching!
For getting the chicks to eat out of my hand I ordered some Grubterra with your coupon code haha. My chicks would never eat out of my hands before that but they did immediately with the Grubterra. Now they come up to me anytime I'm around them. I have Easter Eggers, Rhode Island Reds and Golden Stars.
Thanks for the video!
About the hard boiled eggs question, I know the best way! Pressure cooking. The egg shells practically sliiiide right off. 7 mins in the Instant Pot with a quick release and ice water shock. This way makes amazing hard boiled eggs. My kids and I love them.
I love your attitude to finding excuses to "get more chickens" It's exactly the way I think! ♥️
Chicken health kit!
Sterile gloves, antibiotic spray like Vetrycin, Enfabril (common antibiotic for respiratory infection), Corid (for coccidosis), and Ivermectin (for mites), superglue for broken beaks or nails, water based lubricant, epsom salt, syringes, Blu-Kote
I've accumulated all this and more in a year, it would have been easier if I had the basics first though!
Sorry you have had to use all of this. I can see where it would be handy, but me a chicken mom of 6 years have never had any issue. Good luck!
@@dorriwaldera3081 I havent had to use all of it. I do not understand why you have to tell me you havent had any problems in so many years. It is unhelpful
@@thesadgardener I don’t think she was trying to be rude, just trying to show the other end of the spectrum.
If I were thinking about getting chicks and came across your list, I might “chicken out” and that’s not necessary. Chickens are often easier than what you’ve gone through with your ladies. I hope it smooths out well for you. ❤️
@@TheFickleFauxsteader I think if this list causes anyone to not get chickens then they shouldn't. It's super important to have these medications and supplies for really common situations. But then again, most people treat their chickens as disposable and will let them die from easily prevented deaths
Thank you! That’s a super nice concise summary. Appreciate the information very much
I am planning to keep chickens in the future and I will rewatch this when I do, because you always do such a good job!
I just started raising chickens. Have no idea what I'm doing. Watching as many videos as I can to learn how to be a good chicken mama. Thank you for sharing your experiences and tips. We have golden comets, brown isa, australorp, cuckoo marans, easter egger, & smoky pearl. I'm hoping I haven't bit off more than I can chew. Don't plan to eat any right now, maybe later if the food shortage becomes severe.
We've had our chickens for 2 months and have already had to put 2 down because of respiratory infections. It's hard and I cried, but it was a valuable lesson. Also, we had an encounter with a coyote while our chickens were free ranging and our rooster ran out to face the coyote so the hens could run away. We scared the coyote away before he could get our rooster. He is a good rooster and is always trying to protect them ❤️ He also will keep the top hens from picking on our smallest most scared hen.
Try VetRX for respiratory problems. It’s organic and works wonders.
@@CTR6067 Yeah we tried VetRX, these girls were just too sick. whoever we bought them from was not taking care of them. they were sick when we bought them ☹️
🥲
Looks like you are going to have to fence the area that you want your chickens to free range. Coyotes will be back. I lost my prized rooster to a fox. Now I am fencing.
So sorry that happened to some of your girls. I’m sad for you. I hope the others are doing well
I love my Easter egger too! She’s just a little baby (hatched on Dec 18th 2023) but she has stolen my heart & is just the most precious thing!🥹
We just got our first chicks this year and we LOVE those babies (they’re about 4 weeks). My kids and I are constantly holding them and they love us, too! They come to us as soon as we open the top to our brooder wanting us to hold them. I can’t even imagine killing them after they get too old. I hate that people do that, too. Anyway, getting these girlies is one of the BEST decisions I have made. 🐥💛
Aww, I love this! ❤️ It sounds like they found the perfect home with you. Have a blast with your new babies!
That's what I'll do
THANK YOU! I am just starting to research chickens and your videos are an amazing resource! I also LOVE how you freely say when you don't know something, how often you tell people to go research and form their own opinions, and how generous you are with your advice and "what worked for you" experience. So many people fail to understand that every situation is different and seeking out expert advice (esp medical) is critical in severe situations. You have such a "natural" delivery style - it is really really good. I don't know when I will get my flock but I now know WAY more about it thanks to you!
Thanks for your videos! They've been so helpful. I got my first 8 chicks 2 weeks ago and I'm so in love!
Just thought that I would share my years of experience with you all. Having a well ventilated coop BEFORE you put your chicks into it is a MUST!!! I live on the north Oregon coast. The temp. usually never goes about 80* even in the summer months. But about 3-4 years ago, we had a summer with a one day temp. of 110. My hens had a covered well ventilated place to stay but 16 of them entering the coop to lay their eggs, but never walked back out alive. I was in Penn./Florida at the time and my son never opened up the coop’s ventilation door. That year I was left with only two laying hens when the summer ended. It was very heart breaking and my son felt even worse. Although we have not had a temp. that high since then, please make sure that you have a ventilation door and when the temp. climbs above 60* continuously, open up that door and lock it into the open position for the rest of the summer.
I just got 5 chickens my first backyard chickens and thankfully they are very quiet they hardly make noise which is so weird lol we also have 2 acres of land so we don’t mind it
I tend to have videos going on in the background while I am doing simpler work for my job. You do a great job conveying information in a way where I don't have to look at the video all the time to understand fully what's going on. Thank you for doing such a great job!
I live in a very hot and dry area, my coop has ¼ in hardware cloth floor, with the same material making a long vent at the top. In winter I just put vinyl across the floor, and cut up t-shirts across the vent. Our freezes are very rare, and since their door faces a walled corner I never close it. They're set in the winter, and all that ventilation lets all that crappy heat out in the summers. Cleaning is super easy, just drag a small trowel towards myself and all the poop ends up in the bucket I'm holding.
I am getting chickens and know nothing! I have a few months to research and prepare. Your videos are extremely helpful, encouraging and informative. The commenters are the same! I'm learning from you AND them. I have just subscribed and look forward to learning more. Thank you!
Great video just as a small comment...layer feed won’t make your hens lay more, that is mostly breed dependent (hybrid commercial hens are specifically bred to lay as many eggs as possible...which isn’t natural or particularly healthy) Layer feed is there to provide the correct balance of nutrients, protein and calcium necessary for them to be able to lay strong shelled eggs, rich yolked eggs and keep their nutrition balanced. If you free range it is less important as they tend to eat what their body needs BUT chickens love treats and will often fill themselves too much on food that isn’t as balanced for them if it’s offered. So I would always make sure that they get their layer feed early in the day and then save any ‘treats’ until the afternoon. Kitchen scraps in a good variety are great (we aren’t allowed to do that in the Uk🙄) and feeding them back their eggshells gives them plenty calcium so thats not so much of an issue but if you have a tiny garden; or keep them penned then personally I would just make sure they get their layer feed first thing, additional stuff later
With hard boiled, I have found if you immediately run cold tap water over them, and let it run for a couple of minutes, the quick cooling helps pull the egg from the shell.
That’s cute, when you say “Hey Girls” they come running! 🐓🐓🐓
The varied diet I believe is essential! The birds r happier & u can sometimes save boocoo bucks... I have had windfalls with local bakery calling they overcooked an oven of bread, so I got 30 loads for free! My birds loved it
I live in Fl. And I use construction sand in both the run and the floor of the coop. It is a 5 min. Clean up, just like kitty litter.
In spring and summer I Put the grass clippings in the open chicken yard. They like to get the bugs and it keeps their feet dryer if it has been raining. When it gets dirty I just rake up the grass and compost it.
I have had chickens for years. I really enjoyed your take on raising chickens and totally agree. Simple is better. Thaks.
I raised all my poultry together. Geese, guiena, muscovy, ducks, chickens. I ran a pygmy goat too. Occasionally my pot bellied pigs, all seemed happy. My poultry yard was just over half an acre.
Super helpful video, especially for first-timers like us! Thank you!
I have had several Roosters that would protect the flock and the funny part is my smaller bantham roosters are more protective than my Brahmas which are 5 times bigger.
I am so glad I found your channel. We have been backyard chicken owners for only 4 months. We got 4 young layers from a farm converting to ducks and geese and 2 mature Wyandottes from our previous egg lady. They got along pretty well at the start but there was more bullying happening and I realized I did not build a chicken coop that gave them enough floor space after watching your videos. Starla had all her back feathers pulled or broken from my bigs and the two smallest would not come out of the nesting boxes for almost 3 weeks. I had to change some things. They are still getting used to the addition but no more bullying and it makes my heart happy to see the two littles out all day in the sunshine. I am so happy I found your videos. Thank you
We had a rooster who valiantly fought with a hawk to protect the hens. By the time I got there, the hawk was carrying him off.
Love the general info provided. Love it. I’m in az so have different struggles but thought I’d add the issue with tomato is the the greens… leaves stems… it’s nightshade plant… same with eggplant.
Your videos are always so informative, and fun. Thank you ☺️
Thank Troy for the backyard chicken information.
love your info and your personality makes me trust you and want to watch more!
Thanks so much for your videos I watched the one about how to get chicks to be friendly as well as several others and my chickens love being in my arms now. I have 2 that walk into my hand so I will put them in my lap for some love and we are almost don't with a coop designed roughly from yours and we are doing the deep bed method. Very excited they are only 2 months at the moment can't wait for them to be bigger lol
So happy to hear this! They're lucky to have you!
Thank you thank you thank you!!!! You rock with your videos and I'm working with your advice and have not been sorry!!
We got 6 sexed Easter Egger hens from TSC in August. They're just now laying. Turns out 1 was a Rooster. He's amazing and is the leader. We had a tragic loss when our 2nd hen (flash) couldn't pass her first egg and lost her guts. We had no idea what to do. She died. Now we know and were scared but from what I read it's a rare thing. They free range all day. But now going to get 4 or 5 more because we don't want to stress the hens that much with the rooster. He's VERY active. We love having so many different looking chickens.
Really helpful video, thank you!! I had a lot of trouble choosing the right ground cover for the run. Mostly because wood chip wasn't available in small quantities. I ended up using straw for a while and one hen started eating it and got an impacted crop. So avoid straw!! I use large play bark which works well in our damp weather. I scoop poop daily and top up the bark every few months as it degrades.
The weather is why I moved to Fl. From Northern Wisconsin. One Christmas vacation and by Feb. I was living in Florida. I have been her 40 years and never want to leave.
Some more severe cross beaks can do chicken torpedoes. I make a special spoon for my cross beak and I have some videos on feeding my cross beak Izzy.
I love all poultry. I spend hours with them. They give me joy. Definitely, the more time you spend with them, especially as babies, the more friendly they are.. in my experience. I have 2 Bantam Phoenix hens that will fly up on my arm when I give the signal. One does better than the other. So cool.
Chicken problems. I've taken afew chickens and my pet turkey to the vet. In my experience, some chicken problems can come from where you buy your chickens. My 2 silver Wyandottes.. one died of tumor, which I thought was water belly but vet said tumor. The other has been diagnosed the same. Have an Easter Egger now with chronic ear problems. My vet has been treating for almost a year now. And both my Barred rocks have died.. vet was able to see one of them. All are from a certain hatchery. I did order more birds from this hatchery before realizing it may be the genetics of the chickens they use.
My chickens are more than just chickens, they are our pets. We love them like our cats and dogs.
Thanks Oak Abode.. love your videos!!!
Absolutely fascinating what you said about the caterpillar!
HEYY! fellow wisconsinite here! I'm also a new chicken cooper and trying to learn as much info as I can before my chickens arrive! This stuff gets pretty deep in the need to knows. A little overwhelming but I know it will be worth it
Add little salt in the water before boiling eggs so that you can peel very easily. It is my personal experience.
Love this!
Definitely would like to see another video❤
I have raised all different types of chickens for 20 years and you are totally right about the rooster if you get a good rooster count your blessings and alot had to do with breed and luck!!!
Wow thats great and nice practical answer to stop noisy chicken. Nice nick names. Stay blessed 😊😊😊
I have found that peeling hard-boiled eggs is easy if you cover them with salt while boiling them.
Or baking
Soda
We have two gaurd geese. They break up fights and protect, we pen them separate at night because they muddy water. Also have kiddy pool
I'm just learning and you are so easy to understand. Thank you for that. Stay healthy and safe. Keep up the good work.
I WI here. I use deep littler method. I have not cleaned out my coop since Oct? It never stinks.. I did add some layers in over the winter cold months. My chickens do go out almost daily even in the winter, so sure it is different if they stay in the coop 2/7. Once I get my new composting system set up I will be cleaning it, and get it set for summer.
Bantams such as Pekins and Belgium d'ucccles are friendly and docile. Bantams actually grow faster to maturity than standard chickens but of course are smaller in size, I think that is what you meant.
So many weather changes in this video. From Sun, to Snow, back to Sun and then Snow again!
Thank you SO MUCH! One question I have is this: when and how do you train the chickens to free range and then return home when there is not a fenced in/restricted area?
At dusk the chickens automatically know to take a safe shelter area. This would be there coop as that is where their food and water is.
To peel fresh hard boiled eggs just add baking soda to the water. Put in a couple or three tablespoons.
You very helpful and well read, I can listen to you whole night
I adore you! How do you keep hawks away letting them free range?
Thanks for the temperature chart. I needed that. Hope to get my baby chicks next week. 🐥🐤🐥
You are a great youtube presenter. People should hire you.
What height off the ground is your coop? I love the simplicity of your design.
I think the general rule is 2 feet up.
Yes,your Chicken coop and the chickens are seemingly good.The coop build in protective and secure pattern.I am sure the weather will not savage the chickens.I am sure some ventilate windows are in the other side of the coop.I observed you are having ample knowledge about poultry keeping.
Good Luck
Anton London
Love this Chanel. A lot of good information about chicken and nature. Thank you.
you said that you used 2x2s for roosts in the beginning but found that 2x4s were better for the birds with the only shortcoming being the birds pooping on the 2x4 roosts. My question is that with a 2x2 actually being 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 would ripping a 2x4 down to 1-1/2 x 2-1/2 provide them with a more comfortable roost plus prevent the poop from ending up on the roosts?
In one of your videos you use something called "brown mayter" in your coop. I can't find it at TSC. Where can it be found? Thanks!
This was a greatly informative video. Thanks so much for your personal perspective !
what do you feed your chickens what are your go to foods for your chickens
Always feed a cross beak chicken with a side of green beans
Love your videos I’ve taken a lot of inspiration building my coop. I’m in Georgia and my chicks are around 5-6 weeks old and mostly feathered.... weather is 50-70 degrees you think they will be fine outside? Also I have a large run what i built and I’m trying to figure out the best thing to put as floor. I have lots of leaves in the yard, I’m reading wood chips too and straw
Ahhhh I’m listening and you literally answered the last question as I typed it
Great Video, Love my Urban Chicken Farm. *Love and Light from New Mexico*
Your amazing I learned a lot from you God bless
Instead of soaking pasty butts in water, especially when they are chicks, I take a small bowl of warm water, q tips and softer ply paper towels and depending on how bad it is I dip the q tips or the corner of a paper towel and gently clean them that way because the little ones go downhill fast if they arent warm enough. I have been raising my chickens for almost 10 years now and not all hens will raise their chicks after their eggs hatch. I have had hens sit on their eggs and as soon as they hatch they peck them to death. I have a few "foster" hens that will raise any chick.
Thank you for all the info. Watching from Alabama. I'm new at this so need all the information I can get.
Thank you for the video learning a lot..
awesome video you teach really well
I feel it when she said the hardest part is when your chicks are getting big and making messy and their ready to go outside and your ready for them to go out but its still too cold.... we're in south dakota and our chicks are huge and ready to go to the outside coop but it was 5 degrees the other day.
After five years I once again have chickens Betty. and Harold but they’re both girls love the babies they’re about the size of a crow right now love your Channel
The picture of the video had a appenzeller spitzhaulben I was hoping she was going to talk about them they are so interesting chickens
I'm super late to the party :( we have our two new hens, and they are about 6 weeks old. We just moved them to their coop outside.
Quick question, what do we do about the flies that accumulate around the coop?
Mint essential oil and lavender is really good. Diatomaceous earth is natural and cuts them.
You should never wash your eggs, that´s an American thing! Eggs are already covered with a thin protective layer. If you wash them you remove this layer. EU regulations prohibid the washing of eggs for consumption. In the US they wash the eggs and apply a protective coating afterwards.
I didn't know that, how do we get clean eggs cuh they look so clean
@@TamyXx because they are in a clean nest. Chickens won´t lay/hatch eggs in a dirty nest. And unlike ducks they don´t go in water so there is no mud in theorie pen either. And in an industrial setting the brooders are of course kept clean in the first place.
Can you show us your compost area? is it enclosed so you can put the hens in there for a while or do you take some of the compost to them? how does it work?
We've heard out west is hot, but they say, it's a dry heat . Now we in the cold part of the country can say , it's a dry cold. " The other dry temp that is more tolerable 🥶🥵
When do you start giving them grit?
do you have to feed chickens at the crack of dawn or is it okay to let them forage for a while after sunrise?
nice to know that weather there is as shitty as it is here in nova scotia
I live in the north - in the summer out sun rises at 4am and sets at around 11pm. My neighbors would be quite upset with loud chickens outside at 4am.
Anyone have any tips?
Great info! Thank you!
My Rooster (Sweet William) did set off an alarm for the hens if eagles or hawks were seen here in the wilderness. And he would run all over to make sure the whole group was protected and hiding. He would also break up squabbles in the coop when the hens were fighting over one nest box. I would love another rooster like him again when the time comes!
I hope my roosters are like that. I didn't plan on having chickens, but 2 roosters just showed up, a few weeks ago. 2 weeks later, a hen flew in. I've just been letting them free-range in my 1/2 acre yard, and giving them food and water. I read that 2 roosters can't live with 1 hen, but so far we've only had one moderate fight, w/o injuries, soon after the hen arrived. I live in the suburb of a small city in so California, to but we do have racoons, smaller hawks, owls, and occassionally coyotes. They fly high up into my big trees to roost. My yard is fenced, 6' in back and 4' in front. I haven't been able to pick them up or pet them yet. They look a lot healthier than they did, and they are safer than running in the street with dogs chasing them, like they were for the first 2 weeks, so I was hoping they could just hang out, without a coup. Do you think that's possible? And do I need to separate the hen from the roosters? Thanks!
What breed is the rooster?
Fresh eggs will always be the hardest to peel after boiling, no matter how you prepare them or where the eggs came from.
Just thought I'd say that. xD
I feed my chickens rotten tomatoes. They love them I dump a 5 gallon bucket out there the other day and they're gone.
My chickens don't want to go into the coop at night. What do I do? They are the Pitts to try to catch.
@12:15, ACV creates gnat infestations in my coops. It did inhibit green slime build up
My cross beak had a normal beak until about four weeks old. It got soo bad she died. That was hard.
Good advice to get a few birds each year.
All the love
Great video! Thank you!
I wonder if letting the girls out a little later in the morning would help appease an complaints. That and gift eggs. :) I think kids and other dogs/equipment are certainly louder than the chicks!