Raising 12 Months of MEAT CHICKENS {START to FINISH}
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- This is how our family raises all of our chicken meat from our homestead!
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We are a better together family of 6 living in an 800sqft Shed to House Conversion and currently converting a 336sqft shed into a tiny house for our new studio! Oh yea, we are doing our best to build a sustainable homestead in central Texas raising pigs, chickens, and rabbits…. and hopefully more!!!!!
#familycow #buildingahomestead #chickens
Someone may have already said this. But having more than one bird in the plucker at a time helps remove the feathers more quickly.
So, to the lazy comment. I believe everyone is different and they do different things. It's called preference not laziness plus no one else's opinion matters, just yours. I don't even know if that person had experience in homesteading, probably not, but still everything is always easier said than done. I'm pretty sure it's hard enough to have your TH-cam channel and homesteading at the same time. We are just starting our homestead, I've had a TH-cam channel for the past 2 years, and I've been starting my own company while working for another company. So, I understand preference not laziness. Please, keep putting out great videos!
Absolutely, love it!!!!! Thank you so much for your great comment.
We wish you all the blessings on your new homestead….. and also please feel free to send us your TH-cam channel! We’d love to subscribe to ya! 😁
We packaged them whole when we did butchers when i was little. Working on getting back to doing butchers again.
@@BetterTogetherLifethe way you put the chicken organs to feed the pig and then seeing the rooster just stare at the pigs like hmm what is that😅😂
Apart from raising chickens, we also used a "Fowler" for preserving fruit and some vegetables. Back then you could go to an orchard a couple of weeks after the fruit pickers went through, grab a ladder, and pick your own fruit. You would pay the owner by the number of 2 gallon buckets you picked. We found that you could mix pears and chokos together - thee chokos having a neutral flavor would taste like preserved pear. We ate a LOT of chokos back then because the vine would take over the whole fence. Home grown grapes were nice and everyone loves having a mulbury tree to eat from. You absolutely need to plant a lemon tree as well. Passion fruit vines are fun but brussel sprouts are the spawn of Satan. Blackberry vines are yummy to eat from but painful to pick. Of course you also need to plant cucumbers, little cherry tomatoes, water melons, potatoes, corn and if you absolutely must lettuce and cabbage.
Doing it your way and adjusting when needed is all that matters. Great job
I love chickens- I had them for many years as pets. As sad as this makes me, I am also so very happy for this! You clearly treat them extremely well, and if I had to buy chicken from anywhere, I'd want to buy from you or someone that treats them similarly. You are so kind and compassionate to them, and I adore that. Thank you!
Thank you so much!
Just bought 2.5 acres in South Central Arkansas, getting ready for retirement ( second childhood) my plan is to be as self sufficient as possible. SO much to learn. I'm excited and kinda scared but I still have 6 years till liftoff so I have that going for me.🤣🤣
I'm doing pretty much the same, but with 1.25 acres in northern New Mexico. Would be interested to hear what you've learned, and what you have in mind for such a small space.
We are starting this new adventure of growing our chicken for meat in the spring of "23".. I've learned so much from this 1 video!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Oh YAY!!!! That makes us so happy!! 😁
It is why we upload videos. Please let us know if you ever need anything at all!
Never heard of the Chicklift. That is a game changer! Thanks for this info.
Absolutely!!! Here is the link if you’d like to save it somewhere in your notes. Again it is an affiliate link, which would REALLY help us to keep making TH-cam content.
Get the Chicklift: www.chicklifts.com/?ref=bettertogetherlife@gmail.com
"... has a fantastic life, and one bad day." Ha! This is EXACTLY what I say about my own animals. That I won't let myself feel bad about keeping them for eating, because I will do my best to make sure every animal I keep has a wonderful, happy life -- and one bad day. XD And that's pretty good, considering that's what we all hope to have for ourselves, isn't it?
Greetings from sunny Singapore!❤ Being living in the city, I enjoy your video very much and learn a lot from it too. Great jobs guys!👍 So much hard work 💪 but it's nice to see the fruit of hard labour in the end. I admire your strength, hard-working and warmth love vibes 💗 ❤🎉
Yes... one of the best chicken tractors I have seen with the chick lift gaget
Absolutely!!!
Hi.... Thank you for showing your video homestead 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 🏡🎥👍👍👍
Excellent video! Love the editing style yall adopted. It’s been a while since I watched one of y’all’s videos and I’m very impressed at the growth y’all made with videos skills.
It’s not lazy, it’s just preference! I love rotisserie’s so I will be doing this too.
Oh wow thank you soooooooo much Elizabeth!!!!
Well we like to switch up our video styles depending on what story we have to tell. These bigger videos we really like to let Kelly write her heart out! So glad you liked it!
Thanks again
I love your shirt! your not afraid to wear it on one of your videos! I just ran across your channel..... I will be subscribing...... I agree, its better together. We love making videos also. Thanks for all you do!
You have a great narrating voice Kelly :) Can't wait until we're able to do meat chickens!!
Oh it is SUCH a rewarding experience. Just had a whole chicken last night….. sooooooo good!!!!
We enjoyed meat rabbits, but the taste of a well seasoned chicken with that crispy chicken skin!! 🤤🤤🤤🤣🤣🤣
@@BetterTogetherLife love the rabbits!! But crispy chicken skin is one thing I most definitely miss. Soon!! 😊
I think you guys are doing a great job and that's a lot of hard work and prep. People might criticize, but everyone's got their own way and you can learn and improve as you go.
Thank you!!!
What a great way of explaining the life and death. All good days with only one bad day.
"A fantastic life, and one bad day..."
Awwww😊😊😢
Just stumbled upon your site. That spatchcock at the end...my stomach is screaming...great video!
Hi Rebecca!!!!! Thank you so much!
Well please stay tuned because we now have about 60 birds in our freezers!!! Haha
Lots more cooking! Also be sure to subscribe to Kelly’s new channel, “Better Together Eats”! 😁😁
So where do you buy your chickens and how long does it take them to get to you
Oh, man! You guys should really check out some recipes for chicken gizzard and chicken feet. If you get some cumin and chili flakes on chicken gizzard and then grill it, it is DELICIOUS (although a bit high on cholesterol but it's a nice snack once in a while). Same with the hearts. And marinated chicken feet are absolutely tasty.
I'm Chinese American and my parents have a homestead/farm out in Pennsylvania and this is what we make with them!
We don't have any recipes for livers though, but my fiancee's parents are French and they gave us a recipe for pâté that we have to try out.
Southern VA here! Fry those suckers like chicken and they become delectable. One of my favorite ways is also baking them with rice.
We cook the whole chicken because some of us like white while others prefer dark, it’s so much easier to just do the whole thing at once when it’s split like that.
i have a hard time blieving anyone "likes" white meat by itself. I have spent years cooking for other people and just can't take this as an honest statement
I grew up with my family doing this yearly. Great video
3:30 "A primary goal of ours is that any animal we intend to eat has a fantastic life and one bad day" - when I see the size of the tractor and the amount of chickens in there, I would say "A primary goal of yours is that any animal you intend to eat has a bad life and one fantastic day". Lock yourself and your family for one day in your house and see how fantastic that day is and then multiply it with the 45 days these birds are in there. You have enough space to let them "run", until these poor creatures cannot run anymore, because they grow to fast for their muscles, on your property and lock them at night.
Maybe. We wouldn’t mind to try that someday.
But yet, how would this breed of chicken be able to even get themselves in at night? Like you said, this breed struggles to walk at week 6-8.
@@BetterTogetherLife Thanks for your nice answer to my provocative post.
Me for myself I don't have such breeds at all but only heritage/dual purpose chickens. They take much longer, until they can be processed, cost more regarding food, but meat quality is very good and you can breed them on your own.
In my opinion, no private household should have these cornish cross, etc. They are interesting when you have to feed a mass market of people from which some don't have too much money.
It's no hate against you, if you continue like that, it's of course ok and I trust you you want to give these meat balls the best possible life.
Well like we stated in the video, the birds get fresh grass every single day.
no waste and friendly to the animals, I wish the rest of the world could follow suit ❤
Beautiful 🙏💜
Sometimes I envy you in the US. In the UK land is so expensive that it's hard to do this without being rich, plus too much regulation and the weather is cold and wet so you don't want to be outside for half of the year.. Great video though, hope to do similar on a smaller scale
I live in the UK as well and agree.
7:55 The worst Capri Sun ever.
Woah, that is a gross thought for sure. 🤣🤣
Have you thought about vaccum sealing before freezing? I do that with my whole and parts of chckens.
Fantastic life and one bad day! I about spit out my coffee.
Hahaha!!! 🤣🤣🤣
I buy from the amish people up north in Indiana and there is no comparison to fresh raised chicken. Store bought is aweful!! Have a question?? Did you have your baby yet and will you be having a video for him or her?? I soooooooo can't wait!!🤗🤗🤗😍😍😍
Nope! No baby yet…. And YES!! We will most certainly be having a video of the birth! 😁😁😁
Have you seen this video of ours when Finley was born?
th-cam.com/video/Iy0jMT3KsQI/w-d-xo.html
@@BetterTogetherLife No but I will definitely watch it. I looove babies, and big families. What a joy! I look forward to seeing it and seeing this new little person when they get here. Praying God's richest blessings for you and your sweet family!
Thank you. This was clear,to the point and very good general information for people wanting to start raising their own meat chickens. God bless and keep growing.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for your amazing comment Nancy!!! 😁
very nicely done on the video. we are all homesteader. from Ohio
Oh thank you!!! So nice to meet you. 😁😁👍🏻
How long do you raise the chickens before harvesting? Is this possible to do and let them live longer life spans?
7 weeks or so. Cross rocks just keep growing. Their legs give out so you need butcher. Cornish, deleware, buckeye, freedom rangers, jersey giantsbetc can be hanging around without needing to slaughter right away.
lazy? or more practical? what a joke... some one actually said you were lazy? what works for them doesnt have to work for you. screw em, i love the insight your channel gives me so i know what to be ready for when i get started. thanks for this video. i love these types of insightful videos.
did you need to take to all the chickens at once or could they have them grow longer?
Hi , great video! How long can you keep the chickens in that fridge or freezer you showed? Is it possible up to a year ?
can you tell me about your hanging feeder and water in the tractor? thanks!
Thank you for this video. How many boiler chickens can feasibly be raised in processed in a year?
Love your tractor! Will save this for later..
Love this video! Thanks for sharing such great info while still making it beautiful and entertaining to watch.
Very enjoyable watch I appreciate the content 😊
Great video. Was looking for an easy wheel system for our future tractor. Thank You!
Any tips for first timers my chicks will be here in a few days
I really like electrolytes in the water right away on the first day. Warming plates and a safe brooder box 👍 have fun!
So homestead seems nice nad all but how do you pay your mortgage and stuff, are you actually making money selling stuff from the farm/homestead or are you still working?
Very informative.
Love Kelly narration!
My husband and I did all these things... yet when we cooked them... they were rubbery and terrible... What did we do wrong??? Thank you.
Oh yikes!
1) how old were they when you butchered them?
2) did you butcher them yourself?
3) what breed?
4) what feed? And how much feed?
5) what hatchery did you use?
Glad to try and help!
Would it be okay to use a vaccume sealer for the meat too?
I am so happy for easy lift for the mobile chicken coop
It’s awesome!
Thanks guys!
Hows the meat after the chicken plucker vs hand plucking? Seems violent but is it works it works.
The meat is PERFECT!! Doesn’t hurt the quality at all.
That plucker is awesome!!!
Awesome video, y’all! We are outside of San Antonio 👋🏻 🤠 and we have laying chickens, but we’re really considering meat birds here. I have a question: our digging predators can be a problem here so I was wondering if you have experienced that at all with the mobile tractors, and if so, how do you deal with it? We have to put out a foot of hardware cloth around our stationary run because of it. Thanks! 🤍 {And I LOVE the cookie sheet and rack idea for the brooder! I have chicks literally making a major mess right now with their water and feed so I’ll be doing that little trick *today* 😅}
Well two things I would say.
1) I believe that moving them daily might slow your digging predators.
2) I’ve also seen people put a low single strand of electric wire around the chicken tractor.
We did have a serious loss of chickens, but that was because I had a large opening in the top wire that I didn’t zip tie up. Plus I used chicken wire. So hardware cloth is way better.
Love watching you guys! Hard work but pays off! ❤️
Thank you!!! You are so right!!
I just wanna say…. Thank you for your honesty (lazy homesteader approach)…. You’ve given me hope 🤣…. Nothing wrong at all in making life easier.
I am curious about the last bit towards the end, bagging with that straw, then dunking in water….What is that? Why?
Hi Karren!! Thanks for the comment. And yup, nothing wrong I guess with “lazy homesteading”. 🤣🤣 If that’s who we are. Lol.
Those bags are poultry shrink bags. You put the chicken into the bags, dunk in hot water, and the bags shrink to the size of the bird.
We put a link in the description for the bags we use. 😁👍🏻
Let us know if you have any other questions!
@@BetterTogetherLife oh wow….. genius idea, thank you, I’ll look into that.
BTW…. You guys are far from lazy! I only had 1 child to raise…. I actually applaud you guys, you are doing great 😊
"...a fantastic life....and one bad day." We should all be so lucky.
I'm not super familiar with Pluckers, but I'm just curious does that not bruise the meat? It might not because I think those things are rubber, but I'm just trying to get my head around it because I'm getting ready to invest in chickens
I totally get what you mean. It’s a great question. If scalded properly, a plucker goes for less than 30 seconds with a medium sized bird. But sometimes the meat may be damaged if it needs to go a long time.
Thank you for the clarification!
How many do you do at a time? i thought you said 20 or so??
Maybe 30. We usually buy about 40 chicks with the knowledge that some will die before processing.
Do you use one chick lift per mobile coop?
Yup! That’s all you need. 😁
How do you dispose of the chicken blood ?
Into the earth
Thank you so much! Way easier than when I grew up!
I've seen Stoney Ridge Farmer use a plucker like that but thought he was running 2 to 3 birds at a time in his.
There are bigger ones. But we bought ours during 2020 so the bigger more expensive ones were out of stock.
@Better Together Life after watching this video the one I was referring too was in the drop menu below this video. His looked to be the same size I think and did 2 at once
Love it ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Great video.
Thanks Anthony!
Lovevthe motto...fantastic life....one bad day...
Also the 2 types of chicken processors....lolol
I leaned in!!
Great video
🤣🤣🤣🤣 Glad you liked that. 👍🏻👍🏻
What is the floor size of the tractor
Hey! Great video! I’m currently researching on how to do this from start to finish so thank you for this resource. But something no one ever mentions and I’m curious what your thoughts are… Why use a chicken tractor instead of just letting the free range? Is there a downfall to letting them free range? we have 4 acres that are is fenced but we have 23 other laying hens that free range as well. Is it bad to mix them?
We use tractors and move them twice daily. It keeps them feeling secure, on fresh ground and prevents overhead predators. On our small acreage, we can use them to scratch and then follow with seed to grow more ground cover. So it helps us function stack. I don’t think it’s bad to free range at all. We have learned that so many methods exist bc folks are using what they’ve got and making it work for the best possible outcome. So as long as you aren’t running into issues, the best you can do is act and adjust as you go!
Great "How To" video from start to finish.
Hi there Mr Cleo!!!!! So good to see you back here! Thank you so much for always being a valued member of our TH-cam family! 😁
Awesome video thanks! So motivated meow, I picked up some info pamphlets from my country supply store today.
Does anyone read the ingredients label on layer \ broiler feed bags....do simple mixes exist out there ?
Where did u get that big black container at the end to hold little chiks?
These are from tractor supply
Love y’all’s videos. What do you folks do for work?
Oh thank you!!!
Kelly actually talks a little about this in our latest video: th-cam.com/video/WzgYwjfLwgY/w-d-xo.html
But we are FULLTIME content creators! And we run an essential oils business.
@@BetterTogetherLife That’s awesome. I’ve been wanting to sell my home in Central Tx to move like y’all but we haven’t figured out the work thing for my wife lol
Great video as always. Is there a cost savings in doing this?
Great question. Cost savings compared to what? Costco organic? Farmers market? Etc?
@@BetterTogetherLife Lets say Costco.
The yardbird plucker costs just around $500. Is there a cheaper way? I think so.
Well how do you define “cheaper”? Sure you can pluck a chicken by hand for free. But the Yard Plucker can pluck 10-15 chickens in that same amount of time.
I value my time more than my money.
@@BetterTogetherLife great answer
When you’re bagging them what temp is your water at?
I can’t remember off the top of my head, but the bags will come with a temp recommendation.
Slow Homesteading is perfect for me
100% Heath!!!!
I am both people in one body. Lol.
I want chickens and to build a home out of a shed.🤣
Also, it looks like the chicken plucker also tenderizes the meat some!🤣😂
Also, I feel that. Sometimes its nice to skip chopping up the birds bits. Lol. Not really lazy necessarily... More...trying to make the work easier,and not harder!
As my husband always says "work smarter, not harder!"
Haha, it sure might. But it does the job. 😂
Love that you are “both people”. That means Rebeccah that you are OUR KIND OF PEOPLE!!!
@@BetterTogetherLife yay! Lol.
And I noticed! I want to get one of them because of how quick a job that seems to do on the chickens!
With all there is to do when homesteading, I'm sure it'd help cut time down a bit!
Brotherton family: Where do you get your freezer bags?
Oh great question! Here is the link:
amzn.to/3sfVjGA
@5:29 You discovered by accident how to keep these meat birds alive until adulthood and they will be able to reproduce thereby having your own sustainable meat bird at home.
Hmmm, no. Unfortunately not for the Cornish cross birds. These can’t reproduce outside of a special hatchery. They are a weird Frankenstein bird.
@@BetterTogetherLife Unfortunately I have to disagree, because I have Cornish Cross chickens that are over two years old now, and the hens still lay eggs (few) and I was able to reproduce them and the offspring grew just as fast and just as large as the parents. The key to keeping these special chickens alive is to reduce their diet, just like in humans, obese people die young, just like the Cornish Cross.
Great video guys...thanks for sharing. One of these days we are going to try our hand at meat birds. Especially NOW
How many meat chickens did you get on this one day?
(edit)
What is the purpose of the water through the straw?
It was probably around 30 birds.
@@BetterTogetherLife 👍
Living the dream! Love the video
I can not find link for chicken plucker
Here is the link. It’s not currently available on Amazon Prime. So it’s 3rd party Amazon seller:
amzn.to/3t8grxF
@@BetterTogetherLife Thank you very much and much love to the family
this video is too perfect to watch when I come home from work enjoying dinner while watching an interesting video like the one I just watched.
Great video, keep it up. 😄😁
Love the content!❤ thank you.
Way cool video.
Oh thank you so much Jennifer!! 😁😁
Great info! Thanks!!
What a great and informative video!!
I personally would like the lower weight bird, I think they will be more tender.
It is always a tight rope to walk on. You want to have them grow but not too fast, but also not too slow! 🤣🤣
Nice editing :D 1:20
Good.
Very Nice! ⚘️
🤣🤣🤣🤣 Lazy!! That's not even correct. Loved the video.
hahaha!!!! We like to try and have fun with some of those hater comments. lol! 😁
This is fascinating!
After 4 weeks do 12 hr in feed 12 off
New Subbie!
Oh THANK YOU Soulz!!!!
$154-$208 for the chicken lift is crazy 😜 expensive. Why do they charge so much for such a simple device ?
Hi Michael. Yes I do understand that it is a high price, but when it comes to this you 1000% get what you pay for. This thing is made like a BEAST!!!!!!
You will never have to replace or repair your Chicklift. It is BY FAR our favorite product to endorse. It is that good and there is no way we could move our animals as much and easily without it.
Dont need to use the waste for stocks even. Chicken feet are delicious
See... I could'nt just bring home a box full of chicks watch them grow and eat them... not going to say I don't eat chicken but I go to the store where I did not knew the chicken :(
Not sure I am understanding your comment.
Sorry.
@@BetterTogetherLife it's simple... im an animal lover and could'nt raise chicks for meat. Thats why I go to the store. :(
No such thing as a lazy homesteader !!!!
I have cut up my chicken and froze it in parts before but the time it takes is not worth it.
Blessings
Love it!!! Great idea!
New sub .love channel
Thank you very much Angela!!!
guys believe me you don't need that chicken plucker we are doing by our hands always not that hard and you don't need to waste any water for that :D
Challenge, let’s do a livestream contest.
You pluck your chicken by hand and I’ll use my $500 plucker.
Marks, Get Set, GO!
@@BetterTogetherLife :D don't be mad dude 500 usd is minimum salary for lots of countries and I did not say I am doing faster yeah it takes 5 minutes more than this but if you are doing it for your own food you don't need that
I hear ya, but time is money when butchering 40 plus birds.