Great to see you again! How’s the saying go…site for sore eyes? I appreciate all you do in trying to help someone along their way on the homesteading journey. Here is a Biblical law…as you sow, so shall you reap, and my prayer is that you reap 30, 60, and 100 fold! I do have a question, could you do a video on your experience wit solar for your farm. If you have already done so, can you point me in the direction as we are thinking hard about getting to the point that our tie to the grid would be simply supplemental. Again, we thank you for being you…God bless you and your family! ( the Zell’s from Ohio)
Hey Ed, thank you for the sweet words. The comments section on this video is a 100 fold return. As for your question about solar, it can vary so much area to area. There are incentives that come and go. The solar technology has progressed since we had our system installed as well. My panels aren't the most efficient on the market. I'm going to try and focus my content on pasture-based agriculture and farm business and marketing information.
Omg HE'S ALIVE!!! I was like weird got a J S notification on yt for an old video...NOPE! Welcome back to planet earth John good to see ya man, blessings to all.🤙🇺🇸🇷🇺✌️
I live!!! What a nice message Joe. Occasionally I have to walk away from the internet to take care of business, but I always come back. RUclips has always been a part-time thing for me, and likely will continue that way. I enjoy teaching and sharing though and I will be a little more clear when I need to take time off in the future.
@@farmmarketing I was so worried something horrible had happened to you. Great to hear your voice again. Got your book and just completed my first tractor and 15 chicks arrive this week! Built a coop last Fall and 14 chicks now four months old to be egg layers. You've been a great help and inspiration.
great video. concise, to the point, informative. my entire poultry operation is largely based off of your principals and approach (adapted to my context) ; and seeing this presentation reminds me of why that is. thanks for all of your work and experimentation, documentation and presentation. it's made the barrier to entry much less rigid.
This is perhaps the nicest comment ever. I am so proud that you took action and we’re able to adapt the principles to your context. I am really happy with the format of this video and I think I will stick with it going forward, especially if I am getting comments like yours!
Do it! it's a great format for folks like me ( a lot of us) who do a lot, have little extra-curricular time, but actively desire to learn and improve. watched it over my first cup of coffee this morning; gained some insight; now off to make the day happen. thanks again
Hey John 😊 So very nice to see you putting out some new content videos again... I hope you feel rested and rejuvenated and ready for an amazing farming season! Always enjoy your channel 🙂🙃
I've been raising birds on pasture for the second year now. Was trying not to do the expense of grit for meat birds and oyster shells for the layers. I finally broke down after attending the APPPA conference this year.
They won’t over consume grit. If they are eating more than 6 - 8 oz of grit each. That is an indication that the grit is not the right size. Need to jump up to the next size grit sooner.
@Jeff Mattocks oh wow even have the great Jeff commenting. Thanks. We started off with the Ole TSC but forgot that those vendors that were at the conference would hit them up. Thanks for the tip.
The Nakid Gardeners in the house! Love seeing you two! I am married with kids and I will say that there are two major moments in my life, 1. when I first added grit with broilers, 2. When I met The Nakid Gardeners in person at the 2023 APPPA conference.
Thank you for this. Mixing the grit in with the feed was much more efficient than giving it separately, which they always spill or poo in. In 2 days I've noticed a positive difference in their digestion.
That's the idea, keeping up with the content. For now it'll likely be a blog post and a video per month as I get through some other projects that I have in the works that no one knows about yet.
@@farmmarketing Is there a certain amount that you feed or do you mix it with their feed daily? This is interesting to me because I've never used grit either but could see the benefits especially after your explanation on previous flocks using up all the small rocks.
@@chrishodge2388 I've mixed it with feed for my layers. My oyster shells are in a separate bowl. I've just never done grit with c.c. but when I do I'll mix it in
We add cider vinegar to chicken water once a week, about 5ml to a litre which aids healthy bacteria in chickens digestive systems and also promotes crop health.
Thank you for the content sir, I’ll be processing our first batch of Cornish cross in 3 1/2 weeks raised in your Suscovic style tractor and already have another batch shipping in the 8th of May. The design of your tractor makes taking care of the birds simple (once they learn to follow) I’m excited to process these birds and reap the fruits of our labor. Thanks again from the Bell Family
I am working on building my property into a farm. My biggest issues are I work remote 2 weeks on 2 weeks off so pasture rotation only work when I am home and I don’t have a well at my house. I have a creek and lots of water but even the well drilling company said it isn’t worth the money for the quantity of water I will get from a well
Good for ducks and geese too! I'm all flustered, Morgan is commenting on my video. So many all-stars in the audience today. I highly recommend the Gold Shaw Farm channel!
Did you see the great review that Sheraton Park Farms did today on RUclips about your chicken tractor in a very favorable comparison against the Salatin style chicken tractor.
I'm going to tell you the same thing I tell everyone, I want to see it! My email is hello@farmmarketingsolutions.com if you could send photos. I cannot reply to everyone, but it doesn't mean I don't appreciate the feedback. Let me know if there's anything you would change about the book.
I just built your tractor and will be building another one this week. Thank you for all your videos and poultry packets. So much excellent information. My question is, how do you feed the grit out in the brooder and the field? Do you put it in the feeding troughs/brooder feeders? Is it in a separate container? Do you make sure they have it available constantly? Thank you in advance!
Hi John Suscovich, thanks so much for all the videos you making.... Off topic probably, but I need urgent advice. My Cornish cross chickens, have a cut / busted open skin between the leg and ars hole, what could be the cause of that. I googled all over but with not answers. Thanks in advance.
Pasture quilting! The art is in the science, and the science is impact + movement = happiness. How the little things affect the big things, and then how we use that to optimize for happiness.
Great video! For feed storage, what do you think is best? Could we use a metal can or a plastic bin? I am currently storing feed in a 50 gallon black storage tote in my basement. I was looking to buy food grade barrels. What do you think is best? And where is best for storage, inside or outside? We live in Pennsylvania and the humidity gets high here in the summer.
Great to see you back John! Im going into my second year of raising Cornish cross and was largely inspired by your videos to start raising them. Is it possible for them to consume too much grit? I gave my birds free choice grit from day 3 until processing last year. Started with the smallest size and moved up a size once they were on pasture. It just seemed to me that they were going through so much grit. Is there something else I should be doing differently? Thanks! Looking forward to more videos!
They won’t over consume grit. If they are eating more than 6 - 8 oz of grit each. That is an indication that the grit is not the right size. Need to jump up to the next size grit sooner.
@@jeffmattocks6886 Thanks for the reply Jeff! Is it better to mix it in with the feed vs free choice? What frequency should you be giving it to them? Daily? Once a week? Thanks again!!
Hi John, I have a question. I am getting about 20 Cornish Cross this year and because of supply & demand, I had to order them from two different hatcheries. Well as fate would have it, 10 are coming mid may and the other 10 are coming in the beginning of June (3 weeks apart). Can I at some point have all of them in the same tractor, or will the big ones pick on the small ones and kill them? Thanks, and keep up the videos, they're great!
So I think we are both in New England. I’m in western mass and just curious where you have found to get local feed. I feel like there are no good places in the MA/CT area where as there are tons further south.
Nice job John. I am starting my first batch of egg layers and broilers this season. Feed concerns me. I am going to call our local feed and grain elevator for some advice on the grit issue. As for now the local Farm and Fleet store is getting me started. Any thoughts directions for me? I can't believe I'm this nervous to start. Whish me luck. You feel like quizzing me on my start up? Could use a mentor.
We live in Michigan and we have well water that goes through our house that has water filtration that is treated with salt . I'm thinking water treated with water softener is not the best .
Good to see ya! Good info. Like other's I never thought of feeding extra grit to the broilers. Interesting on your return for a minor investment. Have you run the numbers on raising bigger birds (8 - 12 pounds) for roasters - I am planning on keeping better records this year to see if it is profitable to keep birds longer or not. Personally , I like the bigger birds as do some of my customers, but most want one meal birds.
Bigger broilers can be hard to get rid of unless you have a dedicated customer segment that loves big birds. Even those people start enthusiastic and then start to fade a little bit after expensive birds. Bigger birds are good to cut into pieces and sell parts. The smaller you package something the better your margin thens to be. I'm scratching the surface here on a bigger topic. I intend on doing a price breakdown of the various broiler cuts, I'm just in the research stages of that video right now.
@@farmmarketing True. I too am planning on cutting up some of my bigger birds and pricing by cuts with applying separate pricing to them...value added marketing is a thing. Planning on applying store prices to things just to compare pricing to buying a full bird. I look forward to what your finding are.
Great question. I answered that in this video: ruclips.net/video/YWmBLnbkPQY/видео.html which is due for an update. I put an electric wire around the chicken tractors to keep predators out with a solar fence charger so it is mobile.
You know James, I have never tried that. I have a few follow up questions: What do you see as the benefits? Where do you source it? How do you feed it out?
@@farmmarketing It is suppose to have benefits in their digestive systems same for us also. It absorbs toxins aids in digest etc. The added benefit for me is I use there droppings in my garden and the charcoal stays in the soil for decades. I make my own and screen it down to almost a fine powdered and mix it with their feed. I cannot say if it has made any difference to the health or their egg laying but it still aides in my garden soil
YES! Absolutely Jethro. Any poultry will benefit from grit. Turkeys will eat their entire finished body weight in grit over their lifespan. Layers will have better feed efficiency and produce more eggs.
The obnoxious answer of "it depends". Generally though 1-2 times a week. If there is none in their feeder then I add, if there is some left I skip that day. Depends on if you have the correct size, what stage the birds are at, and how much you actually put in last time you fed it out.
Good eye! Yes, it's a banana. A banana for scale. YOu'll start to see that banana in more of my content in the coming months. It's an important part of my chicken farming experience.
im from the north, spent half my life down south. you see 1 million and one people making farming content with a deep south accent, but you are quite an anomaly
I know right?!?! It's what happens when you have a day job to go with your nights and weekend job. I'm not a full time content creator, and occasionally I have to walk away and take care of business, but I always come back.
I'll answer... no, cedar should be avoided, cedar can be toxic for poultry. Pine is best for shavings. To help cut down on parasites, if that is a concern, try dusting the floor with barn lime or perhaps diatomaceous earth before putting the shavings down on top of that... just use sparingly and allow any airborne dust to dissipate before letting your birds back in... it is said you should try not to breathe it into the lungs due to "potential" long term effects, but broilers will be in Camp Kenmore long before that could even start to be a concern 😊 I personally have never found any issues doing this practice even with my layers who stick around for years, but that's the stated precaution 😊
Great to see you again! How’s the saying go…site for sore eyes? I appreciate all you do in trying to help someone along their way on the homesteading journey. Here is a Biblical law…as you sow, so shall you reap, and my prayer is that you reap 30, 60, and 100 fold! I do have a question, could you do a video on your experience wit solar for your farm. If you have already done so, can you point me in the direction as we are thinking hard about getting to the point that our tie to the grid would be simply supplemental. Again, we thank you for being you…God bless you and your family! ( the Zell’s from Ohio)
Hey Ed, thank you for the sweet words. The comments section on this video is a 100 fold return.
As for your question about solar, it can vary so much area to area. There are incentives that come and go. The solar technology has progressed since we had our system installed as well. My panels aren't the most efficient on the market.
I'm going to try and focus my content on pasture-based agriculture and farm business and marketing information.
Omg HE'S ALIVE!!! I was like weird got a J S notification on yt for an old video...NOPE! Welcome back to planet earth John good to see ya man, blessings to all.🤙🇺🇸🇷🇺✌️
I live!!! What a nice message Joe. Occasionally I have to walk away from the internet to take care of business, but I always come back. RUclips has always been a part-time thing for me, and likely will continue that way. I enjoy teaching and sharing though and I will be a little more clear when I need to take time off in the future.
@John Suscovich you're a legend buddy, thank you for the years of learning and inspiration. Blessings to you and the family, ttyl.🤙🇺🇸🇷🇺✌️
@@farmmarketing I was so worried something horrible had happened to you. Great to hear your voice again. Got your book and just completed my first tractor and 15 chicks arrive this week! Built a coop last Fall and 14 chicks now four months old to be egg layers. You've been a great help and inspiration.
great video. concise, to the point, informative. my entire poultry operation is largely based off of your principals and approach (adapted to my context) ; and seeing this presentation reminds me of why that is. thanks for all of your work and experimentation, documentation and presentation. it's made the barrier to entry much less rigid.
This is perhaps the nicest comment ever. I am so proud that you took action and we’re able to adapt the principles to your context. I am really happy with the format of this video and I think I will stick with it going forward, especially if I am getting comments like yours!
Do it! it's a great format for folks like me ( a lot of us) who do a lot, have little extra-curricular time, but actively desire to learn and improve. watched it over my first cup of coffee this morning; gained some insight; now off to make the day happen. thanks again
This comments section feels like a happy family reunion…
Great video! Glad to see you posting!
Year 2 of raising CC. I started this business with inspiration from you!I'm going 7 wks w grit full feed.
Obviously grit will not be the only factor, everything else has to click too. But man, it was a game-changer for me.
Hey John 😊
So very nice to see you putting out some new content videos again... I hope you feel rested and rejuvenated and ready for an amazing farming season! Always enjoy your channel 🙂🙃
I've been raising birds on pasture for the second year now. Was trying not to do the expense of grit for meat birds and oyster shells for the layers. I finally broke down after attending the APPPA conference this year.
They won’t over consume grit. If they are eating more than 6 - 8 oz of grit each. That is an indication that the grit is not the right size. Need to jump up to the next size grit sooner.
@Jeff Mattocks oh wow even have the great Jeff commenting. Thanks. We started off with the Ole TSC but forgot that those vendors that were at the conference would hit them up. Thanks for the tip.
The Nakid Gardeners in the house! Love seeing you two!
I am married with kids and I will say that there are two major moments in my life, 1. when I first added grit with broilers, 2. When I met The Nakid Gardeners in person at the 2023 APPPA conference.
@@farmmarketing hahaha 😆
Good to see you John. Hope all is well
Thank you for this. Mixing the grit in with the feed was much more efficient than giving it separately, which they always spill or poo in. In 2 days I've noticed a positive difference in their digestion.
Always good to see and hear you John.
It feels really good to get a video up again. Happy to be back!
Whoa blasdt from the past haha welcome back John! Thanks for the great video hope to see more content from you.
That's the idea, keeping up with the content. For now it'll likely be a blog post and a video per month as I get through some other projects that I have in the works that no one knows about yet.
Great video John!
I've never used grit on pasture but If I can speed up the growing process I'm going to try it !
It looks like I convinced Mr. Skeptical! Grit has been good for me for productivity and animal welfare. Glad you are going to try it.
@@farmmarketing Is there a certain amount that you feed or do you mix it with their feed daily? This is interesting to me because I've never used grit either but could see the benefits especially after your explanation on previous flocks using up all the small rocks.
@@chrishodge2388 I've mixed it with feed for my layers. My oyster shells are in a separate bowl. I've just never done grit with c.c. but when I do I'll mix it in
I'd definitely recommend using it. It's super cheap and will help the chickens grow.
We add cider vinegar to chicken water once a week, about 5ml to a litre which aids healthy bacteria in chickens digestive systems and also promotes crop health.
Thank you for the content sir, I’ll be processing our first batch of Cornish cross in 3 1/2 weeks raised in your Suscovic style tractor and already have another batch shipping in the 8th of May. The design of your tractor makes taking care of the birds simple (once they learn to follow) I’m excited to process these birds and reap the fruits of our labor. Thanks again from the Bell Family
grit! that tip is gold!
Space
Shelter
Super food
Solutions (water)
Sheets ( paper or excel sheets)
Stones (Grit)
❤😂
So glad to see you back! I was wondering where you went!!!
I took a nap for a little bit. I'm back up though!
I am working on building my property into a farm. My biggest issues are I work remote 2 weeks on 2 weeks off so pasture rotation only work when I am home and I don’t have a well at my house. I have a creek and lots of water but even the well drilling company said it isn’t worth the money for the quantity of water I will get from a well
Great video and great points, John. Glad I waited for point six. I raise egg chickens, and it's something I don't give enough attention to. Ruth
Great video.
Great video btw.
John, I've seen your videos and own 3-4 of your "Farmer" hats. I live in CT and wonder where you purchase your feed?
On most farms, grit does seem to be rarer than hen's teeth
Good for ducks and geese too! I'm all flustered, Morgan is commenting on my video. So many all-stars in the audience today. I highly recommend the Gold Shaw Farm channel!
Did you see the great review that Sheraton Park Farms did today on RUclips about your chicken tractor in a very favorable comparison against the Salatin style chicken tractor.
I did not, but I am about to go check it out!
Just built your shelter using your ebook. Very nice work. Thanks 🙏🏻
I'm going to tell you the same thing I tell everyone, I want to see it! My email is hello@farmmarketingsolutions.com if you could send photos. I cannot reply to everyone, but it doesn't mean I don't appreciate the feedback. Let me know if there's anything you would change about the book.
Love the content!
I just built your tractor and will be building another one this week. Thank you for all your videos and poultry packets. So much excellent information. My question is, how do you feed the grit out in the brooder and the field? Do you put it in the feeding troughs/brooder feeders? Is it in a separate container? Do you make sure they have it available constantly?
Thank you in advance!
Love you clip. Misses them.
But how mutch grit per kilo feed do you give them?
Hi John Suscovich, thanks so much for all the videos you making.... Off topic probably, but I need urgent advice. My Cornish cross chickens, have a cut / busted open skin between the leg and ars hole, what could be the cause of that. I googled all over but with not answers. Thanks in advance.
Look at you, talking about planning!! So what art can you create from the tractors on the pasture? Hmmm. . .
Pasture quilting! The art is in the science, and the science is impact + movement = happiness.
How the little things affect the big things, and then how we use that to optimize for happiness.
I want to see chicken tractor crop circles….
Great video! For feed storage, what do you think is best? Could we use a metal can or a plastic bin? I am currently storing feed in a 50 gallon black storage tote in my basement. I was looking to buy food grade barrels. What do you think is best? And where is best for storage, inside or outside? We live in Pennsylvania and the humidity gets high here in the summer.
Great to see you back John! Im going into my second year of raising Cornish cross and was largely inspired by your videos to start raising them. Is it possible for them to consume too much grit? I gave my birds free choice grit from day 3 until processing last year. Started with the smallest size and moved up a size once they were on pasture. It just seemed to me that they were going through so much grit. Is there something else I should be doing differently? Thanks! Looking forward to more videos!
They won’t over consume grit. If they are eating more than 6 - 8 oz of grit each. That is an indication that the grit is not the right size. Need to jump up to the next size grit sooner.
What he said!
@@jeffmattocks6886 Thanks for the reply Jeff! Is it better to mix it in with the feed vs free choice? What frequency should you be giving it to them? Daily? Once a week? Thanks again!!
Hi John, I have a question. I am getting about 20 Cornish Cross this year and because of supply & demand, I had to order them from two different hatcheries. Well as fate would have it, 10 are coming mid may and the other 10 are coming in the beginning of June (3 weeks apart). Can I at some point have all of them in the same tractor, or will the big ones pick on the small ones and kill them? Thanks, and keep up the videos, they're great!
So I think we are both in New England. I’m in western mass and just curious where you have found to get local feed. I feel like there are no good places in the MA/CT area where as there are tons further south.
Nice job John. I am starting my first batch of egg layers and broilers this season. Feed concerns me. I am going to call our local feed and grain elevator for some advice on the grit issue. As for now the local Farm and Fleet store is getting me started. Any thoughts directions for me? I can't believe I'm this nervous to start. Whish me luck. You feel like quizzing me on my start up? Could use a mentor.
Hello just wondering what kind of grass do you grow for your chickens, thank you
Make a video about pig foods.what they eat.
I want to build a farm.
We live in Michigan and we have well water that goes through our house that has water filtration that is treated with salt . I'm thinking water treated with water softener is not the best .
Hi, i have a question. What must be the minimum outside temperature for the chickens to go outside? Thank you
Good to see ya! Good info. Like other's I never thought of feeding extra grit to the broilers. Interesting on your return for a minor investment. Have you run the numbers on raising bigger birds (8 - 12 pounds) for roasters - I am planning on keeping better records this year to see if it is profitable to keep birds longer or not. Personally , I like the bigger birds as do some of my customers, but most want one meal birds.
Bigger broilers can be hard to get rid of unless you have a dedicated customer segment that loves big birds. Even those people start enthusiastic and then start to fade a little bit after expensive birds.
Bigger birds are good to cut into pieces and sell parts. The smaller you package something the better your margin thens to be. I'm scratching the surface here on a bigger topic. I intend on doing a price breakdown of the various broiler cuts, I'm just in the research stages of that video right now.
@@farmmarketing True. I too am planning on cutting up some of my bigger birds and pricing by cuts with applying separate pricing to them...value added marketing is a thing. Planning on applying store prices to things just to compare pricing to buying a full bird. I look forward to what your finding are.
When do you put your broilers on pasture? What is your strategy for raising them from day olds?
Is your feed pellets or ground up? We found too much waste with ground . Thoughts?
Hi, thank you! How do you protect them from predators? I am worried predators could dig under the tractor. Thanks again.
Great question. I answered that in this video: ruclips.net/video/YWmBLnbkPQY/видео.html which is due for an update. I put an electric wire around the chicken tractors to keep predators out with a solar fence charger so it is mobile.
@@farmmarketing thanks so much!
Very good John what about giving your birds charcoal. I give it to my layers.
You know James, I have never tried that. I have a few follow up questions: What do you see as the benefits? Where do you source it? How do you feed it out?
@@farmmarketing It is suppose to have benefits in their digestive systems same for us also. It absorbs toxins aids in digest etc. The added benefit for me is I use there droppings in my garden and the charcoal stays in the soil for decades. I make my own and screen it down to almost a fine powdered and mix it with their feed. I cannot say if it has made any difference to the health or their egg laying but it still aides in my garden soil
Thanks. Would laying hens require/benefit from the same level of grit access?
YES! Absolutely Jethro. Any poultry will benefit from grit. Turkeys will eat their entire finished body weight in grit over their lifespan. Layers will have better feed efficiency and produce more eggs.
I ordered Kosher Kings this last round. I'm surprised by how well they forge for meat birds. I'm gonna order them again
Where are you getting your birds from?
@@farmmarketing crackle
How often do you add grit to the feed? Everyday? Once a week?
The obnoxious answer of "it depends". Generally though 1-2 times a week. If there is none in their feeder then I add, if there is some left I skip that day. Depends on if you have the correct size, what stage the birds are at, and how much you actually put in last time you fed it out.
@@farmmarketing thank you. It sounds like you could do a whole video on just that. This will be my fourth year raising birds using your methods.
Can you share where you get your broiler feed? I'm also in CT. Thanks!
I was getting feed from Lightning Tree Farm, but they just closed. Which is a total bummer. I don't have a great answer for you at the moment.
Thanks for the reply John. I ended up going to Erikson Feed in Acton MA. That's the closest I could find New Country Organics feed.
How do you predator proof your tractors?
Yes!!!👌😌
Yes indeed!
Just to clarify..
It’s good to have you back. 👌
Круто чувак
Дякую
Is that a banana?
Good eye! Yes, it's a banana. A banana for scale. YOu'll start to see that banana in more of my content in the coming months. It's an important part of my chicken farming experience.
it was a week earlier cuz they were full of rocks
im from the north, spent half my life down south. you see 1 million and one people making farming content with a deep south accent, but you are quite an anomaly
wow hes alive youtube says 9 months since last video, nice upload schedule john hahah
I know right?!?! It's what happens when you have a day job to go with your nights and weekend job. I'm not a full time content creator, and occasionally I have to walk away and take care of business, but I always come back.
Can cedar shavings be used instead of pine shavings? It should keep down the parasites.
I'll answer... no, cedar should be avoided, cedar can be toxic for poultry. Pine is best for shavings. To help cut down on parasites, if that is a concern, try dusting the floor with barn lime or perhaps diatomaceous earth before putting the shavings down on top of that... just use sparingly and allow any airborne dust to dissipate before letting your birds back in... it is said you should try not to breathe it into the lungs due to "potential" long term effects, but broilers will be in Camp Kenmore long before that could even start to be a concern 😊 I personally have never found any issues doing this practice even with my layers who stick around for years, but that's the stated precaution 😊