@@andrewhallard537 I have to change mine. I thought they liked round. Very informative and help to cut cost of buying chicken feed. Now going to have to go dumpster diving for free chicken vegtables.
I believed God do better research before create the life ecosystem. I can't call any lumber company at the moment of the creation. But the trees was created at that point. The animals don't messed up with the environment, only humans do.
Forgive me, Sir, I forgot your name when I tried to find you again on youtube so I did a search "chicken coop guy with the big eyebrows." You popped right up, I laughed so hard I think I hurt myself, not because of your brows (they are very impressive manly brows by the way) but the fact that youtube knew exactly who I was looking for. Seriously, you have excellent ideas on chickencoop building which I am trying to utilize. thank you sincerely for your videos.
Those are as good as Eugene Levy’s (Jim’s dad in American Pie) eye brows… Great ideas, I’m just wondering about the feed system, does it continue to push the old feed through or does old feed get stuck at the bottom?
This is one of the best chicken coops I've seen! You put a lot of thought and planning into this project and you've incorporated so many awesome ideas.I can tell you tried to think of all their needs resulting in safe, happy chickens.You even thought of cutting down on cleaning time for yourself. The less work the better and you thought of it all! I would have never thought to even look for a study on which type or shape of perch is best for their feet. Thanks for sharing.
OMgosh...LOVE your video, took copious notes cause the minute you mentioned finding studies about their feet/best shape for roost, I knew you were a kindred soul!! ;-) haha My hubby thinks i"m NUTS for worrying so much about their feet and toes!!! :-) Mine are smaller as you mention and I'm loving the 2X3's which actually have slightly rounded edges as I hated the sharp 90degree edges of 1X's...Watched their little toes looking like they couldn't really get a good position and seemed uncomfortable- laid down just like you said to do so!! - you also even mentioned it in relation to their ladder- we added extra rungs too as I'd watch them slide and look like they were gonna break a toe! (our coop and run came with the house- not bad, but much room to improve! and I'm learning as I go and taking notes looking to next year hopefully make our own custom coop just like you did using ALL the best tips I'm seeing- so thank you!!! LOVE that you are incorporating the soldier flies directly to them!!! AND meal worms- Those dried ones are not only almost ALL grown/processed in China! but also get super pricey- even more if you source them from US....so looking to start growning my own too! LASTLY ;-) haha , LOVE that you care about them and providing fun and things to make them happy! WHO knew that chickens are SO amazing and so full of personality- they crack us up and keep us far too entertained!! ;-) But HAVE to look for time savers as they're almost full grown and I have got to stop spending so much time out there! People laugh that my coop is the cleanest they've ever seen- very similar in design but the flaws are answered by your design. (they did 2 long 'drawers' that you can pull out to clean/add shavings or whatever you use...BUT never must have acutally used cause they kick the stuff EVERYwhere and I end up contorted to get it all out from under them and sides- really stupid but it's what I"ve got for now!) THANKS for all the tips- LOVE the feeders and high (raised) coop- mine love to hang under there and agree it not only increases usable sqftage but also a cool place to hang, and a dry place to put my food to keep out of the rain with what we're currently using! (like your supplement one ;-) haha) God Bless! Can't wait to see other videos!!
an excellent book if you are considering building a shed. While you may not choose to build one exactly as shown in this book ruclips.net/user/postUgkxT9ExVpR-3A-9rpRqx8vzXKZ3BMMTg_KH , the information found in here would be useful in any shed building project. The information is well presented, with color photos throughout. As was noted in a previous review, though some dimensions are given, the complete plans must be ordered elsewhere. I ordered the plans for the gambrel shed and did notice a few discrepancies between the book and plans however.
That looks so nice and safe, so i wonder if you have a space for me to stand on, in there :). Wish you a great week. Always fun and interesting to follow your different projects. Best wishes from Kan in Norway . . . By the way if you want a great method for building chicken coops then go here now: www.ChickCoop. club
I'm not quite sure what kind of black magic fuckery this is but I never realised how brows can make a person appear that much more welcoming, it's awe inspiring.
Yesterday my husband and children decided to buy 10 baby chicks from tractor supply. I love how adorable they are but I know I'll be responsible for the lives of these little ones. I'm trying to learn all I can. Thank you for this great information. I'm subscribing.
Watching this video, seeing your passion, and listening to your knowledge, just makes me wish I would have started homesteading when I was younger. Now I finally live in the country, but I'm older, and my arthritis prevents me from homesteading like I'd like to. But I sincerely appreciate the fact that you would share your knowledge with others who seek the same lifestyle, without charging them for what obviously you've spent lots of hours researching. Time is something you can never get back, so I truly appreciate you sharing yours. Thank you!
One way we kept our auto coop door from binding is, instead of putting the wood between more wood (which all expands and contracts with weather), we put the door on ball bearing drawer slides. Works like a charm!
Got into chickens about 2 years ago. Running into the issues of being an enormous amount of work and I want it to fit symbiotically into my gardens and general backyard ecosystem. You soldier fly box and vertical coop design have been very inspiring to me and I truly appreciate the years you have spent learning these different methods and of course the time you spent making this video, solely for others to learn. In my situation I am free ranging with a coop that currently has hard wired electric for heating. And I'm at the point where I simply do not have time between all other projects to feed, water, clean, open doors, close doors etc for my hens. I use livestock guardians for protection from predators along with motion lights and dazzle objects to prevent air attacks. Water and feed systems are nearly identical to yours. The one thing I have incorporated that I didn't see in your setup is a WiFi connected temperature and humidity sensor (ecowitt on Amazon has a little kit for $45) so that I can in real time view the temp/ humidity of my coop from my phone or computer anywhere I have connection. I live in MO so I do have some wilder temperature ranges and weather, my property also backs up to woods so I have issues with raccoons, hawks, opossums, feril cats, foxes etc. Literally everything is trying to eat my ladies. I put all this info in my comment for the peeps (HA! chicken pun) that live in slightly wilder climates but the principles are all the same I feel. I love your idea of using that pain in the arse feeder for nutrients and I have thought about putting sub-tank on my water line system for adding vitamins to their water to allow easy and fair distribution to all birds. Incorporating plants into the mix as you have done is truly holistic. I have plenty of Virgina creeper vines that I will now incorporate into my coops (I have ducks chickens and rabbits). Hopefully once all my animals are at near self sufficiency I can reclaim my gardens that they gave wrecked and maybe just maybe they will one day be as beautiful as yours!!! I am looking to do all your basic herbs, veggies and fruits for my region bit also heavily focused on fungi and mycelium and the role they play into nutrient exchange for all the plants involved. These are just pieces of the puzzle. And we fit them together slowly, one by one. But as in nature, all live in balance. I hope to replicate that circle in my backyard so we all can prosper. I really truly appreciate you making this video, I've seen a lot of things just didn't really work for my situation or just were not too well thought out, but you sir have seem to stumbled across the same pieces as I and tied them all together in this beautiful picture you shared with the world. Thanks again for the ideas and affirmation. Best wishes to you and your ecosystems ☮️
wow- heating. Is that really necessary. Our chickens roost up high and that place gets hot. Maximum I put a infrared light (one of those huge bulbs) but i've realized it's really not necessary. I wouldn't mind a web cam though at times. But an automatic door is a must. Those girls like to be out early!!
By "livestock guardians" do you mean dogs or some other type of protective animals? I want to predator proof my chicken/bird house with 1/4-1/2" wire mesh, but it's a strain on my budget. I was hoping Livestock Guardian was some handy device to keep the predators away. Haha! I've tried fake predatory birds, lights, layers of fencing, sparkly hanging things, sitting in the coop, etc, and I live in an urban neighborhood. My rooster does pretty good, though!
I have been blessed and purchased 41 acres. Now, a year later we are settled and I am taking my time on livestock. Chickens are first. I have an old coop that is falling apart. I am planning on taking that one apart and salvaging what I can. I have been looking for videos on "how" to build the coop. I'm not a carpenter. However, I feel I can do this. I am on the path of creating a homestead and look forward to this challenge. Great video! love the fact it is solar powered and you harvest rain water.
Thanks for saying something. I felt like an asshole wondering what species of caterpillar that was. Was so preoccupied, I had to watch a second time. Good vid!
Your chickens are so calm. They seem very happy. Your coop is great. They have different areas to go to, not crowded. You should write book for those starting out. You are really knowledgeable and facinated to hear you.
If you ever go back to free ranging with the automatic door, a handy trick is to not get out of bed too early. Hens mostly lay in the morning, so if you let them out closer to lunchtime, they'll have to lay in the boxes and not hide their eggs under a bush or down a culvert somewhere.
I personally do not recommend the free ranging of chickens due to various predators making birds extemnely vulnerable. Chickens obviously cannot fly fast to get away. Where we live we see enough Quayles getting caught by hawks and eagles. At night, racoons are extremely dangerous even in populated areas!
Love it!! Who knew my inablity many mornings to get out there very early would be a good thing!! ;-) Mine are still young enough to have not started laying yet- first time chicken 'mama' but I've also recently noticed that they LIKE their coop and will hang in there even during their chance to 'free range' as I open the run door when I'm out cleaning things up and feeding, etc. for the day. Stay longer than planned as they crack me up and are just too funny! Thanks for giving me one more reason to not feel so guilty when my own body won't cooperate!!
Egg-cellent idea!! Can you do another with some measurements and joint connection details - especially for 2nd level 2X4 roosts and measures of how high above nests? Plus door placement tips for the easy cleanup? You should make a blueprint book and sell it as a download!!
I use one metal bar and wired flexible fencing to it and the wall of the coop. This way there is nothing to clean. Change the hay. and anything small falls right through to the dirt hay covered floor. Also our divider walls are flexible. Wired to the top and they can be pushed aside. This makes for easier cleaning as well.
I’ve lost two chickens to heat, it gets to be 106 degrees where I’m at so it’s important to give them shade in hot environments ❤️❤️❤️ thank you for brining that up!
Glad I watched this video. I raised chickens for about three years before circumstances caused me to stop. It’s been three years & I’m Looking forward to raising my “feather therapy” again & using the soldier fly idea to help self sustain as well as a raised coop.
I'm taking mad notes on your chicken system. Especially the automatic food and water systems. The use of rainwater is great. Growing the hens food so you know what they are eating is perfect. Your eyebrows and eyelashes are amazing. Chickens can do everything.
Thanks for your video. I really like your feed and water system and will be incorporating that into my chicken coop. For the sodlier fly larva system consider this. Take a 55 gallon plastic drum and cut a 2' hole in the center top. Take a 2' diameter piece of black corrugated culvert pipe and drill 1" holes all over the sides. The pipe needs to be tall enough to extend past the top of the barrel to accept a pipe cap . Glue the bottom piece of the pipe to the bottom center of the barrel using mounds of caulk. Place the pipe down through the hole and center on the bottom of the barrel. Let the the caulk dry over night. lace the corrugated cap on top of the pipe. Drill 2" holes in the bottom of the barrel around the outside of the corrugated culvert pipe. Drill one hole in the center of the barrel to drain liquid from the compost. At the top and middle of the barrel, drill 2'" holes all around the barrel...not too close though. This is just to let flies in. Suspend the barrel in the air about two feet. Pop the corrugated cap to put in your food scraps into the pipe and replace the cap. Flies will come into the side of the barrel get to the food in the corrugated pipe and lay their eggs. Larva will move out through the holes in the corrugated pipe and fall to the bottom of the barrel and out the holes in the bottom of the barrel. This will keep the stink down and use more of a gravity delivery system for the larva so you won't have to depend on them crawling in the right direction. Even if they crawl up the side of the inside of the barrel, they will eventually come out one of the holes and fall to the ground.
If you put a shallow pan for water, in the shade, the chickens will stand in it. This is one way they cool themselves when they get too hot. I also stop feeding corn in the Summer as it heats their bodies.
That’s a good comment from someone who knows hens. Corn should only be fed late afternoon as it heats them up ready for a cold night. I usually fed layers mash during the day and a good handful each of corn at night, and make sure they ate it all. I live in the UK so cold nights not too bad except for winter months. One of the most important things is to clear away all food and water at night when the birds go to bed. Mice run all over their food and water etc and urinate all the time so the food and water gets contaminated. You got to get up early and put out fresh every day. I put cider vinegar in their water or garlic to help with parasites. My birds use to run loose in my garden too and ate slugs, snails ,pecked grass, and weeds. I would dry out the eggs shells in the oven and crush them to feed back to them. And one old hen used to lay really large eggs thre ,four times a year so I would scramble that and feed that tothem. They love cheese too, which is great to call them back to th3 coop at night.
@@mariedyde448 couldn't you use hardware mesh to completely cover the coop and keep mice out? I know they can get through chicken wire and such but if you use hardware mesh and when I say use it I mean completely incase the coop in hardware mesh so you leave no place for them to squish through would that not keep them from getting to feed?
I used to use covered kitty litter boxes for nesting boxes lol 2 x 4’s are also better roosts in cold climates, they can keep their feet flat on the beam and cover their feet with their feathers to help prevent frostbite The ventilation issue is actually even more important in cold climates in winter as the moisture creates respiratory issues and frostbite/chill due to the damp cold air.
I love all the ideas. Me and my husband spent a lot of money in ours. We got it from tractor supply and as we were new about CHICKENS didn’t knew many mistakes were in the chicken coop. We adore our chickens but once the bad weather goes away we will try to improve but as we already spend so much money at this point is a LOST . This is all GENIUS ideas.
My husband and I were amazed how well your chicken enclosure was designed and all the research you have put into it making easier to give good care for them. Thank you for the videos and yes we are subscribed.
I ordered chickens yesterday, to ship June 3rd! YAY! LOL I’ve always had chickens, until the past few years; I was a caregiver for my parents and that was a difficult, yet rewarding “job.” However, I found that I didn’t have the time to really dedicate to raising and taking care of animals. My dad passed in 2015, and my mom followed this past January. (She was on dialysis so we had a lot on our plates!) Anyway now I actually have too much time on my hands, so I decided to fill that time with chickens and gardening. I really love the raised coop. I’ll be using a small shed that’s already here for them, but in the future I’ll keep your chicken coop in mind! I ordered four breeds: Rhode Island Red, White Leghorn, Whiting True Blue, And Salmon Faverolles. Great video and wonderful ideas! Best - Adam
I enjoyed your vid. I am getting 6 laying hens in a couple of weeks. my neighbor is moving and is giving them to me. I will need to build a coop and soon. I like your feeding system and other things. You did a great job of presenting your setup. thumbs up.
Man you know the know! I will be building my coop next week. You answered every thing. Thank you. I recently moved to N. Florida. In process of being more sustainable and loving nature. I live in the Spring Belt of Florida. I own an acre right now and am interested in buying more grow space. Clearing over growth at present time and planning. Inspired!
Thumbs up man! You are a treasure for this Earth. Wish more people would be so in tune. Thanks for sharing your ideas. I'll be sure to borrow a few for my backyard farm/garden. Keep being "you".
I watched this video a few months back and decided to build it also. Have to say could not be happier with the results and the chickens seem to love it too. Did a couple changes simply because I'm in a northern part of the country. Mine is 12 x16 instead of 12x20 which I regret should have added the extra 4 feet. I also added a full roof for shade and we get alot of rain so it's a double win on that. Thanks for the idea.
"Can not overheat" meaning they should not. This is a great idea for a coop, im moat likely going to be referring back to this video when I start to build. New to tending to chickens. Thanks for the great info!
Thanks for sharing some great ideas! Love the gravity feeder & appreciate your insights on a raised coop. People should know: you do need some sort of solid flooring in your coop. Wire (which you mention as an alternative) really isn’t a good option since even fine mesh will cut the birds feet -leading to bumble foot and other problems.
What a great video! Very informative. My husband wants to get chicks and raise them and although I love chickens and grew up around them in Puerto Rico, I’m a bit hesitant and not convinced. I’m trying to do research before we commit. He’s a bit impulsive lol
Wonderful video on explaining everything. My coop was also "Est. 2016"!! ;-) I don't know if you have ever thought about it but if you put a sheet of linoleum remnant on coop floor it makes cleaning much easier plus saves your wood from rotting from the poop!
Thank you, haha nice! When I was designing my coop I saw people use the linoleum, but I always put out straw on the wood and the poop is just absorbed by that, no rotting at all. But I think that's a great way to do it too. I think I was kind of afraid of any chemicals in it or the birds trying to eat a piece of it, might not be true but I always play it safe and go on the natural side of things.
I think linoleum is natural, made from linseed oil? Hmm. Ah yes, per Google: "Linoleum is a flooring that is manufactured by oxidizing linseed oil to form a thick mixture called linoleum cement. The cement is cooled and mixed with pine resin, and wood flour to form sheets on a jute backing."
I love what you've done with the coop. I was thinking of what to do with my floor in my coop. I have a plywood floor down, and will probably go with a linseed oil finish. One thing to note, is that plywood is glued with synthetic glues, to the best of my knowledge. The glues off-gas VOCs, mainly formaldehyde, a known toxin. These do decrease to residual amounts over time. Actually, it would have been "chemical-free" if you had used unfinished pine boards such as 1x8 or 1x10.
I’m designing my coop after this video. I’m about to start exploring all the other videos as well. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience!
I have some adopted chickens from Forest above me..(homes above) No stones around, I just feed them corn and chicken scratch.. They digest just fine..no eggs, cause they sleep in da trees..they go in my shed, so thanks for the inspiration about nesting.. Alohaa
Those brows are legendary bro.... Wow! They mesmerize me and now I have to go back and listen to everything again..... Reporting back again after third run of the video. Still learned nothing about chickens so trying for a fourth time and taking notes. Hopefully I don't draw brows on paper....
Good job. I started raising chicks in the 80’s. My coupe is 10’x22’ and adding on another 10x22’ this year. I use the red watering cups because the watering stems Id be afraid that new birds brought in might not catch on quick enough in hot weather. The red cups hold some water and one peck they know water flows!
You have some really great ideas I have not even thought of before. For eg...your idea of having the roost at the same level to avoid having issues with pecking order. Thanks for sharing!
Love the size of your coop. The chickens look free and well composed , happy environment for them. You really treat them like a good dad. Love chickens. I will have a little spot for a couple of chickens when I retire. Thank you for all the good advice and for sharing your experience 🏆🏆🏆
Thanks for the great coop tour! You have some innovative time savers for sure, and they serve to make the hens happy, too. I have been doing "temporary" coops for about 4 years now thinking each year I'll finally get my final production in the best location on the property. You have inspired me to get at it using the concepts you settled on. Thanks again!
I finally found this video after I fell in love with your Coop on the first tour from Epic Gardening. This is definitely the plan that I will be building from when I get my coop put together (if I can convince my neighbours) but am curious on how I will adjust it for my cooler winters up here in Canada - both for the inclusion of lights and preventing freezing of the water lines.
Thank you. My friend has an agreement with the local grocery store to gather old produce. Your video has been helpful. No chickens yet, but planning to.
You're extremely good at explaining the design and purpose of each proponent. You also do well in editing to delve into more detail or make corrections as needed. I love the design, the automation, and the added benefit of passion fruit. Excellet job my man! I subscribed and turned notifications on because you're awesome.
Also you are a godsend, I'm planning to get chickens next year and this is the best most comprehensive video I've seen in a while about a good example coop! Thank you!
I've learned more information from this video than I could have researching myself. You really cover the important things needed when raising chickens. So many great tips and tricks too! Thank you thank you! So very grateful!
For the ideas I got from your video I will return one, I also dislike chemicals in wood. I’m a carpenter and timber framer, I always burn my wood material that comes within an inch of the ground. You can use a weed burner and I mean cook until charcoal black and I use linseed oil with a mix of beeswax to seal the material. In terms of preservation it is top notch. Great for fence posts or anything burying in the ground as well. If you want buy premade, Heritage is great brand and they have great wax. Excellent for end grain to keep moisture out and their oil if reapplied seasonally will extend anything wood for decades and smells drinkable (don’t do it). Thanks for the ideas!
Love the video, I only bought supplements once for my hens. A former roommate left behind a blender that wasn't water tight but worked well enough to put egg shells in and (after they are completely dry) we blend them and give the crushed shells to the chickens for calcium.
In colder climates, the 2x4 or 2x3 is helpful to keep the chickens feet from freezing, able to cover the whole foot when they roost. This info was given by someone in Minnesota.
Thanks for showing your setup and thoughts. We've found that laminate flooring laid on the coop flooring makes it even easier to clean out. I really like having stones around the coop and fence as to keep other critters from getting in.
Chickens also need a sand bath so they can keep their fleas down. Other than that you have the bases covered and some new ones. I enjoy seeing a thinking mind at work. Thank You, Tom.
My man, greetings from a foresty ranch near Houston, TX. Just moved back from the DC city life. I got chickens, goats, turkeys, and I brought along my koi and goldfish. I'm an aquaponics guy, but I love your videos. You've got a new subscriber in me.
You have one of the best thought out coops, that I've seen. Going to use some of your ideas. The grubs give me the willie's. Shudder. It is good for the chickens though. Thank you for your video.
Love your inventiveness. Some great ideas. We have VERY different weather in the UK (we have weather and don't have climate) but I like the way you have cared for your hens by providing so much shade. We both know that chickens can stand the cold but the wet and the heat are stressful for them. Well done, chicken-loving bro'. About the heat- when I kept 1000s of birds professionally, the fans broke down in one of my sheds and I wept buckets carrying out hundreds of dead birds that had 'smothered' in the built-up heat before I could get to them. For a normally hot or warm climate, your provisions are brilliant. Well done, again. I wish all poultrymen cared as much. Love your 'grit overkill'. Better more than not enough. I always have several grit cups topped up and handy for the birds. As you say, they need them though it may not be obvious to the beginner. you are also one of the few poultry keepers that has pointed out the need for a droppings board under the perches (roosts) that can be easily cleaned. It protects the bottom litter from poop as keep the coop sweet. A sweet coop and a good run makes for happy birds. Best wishes across the pond Paul in the UK Midlands
Loved this video, very well detailed, very well narrated, plenty of experiences shared, very refreshing video without trying to oversell you on something... Thanks a lot... will try to share updates after trying this in Tanzania East Africa (might have to increase ventilation since Dar es Salaam is very hot)
You mention the chicken run dimensions, but I’d like to know the chicken coop dimensions, too. Could you share those? I have a flock of 20 and this set up looks much more functional than what they’re in now. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Hi there! Looking for your recommendation on building/buying an automatic chicken watering cup system. Saw this video on an efficient coop with the nipple system and you reference a future video on creating the cup method. I’m new to chickens and know this kind of system would be a game changer for efficiency. The systems I’ve seen on Amazon seem cheap and easy to break. Thanks!!! Your videos are awesome!!
Oh my pleasure! But thank YOU! I sent my fella your video (he works out of state at the moment), as we have been discussing plans for a chicken family of our own ♥️ He loved it as much as I! I’m looking forward to incorporating much of your ways, as I find my own!!! If only the whole world could live this way.....
WOW, So much information. Thanks so much for everything. I truly hope I can incorporate as many things as possible that you mentioned in this video. Me and my family are so grateful.
My wife and I have soldier fly worms in our compost, our hens love them as well…..I really loved the way you explained why you do things…this was very informative…..I plan on converting some old dog kennels into runs this fall and building a coop for it…..plan to use some of your ideas with it…
Take a look at the Urban Aviary Triggerless water cups. The other style cups apparently have an issue with feed/debris causing trigger to get stuck open causing flooding and emptying water storage. Just a thought. Enjoyed your video 👍
Man. I love this video. There is so much information... i am starting a poultry farm in ghana so will use some of the tips for the automation. Thanks for sharing!
Love your ideas, well planned. We are building a large enclosed garden & planning a chicken coop, your channel popped up at the perfect time, we will use your concept, it obviously works, chooks look healthy & happy, Ty for the great info & explaining stuff so all can understand, new sub here
Your Passion fruit vine has me me in massive envy mode. So glad I saw this as I now know what plant I will be using to help shade my hens. Also your comments on height of box and roost info. Ya blew My mind. Thank you for this informative video. Please update us on the soldier flies!
Btw,... I use 2 x 4's for roosts also but bevel the top edges so they are more comfortable to wrap their toes around. In regards to the watercups for drinkig they are the absolute best! Those drip things look as though a chicken is supposed to suckle rather than peck. The youtube channel "2 Creative Chicks" has a great video on them. My coop is a stand-up so I can walk in to clean... poop deck w/ sand so I can scoop like kitty litter... ridiculously easy to clean every morning... 2 minutes. My nesting boxes are also sand... the chickens love them. I tried putting straw in one time and the chickens threw all the straw out!! that answered that! again... much easier to clean and eggs are always clean.. In the two and a half years they've been laying, I may have had 3 times where the eggs had anything on them. When they first drop the egg and the bloom is on them I may get a little bit of sand on them but of course it brushes right off. Anyway.. just subscribed... keep teaching!
Very cool sand is an interesting idea, mine kick the straw sometimes too lol. Your coop sounds fantastic and I like the beveling of the 2x4 idea it would be more comfortable for sure!
Hi!! Please tell me; I genuinely want to know/learn- why the grain? do chickens need grain? I love all of Steven's stuff and I probably just haven't gotten down the youtube funnel far enough to find the answer. Future vid: "why aren't you raising chickens" and the chickens are running all over the place. Love it. So do they eat grain and roam? We moved to a property with a coup and a few chickens already here! learning as we go! Thank you to Steven and this amazing community. I am so excited about regenerative farming
We are new to farming and are getting ready to set up our first coop. I love your coop design! Do you have dimensions or plans for how you built it? Love your videos! Thanks :)
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Is there a part 2 with any improvements or failures?
Do you have plans available for building your coop?
Honestly this man is out here grinding. He reads studies for the effects of dowel geometry on chicken feet. Respect.
Yeah, really glad i learned that without having too research it
@@andrewhallard537 I have to change mine. I thought they liked round. Very informative and help to cut cost of buying chicken feed. Now going to have to go dumpster diving for free chicken vegtables.
I believed God do better research before create the life ecosystem. I can't call any lumber company at the moment of the creation. But the trees was created at that point.
The animals don't messed up with the environment, only humans do.
@@xavierm1018 true, "research" is often more misleading than simple patient observation of nature and its systems.
Forgive me, Sir, I forgot your name when I tried to find you again on youtube so I did a search "chicken coop guy with the big eyebrows." You popped right up, I laughed so hard I think I hurt myself, not because of your brows (they are very impressive manly brows by the way) but the fact that youtube knew exactly who I was looking for. Seriously, you have excellent ideas on chickencoop building which I am trying to utilize. thank you sincerely for your videos.
Haha that's halarious
Oh my goodness- I want to know you. I was thinking the same thing.
🤣🤣🤣😂😆 I knew there had to be comments on the brows. I laughed so hard my abs are sore.
Those are as good as Eugene Levy’s (Jim’s dad in American Pie) eye brows…
Great ideas, I’m just wondering about the feed system, does it continue to push the old feed through or does old feed get stuck at the bottom?
Hahahahhahaahha
This is one of the best chicken coops I've seen! You put a lot of thought and planning into this project and you've incorporated so many awesome ideas.I can tell you tried to think of all their needs resulting in safe, happy chickens.You even thought of cutting down on cleaning time for yourself. The less work the better and you thought of it all! I would have never thought to even look for a study on which type or shape of perch is best for their feet. Thanks for sharing.
OMgosh...LOVE your video, took copious notes cause the minute you mentioned finding studies about their feet/best shape for roost, I knew you were a kindred soul!! ;-) haha My hubby thinks i"m NUTS for worrying so much about their feet and toes!!! :-) Mine are smaller as you mention and I'm loving the 2X3's which actually have slightly rounded edges as I hated the sharp 90degree edges of 1X's...Watched their little toes looking like they couldn't really get a good position and seemed uncomfortable- laid down just like you said to do so!! - you also even mentioned it in relation to their ladder- we added extra rungs too as I'd watch them slide and look like they were gonna break a toe! (our coop and run came with the house- not bad, but much room to improve! and I'm learning as I go and taking notes looking to next year hopefully make our own custom coop just like you did using ALL the best tips I'm seeing- so thank you!!! LOVE that you are incorporating the soldier flies directly to them!!! AND meal worms- Those dried ones are not only almost ALL grown/processed in China! but also get super pricey- even more if you source them from US....so looking to start growning my own too! LASTLY ;-) haha , LOVE that you care about them and providing fun and things to make them happy! WHO knew that chickens are SO amazing and so full of personality- they crack us up and keep us far too entertained!! ;-) But HAVE to look for time savers as they're almost full grown and I have got to stop spending so much time out there! People laugh that my coop is the cleanest they've ever seen- very similar in design but the flaws are answered by your design. (they did 2 long 'drawers' that you can pull out to clean/add shavings or whatever you use...BUT never must have acutally used cause they kick the stuff EVERYwhere and I end up contorted to get it all out from under them and sides- really stupid but it's what I"ve got for now!) THANKS for all the tips- LOVE the feeders and high (raised) coop- mine love to hang under there and agree it not only increases usable sqftage but also a cool place to hang, and a dry place to put my food to keep out of the rain with what we're currently using! (like your supplement one ;-) haha)
God Bless! Can't wait to see other videos!!
an excellent book if you are considering building a shed. While you may not choose to build one exactly as shown in this book ruclips.net/user/postUgkxT9ExVpR-3A-9rpRqx8vzXKZ3BMMTg_KH , the information found in here would be useful in any shed building project. The information is well presented, with color photos throughout. As was noted in a previous review, though some dimensions are given, the complete plans must be ordered elsewhere. I ordered the plans for the gambrel shed and did notice a few discrepancies between the book and plans however.
Came for the coop ideas, stayed for the brows 👍
Lmaol
That looks so nice and safe, so i wonder if you have a space for me to stand on, in there :). Wish you a great week. Always fun and interesting to follow your different projects. Best wishes from Kan in Norway
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By the way if you want a great method for building chicken coops then go here now: www.ChickCoop. club
I'm not quite sure what kind of black magic fuckery this is but I never realised how brows can make a person appear that much more welcoming, it's awe inspiring.
If brows make a person more welcoming, hes a one man welcome party.
@@JoshManMate LMMFAO!
Everyone’ talking about his brows but look at his EYELASHES! Man was blessed.
Yesterday my husband and children decided to buy 10 baby chicks from tractor supply. I love how adorable they are but I know I'll be responsible for the lives of these little ones. I'm trying to learn all I can. Thank you for this great information. I'm subscribing.
All the best, how did everything turn out 11 months later...? Interested because I'm embarking on a similar journey
Relax. They are hard to kill. Relax. Best of all, add a rooster & they'll even replace themselves.
Do they know you talk shit about them on the internet?
@@mrjon75 She didn't talk shit at all lmfao. She just said she's the one who will be responsible for them. Don't be a snowflake.
@@nevw2004 I see you're back talking me on the internet.
Well at least I'm not your (lazy, useless) husband or kids.
SMMFH
Watching this video, seeing your passion, and listening to your knowledge, just makes me wish I would have started homesteading when I was younger. Now I finally live in the country, but I'm older, and my arthritis prevents me from homesteading like I'd like to. But I sincerely appreciate the fact that you would share your knowledge with others who seek the same lifestyle, without charging them for what obviously you've spent lots of hours researching. Time is something you can never get back, so I truly appreciate you sharing yours. Thank you!
Free Palestine, Christ is king
One way we kept our auto coop door from binding is, instead of putting the wood between more wood (which all expands and contracts with weather), we put the door on ball bearing drawer slides. Works like a charm!
Groucho Marx called and he want's his eyebrows back.... lol
Fantastic move! Thanks
Got into chickens about 2 years ago. Running into the issues of being an enormous amount of work and I want it to fit symbiotically into my gardens and general backyard ecosystem. You soldier fly box and vertical coop design have been very inspiring to me and I truly appreciate the years you have spent learning these different methods and of course the time you spent making this video, solely for others to learn.
In my situation I am free ranging with a coop that currently has hard wired electric for heating. And I'm at the point where I simply do not have time between all other projects to feed, water, clean, open doors, close doors etc for my hens. I use livestock guardians for protection from predators along with motion lights and dazzle objects to prevent air attacks.
Water and feed systems are nearly identical to yours. The one thing I have incorporated that I didn't see in your setup is a WiFi connected temperature and humidity sensor (ecowitt on Amazon has a little kit for $45) so that I can in real time view the temp/ humidity of my coop from my phone or computer anywhere I have connection.
I live in MO so I do have some wilder temperature ranges and weather, my property also backs up to woods so I have issues with raccoons, hawks, opossums, feril cats, foxes etc. Literally everything is trying to eat my ladies.
I put all this info in my comment for the peeps (HA! chicken pun) that live in slightly wilder climates but the principles are all the same I feel. I love your idea of using that pain in the arse feeder for nutrients and I have thought about putting sub-tank on my water line system for adding vitamins to their water to allow easy and fair distribution to all birds.
Incorporating plants into the mix as you have done is truly holistic. I have plenty of Virgina creeper vines that I will now incorporate into my coops (I have ducks chickens and rabbits). Hopefully once all my animals are at near self sufficiency I can reclaim my gardens that they gave wrecked and maybe just maybe they will one day be as beautiful as yours!!! I am looking to do all your basic herbs, veggies and fruits for my region bit also heavily focused on fungi and mycelium and the role they play into nutrient exchange for all the plants involved.
These are just pieces of the puzzle. And we fit them together slowly, one by one. But as in nature, all live in balance. I hope to replicate that circle in my backyard so we all can prosper.
I really truly appreciate you making this video, I've seen a lot of things just didn't really work for my situation or just were not too well thought out, but you sir have seem to stumbled across the same pieces as I and tied them all together in this beautiful picture you shared with the world.
Thanks again for the ideas and affirmation. Best wishes to you and your ecosystems ☮️
wow- heating. Is that really necessary. Our chickens roost up high and that place gets hot. Maximum I put a infrared light (one of those huge bulbs) but i've realized it's really not necessary. I wouldn't mind a web cam though at times. But an automatic door is a must. Those girls like to be out early!!
By "livestock guardians" do you mean dogs or some other type of protective animals? I want to predator proof my chicken/bird house with 1/4-1/2" wire mesh, but it's a strain on my budget. I was hoping Livestock Guardian was some handy device to keep the predators away. Haha! I've tried fake predatory birds, lights, layers of fencing, sparkly hanging things, sitting in the coop, etc, and I live in an urban neighborhood. My rooster does pretty good, though!
I have been blessed and purchased 41 acres. Now, a year later we are settled and I am taking my time on livestock. Chickens are first. I have an old coop that is falling apart. I am planning on taking that one apart and salvaging what I can. I have been looking for videos on "how" to build the coop. I'm not a carpenter. However, I feel I can do this. I am on the path of creating a homestead and look forward to this challenge. Great video! love the fact it is solar powered and you harvest rain water.
Where did you buy 41acres and how much?
2 x 4 are good for cold winter regions, it will allow them to keep their feet warm and not get frost bite.
I was browsing through the internet when I found this gem. Good job man.
Pun intended???
@@WillTrammell21i hope it is
This is my end goal for my chickens right here. Extremely well thought out and efficient. Well done.
Those brows are magnificent. Was hard to focus on vid
Phil Scherle I was gonna say the same thing. He’s got awesome brows!!!
The first thing I noticed....Phil has Tom Selleck tache on his eyes...Good video Phil
the groucho marx of chickens lol
Thanks for saying something. I felt like an asshole wondering what species of caterpillar that was.
Was so preoccupied, I had to watch a second time.
Good vid!
These comments made my morning 😂😂 😂😂.He does have very good info. I did keep expecting a chicken to nail his brow thinking it was a willy worm
Your chickens are so calm. They seem very happy. Your coop is great. They have different areas to go to, not crowded. You should write book for those starting out. You are really knowledgeable and facinated to hear you.
If you ever go back to free ranging with the automatic door, a handy trick is to not get out of bed too early. Hens mostly lay in the morning, so if you let them out closer to lunchtime, they'll have to lay in the boxes and not hide their eggs under a bush or down a culvert somewhere.
Awesome tip Teal! Thank you that's really useful to know for the future, I've wondered about that!
@@NaturesAlwaysRight my birds mostly lay in the AM
I personally do not recommend the free ranging of chickens due to various predators making birds extemnely vulnerable. Chickens obviously cannot fly fast to get away. Where we live we see enough Quayles getting caught by hawks and eagles. At night, racoons are extremely dangerous even in populated areas!
Love it!! Who knew my inablity many mornings to get out there very early would be a good thing!! ;-) Mine are still young enough to have not started laying yet- first time chicken 'mama' but I've also recently noticed that they LIKE their coop and will hang in there even during their chance to 'free range' as I open the run door when I'm out cleaning things up and feeding, etc. for the day. Stay longer than planned as they crack me up and are just too funny! Thanks for giving me one more reason to not feel so guilty when my own body won't cooperate!!
@@MrJellydiamond mine hang in their coop too at 11 weeks old
Egg-cellent idea!! Can you do another with some measurements and joint connection details - especially for 2nd level 2X4 roosts and measures of how high above nests? Plus door placement tips for the easy cleanup? You should make a blueprint book and sell it as a download!!
I've seen other people use painter's trays for the nesting boxes, that way it rolls away from the hen after it's been laid.
I use one metal bar and wired flexible fencing to it and the wall of the coop. This way there is nothing to clean. Change the hay. and anything small falls right through to the dirt hay covered floor. Also our divider walls are flexible. Wired to the top and they can be pushed aside. This makes for easier cleaning as well.
@@gfairbanks1653 Wound you happen to have a picture you could share?
@@gfairbanks1653I need pics.. I'm trying to picture what your saying
I’ve lost two chickens to heat, it gets to be 106 degrees where I’m at so it’s important to give them shade in hot environments ❤️❤️❤️ thank you for brining that up!
This video is by far the BEST video I've ever seen- every second packed full of valuable info...no filler...LOVE IT!
Just like the brows
You did. Not see many than
No filler, all caterpillar ;)
Glad I watched this video. I raised chickens for about three years before circumstances caused me to stop. It’s been three years & I’m Looking forward to raising my “feather therapy” again & using the soldier fly idea to help self sustain as well as a raised coop.
I'm taking mad notes on your chicken system. Especially the automatic food and water systems. The use of rainwater is great. Growing the hens food so you know what they are eating is perfect.
Your eyebrows and eyelashes are amazing. Chickens can do everything.
Thanks for your video. I really like your feed and water system and will be incorporating that into my chicken coop. For the sodlier fly larva system consider this. Take a 55 gallon plastic drum and cut a 2' hole in the center top. Take a 2' diameter piece of black corrugated culvert pipe and drill 1" holes all over the sides. The pipe needs to be tall enough to extend past the top of the barrel to accept a pipe cap . Glue the bottom piece of the pipe to the bottom center of the barrel using mounds of caulk. Place the pipe down through the hole and center on the bottom of the barrel. Let the the caulk dry over night. lace the corrugated cap on top of the pipe. Drill 2" holes in the bottom of the barrel around the outside of the corrugated culvert pipe. Drill one hole in the center of the barrel to drain liquid from the compost. At the top and middle of the barrel, drill 2'" holes all around the barrel...not too close though. This is just to let flies in. Suspend the barrel in the air about two feet. Pop the corrugated cap to put in your food scraps into the pipe and replace the cap. Flies will come into the side of the barrel get to the food in the corrugated pipe and lay their eggs. Larva will move out through the holes in the corrugated pipe and fall to the bottom of the barrel and out the holes in the bottom of the barrel. This will keep the stink down and use more of a gravity delivery system for the larva so you won't have to depend on them crawling in the right direction. Even if they crawl up the side of the inside of the barrel, they will eventually come out one of the holes and fall to the ground.
If you put a shallow pan for water, in the shade, the chickens will stand in it. This is one way they cool themselves when they get too hot. I also stop feeding corn in the Summer as it heats their bodies.
What do u give them in the summer instead of corn???
That’s a good comment from someone who knows hens. Corn should only be fed late afternoon as it heats them up ready for a cold night. I usually fed layers mash during the day and a good handful each of corn at night, and make sure they ate it all. I live in the UK so cold nights not too bad except for winter months. One of the most important things is to clear away all food and water at night when the birds go to bed. Mice run all over their food and water etc and urinate all the time so the food and water gets contaminated. You got to get up early and put out fresh every day. I put cider vinegar in their water or garlic to help with parasites. My birds use to run loose in my garden too and ate slugs, snails ,pecked grass, and weeds. I would dry out the eggs shells in the oven and crush them to feed back to them. And one old hen used to lay really large eggs thre ,four times a year so I would scramble that and feed that tothem. They love cheese too, which is great to call them back to th3 coop at night.
Didnt know about the corn thanks!
@@mariedyde448 couldn't you use hardware mesh to completely cover the coop and keep mice out? I know they can get through chicken wire and such but if you use hardware mesh and when I say use it I mean completely incase the coop in hardware mesh so you leave no place for them to squish through would that not keep them from getting to feed?
@@butterflyforeve When's the last time you priced hardware cloth?
I used to use covered kitty litter boxes for nesting boxes lol
2 x 4’s are also better roosts in cold climates, they can keep their feet flat on the beam and cover their feet with their feathers to help prevent frostbite
The ventilation issue is actually even more important in cold climates in winter as the moisture creates respiratory issues and frostbite/chill due to the damp cold air.
I love all the ideas. Me and my husband spent a lot of money in ours. We got it from tractor supply and as we were new about CHICKENS didn’t knew many mistakes were in the chicken coop. We adore our chickens but once the bad weather goes away we will try to improve but as we already spend so much money at this point is a LOST . This is all GENIUS ideas.
My husband and I were amazed how well your chicken enclosure was designed and all the research you have put into it making easier to give good care for them. Thank you for the videos and yes we are subscribed.
I ordered chickens yesterday, to ship June 3rd! YAY! LOL I’ve always had chickens, until the past few years; I was a caregiver for my parents and that was a difficult, yet rewarding “job.” However, I found that I didn’t have the time to really dedicate to raising and taking care of animals. My dad passed in 2015, and my mom followed this past January. (She was on dialysis so we had a lot on our plates!) Anyway now I actually have too much time on my hands, so I decided to fill that time with chickens and gardening. I really love the raised coop. I’ll be using a small shed that’s already here for them, but in the future I’ll keep your chicken coop in mind! I ordered four breeds: Rhode Island Red, White Leghorn, Whiting True Blue, And Salmon Faverolles. Great video and wonderful ideas! Best - Adam
Get rockwell blacks as well!
I enjoyed your vid. I am getting 6 laying hens in a couple of weeks. my neighbor is moving and is giving them to me. I will need to build a coop and soon. I like your feeding system and other things.
You did a great job of presenting your setup. thumbs up.
Man you know the know! I will be building my coop next week. You answered every thing. Thank you. I recently moved to N. Florida. In process of being more sustainable and loving nature. I live in the Spring Belt of Florida. I own an acre right now and am interested in buying more grow space. Clearing over growth at present time and planning. Inspired!
Thumbs up man! You are a treasure for this Earth.
Wish more people would be so in tune.
Thanks for sharing your ideas. I'll be sure to borrow a few for my backyard farm/garden.
Keep being "you".
Planning on raising chicken next month in my unused garden. And this is exactly what i need. Thanks man!!!
SUBSCRIBED! :-)
I watched this video a few months back and decided to build it also. Have to say could not be happier with the results and the chickens seem to love it too. Did a couple changes simply because I'm in a northern part of the country. Mine is 12 x16 instead of 12x20 which I regret should have added the extra 4 feet. I also added a full roof for shade and we get alot of rain so it's a double win on that. Thanks for the idea.
Gosh, I LOVE how you explained WHY you did everything the way you did it!! I learned SO much from this one video! Thank you and great job!
"Can not overheat" meaning they should not. This is a great idea for a coop, im moat likely going to be referring back to this video when I start to build. New to tending to chickens. Thanks for the great info!
Thanks for sharing some great ideas! Love the gravity feeder & appreciate your insights on a raised coop. People should know: you do need some sort of solid flooring in your coop. Wire (which you mention as an alternative) really isn’t a good option since even fine mesh will cut the birds feet -leading to bumble foot and other problems.
This is an excellent video for someone such as myself who is a bit older and cant bend so much or carry heavy items. I love it.
So happy to find someone with good San Diego-specific chicken advice!! Great video
What a great video! Very informative. My husband wants to get chicks and raise them and although I love chickens and grew up around them in Puerto Rico, I’m a bit hesitant and not convinced. I’m trying to do research before we commit. He’s a bit impulsive lol
Wonderful video on explaining everything. My coop was also "Est. 2016"!! ;-) I don't know if you have ever thought about it but if you put a sheet of linoleum remnant on coop floor it makes cleaning much easier plus saves your wood from rotting from the poop!
Thank you, haha nice! When I was designing my coop I saw people use the linoleum, but I always put out straw on the wood and the poop is just absorbed by that, no rotting at all. But I think that's a great way to do it too. I think I was kind of afraid of any chemicals in it or the birds trying to eat a piece of it, might not be true but I always play it safe and go on the natural side of things.
Vinyl flooring is a great idea (don’t think real linoleum would be an affordable approach)
I think linoleum is natural, made from linseed oil? Hmm. Ah yes, per Google:
"Linoleum is a flooring that is manufactured by oxidizing linseed oil to form a thick mixture called linoleum cement. The cement is cooled and mixed with pine resin, and wood flour to form sheets on a jute backing."
I love what you've done with the coop. I was thinking of what to do with my floor in my coop. I have a plywood floor down, and will probably go with a linseed oil finish. One thing to note, is that plywood is glued with synthetic glues, to the best of my knowledge. The glues off-gas VOCs, mainly formaldehyde, a known toxin. These do decrease to residual amounts over time. Actually, it would have been "chemical-free" if you had used unfinished pine boards such as 1x8 or 1x10.
Thank you for all the informative information of chickens and coops
I’m designing my coop after this video. I’m about to start exploring all the other videos as well. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience!
I have some adopted chickens from Forest above me..(homes above) No stones around, I just feed them corn and chicken scratch..
They digest just fine..no eggs, cause they sleep in da trees..they go in my shed, so thanks for the inspiration about nesting.. Alohaa
Tons, and I mean TONS of great information here. Thanks for posting!
Those brows are legendary bro.... Wow! They mesmerize me and now I have to go back and listen to everything again..... Reporting back again after third run of the video. Still learned nothing about chickens so trying for a fourth time and taking notes. Hopefully I don't draw brows on paper....
absolutely one of the best all around videos on the subject! well done
💯
Love your coop. Going to build one this spring.
You’re a better chicken parent than I. My chickens live in the projects.
I feel mine would be able to call CPS with what we gave them for a home 🤣
Haha, I thought I was OK till I watched this
Good job. I started raising chicks in the 80’s. My coupe is 10’x22’ and adding on another 10x22’ this year. I use the red watering cups because the watering stems Id be afraid that new birds brought in might not catch on quick enough in hot weather. The red cups hold some water and one peck they know water flows!
You have some really great ideas I have not even thought of before. For eg...your idea of having the roost at the same level to avoid having issues with pecking order. Thanks for sharing!
Love the size of your coop. The chickens look free and well composed , happy environment for them. You really treat them like a good dad. Love chickens. I will have a little spot for a couple of chickens when I retire. Thank you for all the good advice and for sharing your experience 🏆🏆🏆
Thanks for the great coop tour! You have some innovative time savers for sure, and they serve to make the hens happy, too. I have been doing "temporary" coops for about 4 years now thinking each year I'll finally get my final production in the best location on the property. You have inspired me to get at it using the concepts you settled on. Thanks again!
I like your explanation about the roost for the way the chickens’ feet grasp it.
I finally found this video after I fell in love with your Coop on the first tour from Epic Gardening. This is definitely the plan that I will be building from when I get my coop put together (if I can convince my neighbours) but am curious on how I will adjust it for my cooler winters up here in Canada - both for the inclusion of lights and preventing freezing of the water lines.
Thank you. My friend has an agreement with the local grocery store to gather old produce. Your video has been helpful. No chickens yet, but planning to.
You're extremely good at explaining the design and purpose of each proponent. You also do well in editing to delve into more detail or make corrections as needed. I love the design, the automation, and the added benefit of passion fruit. Excellet job my man! I subscribed and turned notifications on because you're awesome.
You are so talented. I bought your plans and we start tomorrow . Thank you . Your plans are amazing . So detailed . It’s perfect . Thank you
Hi, where did you buy the plans?
I've been looking at chicken coop plans for awhile, and yours is by far the best! Thank you SO much! Now will you come and build mine for me? LOL
Where did you get copy of the plans?
Also you are a godsend, I'm planning to get chickens next year and this is the best most comprehensive video I've seen in a while about a good example coop! Thank you!
Here's a guy that's raising chickens even better than his eyebrows!
Great info! Starting a flock next month
Thank you for this video. I appreciate how environmentally respectful you are.
Well done! Shining example of commitment to your chickens' health and well being.
I've learned more information from this video than I could have researching myself. You really cover the important things needed when raising chickens. So many great tips and tricks too! Thank you thank you! So very grateful!
Why do chicken coops have two doors?
Because if they had four doors they would be chicken sedans.
LOL!
😆
That's such a stupid joke...which makes it just that more funny 🤣
😂😂😂
...to have better access to the road
For the ideas I got from your video I will return one, I also dislike chemicals in wood. I’m a carpenter and timber framer, I always burn my wood material that comes within an inch of the ground. You can use a weed burner and I mean cook until charcoal black and I use linseed oil with a mix of beeswax to seal the material. In terms of preservation it is top notch. Great for fence posts or anything burying in the ground as well. If you want buy premade, Heritage is great brand and they have great wax. Excellent for end grain to keep moisture out and their oil if reapplied seasonally will extend anything wood for decades and smells drinkable (don’t do it). Thanks for the ideas!
Love the video, I only bought supplements once for my hens. A former roommate left behind a blender that wasn't water tight but worked well enough to put egg shells in and (after they are completely dry) we blend them and give the crushed shells to the chickens for calcium.
Came to get some ideas on growing chickens..and it was very helpful💕Thank you☺️
In colder climates, the 2x4 or 2x3 is helpful to keep the chickens feet from freezing, able to cover the whole foot when they roost. This info was given by someone in Minnesota.
You beat me to it.
Thanks for showing your setup and thoughts.
We've found that laminate flooring laid on the coop flooring makes it even easier to clean out. I really like having stones around the coop and fence as to keep other critters from getting in.
That soldier fly trap was amazing. I woulda never thunk it. Cool set up.
Chickens also need a sand bath so they can keep their fleas down. Other than that you have the bases covered and some new ones. I enjoy seeing a thinking mind at work. Thank You, Tom.
My man, greetings from a foresty ranch near Houston, TX. Just moved back from the DC city life. I got chickens, goats, turkeys, and I brought along my koi and goldfish. I'm an aquaponics guy, but I love your videos. You've got a new subscriber in me.
Also that was a great tip about keeping the roosting bars equal height, made me realize that I'm seeing just that.
You have one of the best thought out coops, that I've seen. Going to use some of your ideas. The grubs give me the willie's. Shudder. It is good for the chickens though. Thank you for your video.
Love your inventiveness. Some great ideas. We have VERY different weather in the UK (we have weather and don't have climate) but I like the way you have cared for your hens by providing so much shade. We both know that chickens can stand the cold but the wet and the heat are stressful for them. Well done, chicken-loving bro'. About the heat- when I kept 1000s of birds professionally, the fans broke down in one of my sheds and I wept buckets carrying out hundreds of dead birds that had 'smothered' in the built-up heat before I could get to them. For a normally hot or warm climate, your provisions are brilliant. Well done, again. I wish all poultrymen cared as much.
Love your 'grit overkill'. Better more than not enough. I always have several grit cups topped up and handy for the birds. As you say, they need them though it may not be obvious to the beginner.
you are also one of the few poultry keepers that has pointed out the need for a droppings board under the perches (roosts) that can be easily cleaned. It protects the bottom litter from poop as keep the coop sweet.
A sweet coop and a good run makes for happy birds.
Best wishes across the pond
Paul in the UK Midlands
Loved this video, very well detailed, very well narrated, plenty of experiences shared, very refreshing video without trying to oversell you on something... Thanks a lot... will try to share updates after trying this in Tanzania East Africa (might have to increase ventilation since Dar es Salaam is very hot)
I love BROWSing all these chicken coop videos... Hopefully my parents will get chickens soon and we can borrow from all this experience! Thnx
You mention the chicken run dimensions, but I’d like to know the chicken coop dimensions, too. Could you share those? I have a flock of 20 and this set up looks much more functional than what they’re in now.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Seeing you reading an actual scientific study about dowel on chicken feet is what sold me on your content. It interesting what you can learn.
Hi there! Looking for your recommendation on building/buying an automatic chicken watering cup system. Saw this video on an efficient coop with the nipple system and you reference a future video on creating the cup method. I’m new to chickens and know this kind of system would be a game changer for efficiency. The systems I’ve seen on Amazon seem cheap and easy to break. Thanks!!! Your videos are awesome!!
Very informative video. Thanks for sharing your ideas and work. These will help me get my flock started. Bravo on the video!
Alot of thought went into this design, going to take alot of the recommendations for my coop!
Nice Brent can't wait to see what you build!
Build your coop yet? Probably not
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and knowledge. Very helpful 👍
This is the best set up I have ever seen. Personally my favorite video out here! Thank you for sharing! You get it!
Thanks so much Tara!
Oh my pleasure! But thank YOU! I sent my fella your video (he works out of state at the moment), as we have been discussing plans for a chicken family of our own ♥️ He loved it as much as I! I’m looking forward to incorporating much of your ways, as I find my own!!! If only the whole world could live this way.....
Caught me off guard. THE BEST chicken video I've EVER seen Thank you sincerely.
WOW, So much information. Thanks so much for everything. I truly hope I can incorporate as many things as possible that you mentioned in this video. Me and my family are so grateful.
Your Landlord let you do that!!!! Thats amazing dude!!
My wife and I have soldier fly worms in our compost, our hens love them as well…..I really loved the way you explained why you do things…this was very informative…..I plan on converting some old dog kennels into runs this fall and building a coop for it…..plan to use some of your ideas with it…
How does one acquire soldier flys?
Ever considered using some biochar to the bedding? I think it should absorb some of the ammonia. Also enhance the compost at the end.
The passion fruit is lovely. Has grown so well!!
Take a look at the Urban Aviary Triggerless water cups. The other style cups apparently have an issue with feed/debris causing trigger to get stuck open causing flooding and emptying water storage. Just a thought. Enjoyed your video 👍
Thank you
Man. I love this video. There is so much information... i am starting a poultry farm in ghana so will use some of the tips for the automation. Thanks for sharing!
Love your ideas, well planned. We are building a large enclosed garden & planning a chicken coop, your channel popped up at the perfect time, we will use your concept, it obviously works, chooks look healthy & happy, Ty for the great info & explaining stuff so all can understand, new sub here
Your Passion fruit vine has me me in massive envy mode. So glad I saw this as I now know what plant I will be using to help shade my hens.
Also your comments on height of box and roost info. Ya blew My mind.
Thank you for this informative video. Please update us on the soldier flies!
Btw,... I use 2 x 4's for roosts also but bevel the top edges so they are more comfortable to wrap their toes around. In regards to the watercups for drinkig they are the absolute best! Those drip things look as though a chicken is supposed to suckle rather than peck. The youtube channel "2 Creative Chicks" has a great video on them. My coop is a stand-up so I can walk in to clean... poop deck w/ sand so I can scoop like kitty litter... ridiculously easy to clean every morning... 2 minutes. My nesting boxes are also sand... the chickens love them. I tried putting straw in one time and the chickens threw all the straw out!! that answered that! again... much easier to clean and eggs are always clean.. In the two and a half years they've been laying, I may have had 3 times where the eggs had anything on them. When they first drop the egg and the bloom is on them I may get a little bit of sand on them but of course it brushes right off. Anyway.. just subscribed... keep teaching!
Very cool sand is an interesting idea, mine kick the straw sometimes too lol. Your coop sounds fantastic and I like the beveling of the 2x4 idea it would be more comfortable for sure!
I wonder if the sand also works for grit intake??
@@GinaKayLandis if fine sand is used, you may need to still provide pieces of larger grit and make sure you’re supplying calcium.
Hi!! Please tell me; I genuinely want to know/learn- why the grain? do chickens need grain? I love all of Steven's stuff and I probably just haven't gotten down the youtube funnel far enough to find the answer. Future vid: "why aren't you raising chickens" and the chickens are running all over the place. Love it. So do they eat grain and roam? We moved to a property with a coup and a few chickens already here! learning as we go! Thank you to Steven and this amazing community. I am so excited about regenerative farming
We are new to farming and are getting ready to set up our first coop. I love your coop design! Do you have dimensions or plans for how you built it? Love your videos! Thanks :)
This coop is the one that inspires me! I juft hace to adjust it to function in boreal climate. Thankyou!