My favorite homestead insulator is a stack of bale rectangles. Throw those across the back of the chicken coops, and plastic sheet the door and front panels, and if a warm snap like last week at 70 degrees comes, simply pull off the top 3 layers on the back side and the chickens get good light. Forecast says 10pm cold front dropping 40 degrees, fine, go back and restack them and the birds are toasty. It is fantastic insulation and totally temporary and responsive for you. For heat it is the same. I am searching for land in the desert, and the first thing I want out there is a truckload of straw bales. They stack ans shade the south exposure when the sun is beatng in 111, and they move to the north, and cut the wind when it reaches -20 wind chills, and the southern exposure soaks up what little sun there is.
My Husband and I really enjoy the two of you. When I watch you two work together I think of the scripture where the Lord tells Adam, “I will make for you a helpmate”......., Sarah you are a wonderful Helpmate. You guys are a wonderful example of a healthy marriage. God Bless, and thank you for bringing us along.
That was EXACTLY my first thought!! Maybe they'll get some plexiglass later on, when there is time to get some. It's not a total loss. They can use the plywood pieces for patterns from which to cut the plexiglass. ✌😃
I concur with the Plexiglas or Lean. Will help heat with the sun and block wind and rain/snow. That coop will be way to cold leaving the door open to the elements.
For your heat lamps. There’s a device called a Thermocube that is thermostat controlled plug in. It turns the lamp on at 35 degrees and off at 45 degrees. They work great! I have them for my heat lamps and tank heaters. Big energy saver! Especially for the tank heaters!
Wow! I had never heard! Thank you! We have to constantly go out and unplug then replug in and hate leaving heat lamps on for long periods of time! Great idea! We are def. checking this out at home depot!!!
Great Idea, I was thinking about my Grandfathers way of adding triangular pieces at the sides and staple the plastic to them and make a breather by leaving the bottom open. That way they have light and fresh air. He had them in wooden sheds but it should still work out for you.
I was planning to do that with my greenhouse shelves this spring. I plan to build mini greenhouses by taking metal shelf units and covering the top and sides with plastic and having a rollup door on the front with velcro, just like you described. Will be cheap since I already have the shelves.
@Lynne Dare right. As long as the feet on ducks don’t get frostbite they are good in cold weather. I keep looking at that big barn in the background wondering why they do not just put the ducks in a big stall.
I'm from Kentucky and our kitchens never had trouble with the cold in freezing weather. We always had to carry milk jugs of hot water to change their frozen water, but we lost no chickens even in zero weather and we just had plain old nailed together scrap wood drafty hen houses.
Nice! 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 You are loved, so very much!!! Someone loved you so much, that He died for you!! Yes, you!!! Jesus, the Son of God, God the Son, came, died, was buried and rose on the 3rd day, all for you!!!!! All you have to do is BELIEVE that He is who He says He is and that He did what He says He did and you will be Saved!! Salvation is a free gift from God!!! The Cross was a Triumph, not a Tragedy!!! God knew that we would sin and that none of us could do anything to save ourselves!!! So, Jesus said to send Him!! His blood was sinless, so it covered our fine!!! YOUR FINE IS PAID IN FULL!!!! RUN TO JESUS, JUST AS YOU ARE!! DON'T WAIT!!! TIME IS ALMOST UP!!! BELIEVE!!!!
In the cold -22 Fahrenheit ,or -30 Celsius in an average Manitoba Canadian winter our chickens survive in these types of shelters , just remember to keep some vent so the moisture they produce and drink does not build to much causing frost bite . Venting is needed in all barn structures like those lattice strip boxes with weather vain set ups on old barns .your American chickens will have a great winter .
From what I've learned from Justin Rhodes, I thought there should always be a small opening at the top of the back also, to allow a bit of cross ventilation. Air wont move in much without a small opening on the top back. For purposes of keeping odor down, etc.
Speaking of odors, take note of 'deep bedding' - lift the major poop off the top for your compost pile and turn what's left then put more bedding on top.
If you have an artist in the family, they could paint whimsical art on the panels! You’d know for sure which piece goes where when bringing them out of storage!
I'm in Indiana and I use 4mm clear plastic. That way the hens get plenty of light, and the six inches above the door stays uncovered. That way they still get plenty of ventilation.
I have bantam chickens that refuse to go into the coop and it’s 19 degrees now at 5am. The low tonight will be 12. They prefer to roost in a pinyon tree and do very well. I’m always amazed at how resilient chickens are.
You could place straw bales around the outside for insulation. You would only need about 2 high and maybe put the coops close together. Love your videos!
Last winter we had sub zero weeks & put straw bales against prevailing wind sides - it worked great and gave them a nice perch for outside when we had snow drifts. :)
If you find it's too dark for the birds to keep laying, you can use the clear plastic sheeting/roofing for light - it's surprising good at keeping it warm (we face the coop to the south so the sun warms it) & we unscrew the panels it when warm weather comes back. We're SE Ohio and really cold west winds and snow drifts so the birds stay in the coop unless I put straw on the ground to lure them out.
I thought you'd just use clear heavy duty plastic or plexiglass so they could still get maximum sunshine especially with the high cost of lumber right now!! I love your positive upbeat attitude about just life in general. Such a nice needed break from all the turmoil going on.
Up here in Massachusetts they do fine with temps below freezing, no heat. We decided not to use heat because of we lose power long enough they won't be acclimated to the cold and will shock them. Love how much you care about them ❤️
My grandad live 100 miles north of me and never had a problem with his pump house freezing. 4' deep well pit outside with a 2 block deep above ground enclosure. The secret is in the sand. Very insulating.
We just closed our coop openings in with greenhouse plastic. We hope to build a hoop coop like yours in spring for our chickens to butcher. Stay warm and be Blessed!
Just love the hoop coops. Their little homes are so cute. They have it made. I love how you take care of your animals. Thanks, again for sharing your life with us all who enjoy your channel so much. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Nice hoop coops! Great protection for your flock over the winter. It has been a great Gardener's Fall! So grateful for the milder weather which allowed us to a little more growing time outdoors. The Fall garden is still giving us produce and the hoop and plastic row coverings helped a great deal... but winter is coming. Love the pigs! They will be happy with some shelter for winter. We have several of those clip on lamps, so handy. Thanks for sharing.
I can still remember having to dig our way out the front door when I was younger and lived in Southern MO. We used pots to scoop the snow and set it on the stove then pour in sink till we got far enough out to see daylight.
Kevin, they make a thing called a thermocube. You plug it into your outlet and then plug in your heat lamp, or whatever and it will come on when the temperature gets down close to freezing and then go off when it gets above a certain degree. Really handy so you don't forget to turn on the lamp
Kevin They have a plug that you plug into that turns turns on automaticaly at a certain temperature. They are not expensive. around $15.00. I used them in my pump house with a little cermic heater. Just place heater in house and set temperatureon heater and the heater will come on when the termperature drops. I believe it is around 34. As long as heater is working you never have to worry about it again. I have had one in my pump house for 15 years and it is still working fine. Also the plug saves on electric. The only thing remember that plug won't work until it drops to the set temperature. I let my 90 year father and mother move into the house . I told him about the plug. I told him if he needed to use that outlet that he had to remove the plug from the outlet.. Winter passed and he needed to plug weedeater in that plug. He threw plug away because he said it didn't work. He forgot it was a thermostate plug and wouldn't work until temperature dropped to 34. This happened two times. The thermostat plug adapter was the best thing I had ever purchased. It is a good investment. Thanks for posting. You and Sarah are amazing. Hope your mother and father are back for the winter. I hope this helps you. Sandy
I agree. I have a hoop house in Wisconsin. I covered with plastic for the entire unit. After a couple of years when the plastic needed replacing, I used plexiglass on the front so the chickens could have light.
@@bjski4557 ditto. Also in Wisconsin. Regularly adding heaps of dry leaves cozies it up considerably. Only néeded extra heat a few of coldest nights when was below 0F. Insul board on ends with some more plastic and lumber, vents. A second smaller shelter inside the plastic-ed hoop coop is idea, they will huddle up for warmth in smaller area if it gets really cold. Be sure to take plastic off in spring or they will bake.
I'm fascinated that those pigs are so gentle. All the pig my uncle had were vicious bitey things. And with the wellhouse wouldn't a heat tape with a thermostat work better for you? Here in michigan my kitchen was build over the old cement porch slab and if it goes below -10°F my pipes froze on us. My daughter got us a heat tape and my wonderful hubster crawled around and under the sink and house and basement and wrapped all the water pipes. Now on cold nights I just have to peek in and see if the light blinked on to show its working. We haven't had a frozen pipe in 10 years. And as long as that was I bet winding it around the tank and pipes in there would work just fine. No worries on "did I remember to turn the heat lamp on? " Before the tape I put a small bedside lamp in the sink cupboard to help. But it didn't always do the trick.
I noticed so many commenting on how your egg production will go down due to the dark coop. I think they forgot that you said they will be out roaming unless it is a nasty day. My parents had a huge chicken coop. Way to big and way to cold. We live not to far from where you lived in Wis. Had to collect eggs more than a couple of times a day and the chickens combs would partially get frost bite but they survived. Winters were much colder back in those days. . Before you were born. Have a wonderful day. I really look forward to your videos.
Everybody's toasty warm now! I loved watching you guys tuck in your animals for the winter cold. I commend you for the great care you provide for them. Great seeing your smiles today. Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. God bless. 🙏🏻💗😊🌻
Greetings from the south of Chile. We are a family that has decided to live in the countryside on a small farm where we start with hydroponics and chickens; Your chicken tractor videos have inspired us. Thank you very much for sharing your experience with all of us. Best regards from my wife and children
Just a “Red Neck” idea... drape a garden hose over the coop against the plywood before tracing and that should give oversized edge. This might come in handy if you need to add insulation later on for temperature control. Obviously, remove the garden hose. It’s only to give you an 5/8” width or whatever size garden hose you use. Great video!!
I LOVE that the pigs looove being scratched and petted. They seem to enjoy being talked to. Don't forget to update us on Hope and the babies! You have treated your animals so sweet and they in turn seem so sweet.
My oh my what an excellent example of the vocation of marriage! How nice to see team work at its best! Thanks for bringing us along!! Home made hot chocolate must be great in front the fire! Happy cuddling!
You guys win first place at the best camera picture. The picture is really clear and the color is just wonderful. What can be done to keep the cows warm ? I’ve never seen pigs so calm and sweet. It’s 44 here in S.Florida this morning, I have my heat on and I am sure others do to. There’s no laying on the beach today. God bless,stay warm.
When things are sower... roll with it. Ya'll be happy. Bad days make the good one's worth it. Good video. Learned for our next season. Second thought (edit): my folks were born/grew up in the Ozarks, just North of Springfield. Lost Dad in 2019, but I recall him saying (and mom verified)... they experienced a foot+ of snow in winter when they were kids (I actually remember playing at the grands in the mid 70s in a half foot or more). Point being... be prepared for MUCH more harsher MO winters. Ya'll be happy... Be thankful for family and each other. Such great videos!
I so enjoy your videos and look to see if there is a new one posted everyday. Your personalities and zest for life draw people. At age 71 I can only be a want a be homesteader but love canning gardening , and quilting. Blessings to your family. You are encouraging and just fun!
I have always just used a 100 watt bulb in my well house and never froze up . We are in sw mo. But I leave in on all the time in winter. And I put the bulb down near the pipes.
Sarah, I was thinking about when I was younger (30s), I would bundle up and work outside, it was invigorating. Thinking to do that again 30 yrs later to get the energy flowing!
Good you have " buttoned up" for winter ❄❄❄ With two farms the work has gone smoothly. A real blessing! We got a dusting of snow in New Hampshire last night and more may be on the way on Saturday. We are ready! All our cattle & calves for sale have found new homes. We decreased our winter herd to 30 to make life a little easier. Fire wood is stored in dry buildings. Despite the severe drought, we managed to cut just enough extra hay for our customers, even though we were 1,500 bales short! Our farming neighbors all support one another with whatever extra harvest they realized. Wishing you and your family a safe and Happy Holiday Season. ~ Diane
I use the (Easy Heat) thermostatically controlled plug. They work great saves on power, time and bulbs last longer. I even plug my tractor heater into one.
As I have watched over the years guys....you have ALWAYS put these animals care and concern first and foremost....THANK YOU....YOU GUYS DO IT THE RIGHT WAY... You make sure they live their best lifes....Sarah..still waiting for a final canning jar total? Would soooo love to know....
I look forward to every up and coming video. It is so interesting following you folks around on your homestead, and accomplishing every needful thing for your animals. They are taken care of.
I use the heat lamps for my battery bank and have them plugged into a thermo cube so they turn on at 35 degrees and off at 45. I love those thermo cubes.
We found the plastic you use on windows for the winter works great. It keeps snow out , keeps it warm enough, and , yet, still enough to allow air flow for the chickens. One could use velcro or staples and we just take it off, and roll it up when the snow is done in our area. Of course the wood on the back is great, but you do want to make sure there is plenty of airflow so the humidity doesn't go up. Maybe it won't be an issue for you guys since your weather is far different then where we live up north here. One could also use the plastic used for greenhouses too. I do have a question though. Do you guys use hay or straw for the bedding?
Those pigs are so gentle and noisy. The one with the hay put her touch on it. They will comfortable in the cold. Taking care of your animals is the homestead way. It has been cold here in Alabama. The last 2 nights have been in the 20s and we had snow flurries lightly. Stay warm, enjoy the fire and have a safe and blessed Christmas.
years ago I built a hoop coop for my chickens I used 3 cattle pannels and put it on 2 ft walls. my coop is 10 ft wide and just over 12 ft long I use left over greenhouse plastic on my door and window during the winter .something you might want to consider .my coop is 3 year old made of mainly scrap shipping creates toped with silage tarp i got from a grain elevator 10 years ago. the coop is still holding up well
Love the way you both care for your animals! It was so cute to see the chickens check out what you were doing to their coop! The pigs are adorable! So sweet watching them help and get lovin's!
@Wolf Andrew I guess it’s like many other states but MUCH cheaper to live here. For an extremely nice home with around 100 acres will cost 1/10 of what it would cost in many other states. Our main source of income is the coal mines. It’s also considered one of the poorest areas in the country. It’s not uncommon for someone to not have running water in their homes. I just bought a 3 Br 3 bath + fireplace that had never had a fire in it & 5 other rooms with a wraparound 12 ft deck on 1.6 acres and the closest neighbor is 1/4 mile away. The man that originally bought this home had $250,000 insurance on it not including the contents. If I told you what I paid for it, you’d probably pass out!
Kevin, we use a “Thermo Cube” switch that turns our heat lamp on when the temperature drops below 40. About $15 at Tractor Supply and less at a few other places. Been using this for years without any problem Enjoy our “visits” with you all!
A 100 watt bulb has always worked for me, I'm glad you didn't make the mistake I've seen a lot of people do. Putting the bulb too close to the pipes, which can actually melt them, and cause a world of problems. Another thing you might want to check if you have not already is electrical boxes and pressure switch. They need to be sealed up good, bugs like to get in there for the warmth and can damage your contacts. Especially on your pressure switch.
Thermostatic plugs come in different temperature ranges, I use two different ranges in a well house or chicken house so if one burns out a second lamp will come on.
first-time poster long-term lurker here. just something to pay attention to and maybe research but I have seen and heard of cheaper heat lights backing out and starting fires after a year or 2 of use. the fix is to switch the bulb over to a ceramic or higher-end lamp. you can find them at reptile shops. they don't give off light but last way longer. anyway . have a good one. and God bless
My dad built a well house out of concrete blocks on a concrete pad. He used steel rebar for strength and of course cemented everything. The way he did it, it doesn't need any heat. It's built big enough to store canning in it too. Mom never had any issues with jars getting too cold or too hot in the summer. Oh, we are in the Ozarks, not far from the Buffalo river.
We found that you can buy a little temperature box from hardware stores. You plug it into your electrical socket, then plug you lamp light cord into that. It kicks on when the temp gets down to about 36 degrees and then shuts off when it reaches a certain temp. Saves a ton in electricity. Also we found that a 100 watt bulb works just as good and cost less to run.
There's nothing like natural living like God planned for us to live. You guys make it look so easy, and doing it together with passion for your home and the animals everyone is set for the winter. Stay safe and cozy and always prepare what's to come with love and wisdom! I have enjoyed watching and learning everything you guys do on the Homestead. God Bless
If it gets really nasty, you could make flaps for the doors that you can roll up or down as needed if a storm or high winds come through....great work! ❤❤
Here in VT we keep them open in the winter, Birds build up down feathers to stay warm and do great. No reason to close them in as long as they have protection from the wind. Even my friend in Alaska that raises chickens keeps an open air coop with some wind protection. They adapt really well as the weather changes.
Exactly. Chickens are open air creatures and they are hyper sensitive to air quality. I'm in New England as well and I keep an open front on all my coops.
@@John_Malloy Its much much healthier for them. Closing them up like this is just asking for respiratory illness and other issues. Just like adding heat to a coop, not recommended at all for standard chickens. 1 power outage and you lose your entire flock as they are not acclimated to the cold.
Exactly! I lived in Wisconsin most my life and I never closed up my chickens. And NO heat lamps...you lose power your birds will die! My chickens and ducks were outside all winter with shelters for night. Exception...muskovy...they have to be kept off the snow and ice or their feet will freeze. Just had to make sure they had lots of straw bedding in their pens. I now live in southern Missouri as well and I am doing nothing different from what I did in northern Wisconsin.
@@John_Malloy We raise chickens here in TN, and have two chicken coops that they roost in at night, and they are basically totally enclosed overnight until someone lets them out in the morning. We don't seem to get sick chickens. Their coops have more air flow than our coops, so there should be no problem with air quality. It may not be necessary though, and I wonder about reduced light causing the chickens to not lay eggs.
@@FLPhotoCatcher Chickens seem to get by no matter what you do with them but they are not rabbits so it makes sense to me that they should not be housed like rabbits. I think if you built an open air coop to compare with your other coop you might see a difference. There has always been some controversy over this because it seems counter intuitive especially in extreme weather. I would refer you to a book called "Fresh-Air Poultry Houses." It was published in 1924 and is sold now as a reprint. It has some nice examples of open air coop designs and some discussion of chicken biology. Many of the large scale chicken breeders from that time believed these designs worked best.
Good stuff! Up here where it gets minus 40 and colder, I drain the hoses by walking slowly along the length of the hose keeping the hose at shoulder height. After, I blow on the end of them to ensure the water is out. This keeps them clear so that I can use them all winter long. Alternatively drain them and then coil them up and put in well house - just hook them up and turn the water on when you need them. The moving water will not freeze while you are watering. It is much better than bucketing water in the winter! Take care.
Back in the 1960's while I was taking college physics I thought of a way to keep pipes warm. Simply run an extra 1" pipe down the well down to water or 60'. When a well is drill put the pipe outside the casing. could use S40 pvc pipe. In the well house run along pipes that might freeze. seal the pipe with R22. The pipe will stay at a temp of the well 58 degrees without needing power.
The two of you work so well together. I love vicariously thru the two of you. I love in a city in Calif and I have a small garden. So I love watching you work to provide for your family.
What about the rabbits and Hope, Henry and Hudson? Have been on withdraw from Living Trad. Homestead so I went back to the beginning and watched 732 videos that I missed
Hope and the calves have the lean-to side of the barn. The beef cattle will go into the woods. The bunnies were on another side of the barn in an enclosed or partially enclosed area. They are all good and designed to survive in the cold. They will all have a winter coat growing to help.
Thermo cubes come in three different features. On at o degrees, off at 10 degrees-on at 20degrees, off at 30degrees, and on at 35degrees and off at 45 degrees. They really work! Use them in chicken coop with radiant heat panels for my chickens -Safer than heat lamps.
We have the same heat lamp in our pump house but we use a Thermocube so that I do not have to turn lamp on and off. When the temp in the pump house is below 32 degrees it opens and let's the lamp go on. Try it, you will love it.
We leave the top open for the air flow. Chickens give off heat and moisture and it travels up into the air so the chickens are always dry. It's the moisture that hurts them. Check your coops and make sure it isn't dripping inside since you covered most of the air flow. We have dealt with minus 20 here at times, the chickens did great with no frostbite. Love watching your videos.
You should measure the outside temperature, and the early morning temperature just to see how much heat the lamp generates. I have land in Heber/Overgard. I put an electric space heater with a thermostat. Works great. I set it to maintain 40' F. Never had an issue.
Love watching you 2 working together! Haven’t found that other half, but brings back great memories of endless enjoyable times and projects with my Dad growing up.
My favorite homestead insulator is a stack of bale rectangles. Throw those across the back of the chicken coops, and plastic sheet the door and front panels, and if a warm snap like last week at 70 degrees comes, simply pull off the top 3 layers on the back side and the chickens get good light. Forecast says 10pm cold front dropping 40 degrees, fine, go back and restack them and the birds are toasty. It is fantastic insulation and totally temporary and responsive for you.
For heat it is the same. I am searching for land in the desert, and the first thing I want out there is a truckload of straw bales. They stack ans shade the south exposure when the sun is beatng in 111, and they move to the north, and cut the wind when it reaches -20 wind chills, and the southern exposure soaks up what little sun there is.
Loved the “She’s busy decorating.” Gave me a chuckle. 😂
Too funny.
Great video enjoyed watching....thank you!
It cracked me up. And then Charlie started eating the decorations. ... Men 🤣
😂😂
hahahaha..ME TOO! Laughed out loud at that one!
My Husband and I really enjoy the two of you. When I watch you two work together I think of the scripture where the Lord tells Adam, “I will make for you a helpmate”......., Sarah you are a wonderful Helpmate. You guys are a wonderful example of a healthy marriage. God Bless, and thank you for bringing us along.
We use plexiglass here in NH around the sections that are open on our coop house. This allows light in.
That was EXACTLY my first thought!! Maybe they'll get some plexiglass later on, when there is time to get some. It's not a total loss. They can use the plywood pieces for patterns from which to cut the plexiglass. ✌😃
I think plexiglass is a great idea! This is pur 2nd winter using it on our coop!
Always did this for my bunnies. So when the sun was shining ther would be some extra warmth
Excellent idea!!
I concur with the Plexiglas or Lean. Will help heat with the sun and block wind and rain/snow. That coop will be way to cold leaving the door open to the elements.
For your heat lamps. There’s a device called a Thermocube that is thermostat controlled plug in. It turns the lamp on at 35 degrees and off at 45 degrees. They work great! I have them for my heat lamps and tank heaters. Big energy saver! Especially for the tank heaters!
Wow! I had never heard! Thank you! We have to constantly go out and unplug then replug in and hate leaving heat lamps on for long periods of time! Great idea! We are def. checking this out at home depot!!!
Oops did not see your comment. I use those also. Best $10 spent.
@@gingerreid8569 Yes, they are a game changer! If you don’t find them at Home Depot they have them on Amazon.
Thank you for the tip! I am going to get one of these.
Place a piece of plastic with Velcro on the doors and roll them up during the day.
Great Idea, I was thinking about my Grandfathers way of adding triangular pieces at the sides and staple the plastic to them and make a breather by leaving the bottom open. That way they have light and fresh air. He had them in wooden sheds but it should still work out for you.
I was planning to do that with my greenhouse shelves this spring. I plan to build mini greenhouses by taking metal shelf units and covering the top and sides with plastic and having a rollup door on the front with velcro, just like you described. Will be cheap since I already have the shelves.
You can also add heat lamps with the big red bulbs. Witt the plastic covering
@Lynne Dare right. As long as the feet on ducks don’t get frostbite they are good in cold weather.
I keep looking at that big barn in the background wondering why they do not just put the ducks in a big stall.
Especially the sticky back stuff and the right type pf plastic!
I'm from Kentucky and our kitchens never had trouble with the cold in freezing weather. We always had to carry milk jugs of hot water to change their frozen water, but we lost no chickens even in zero weather and we just had plain old nailed together scrap wood drafty hen houses.
Nice!
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
You are loved, so very much!!! Someone loved you so much, that He died for you!! Yes, you!!! Jesus, the Son of God, God the Son, came, died, was buried and rose on the 3rd day, all for you!!!!! All you have to do is BELIEVE that He is who He says He is and that He did what He says He did and you will be Saved!! Salvation is a free gift from God!!! The Cross was a Triumph, not a Tragedy!!! God knew that we would sin and that none of us could do anything to save ourselves!!! So, Jesus said to send Him!! His blood was sinless, so it covered our fine!!! YOUR FINE IS PAID IN FULL!!!! RUN TO JESUS, JUST AS YOU ARE!! DON'T WAIT!!! TIME IS ALMOST UP!!! BELIEVE!!!!
In the cold -22 Fahrenheit ,or -30 Celsius in an average Manitoba Canadian winter our chickens survive in these types of shelters , just remember to keep some vent so the moisture they produce and drink does not build to much causing frost bite . Venting is needed in all barn structures like those lattice strip boxes with weather vain set ups on old barns .your American chickens will have a great winter .
I love that you take such good care of your animals and worry about their comfort.
They really do. I enjoy watching their videos.
From what I've learned from Justin Rhodes, I thought there should always be a small opening at the top of the back also, to allow a bit of cross ventilation. Air wont move in much without a small opening on the top back. For purposes of keeping odor down, etc.
Speaking of odors, take note of 'deep bedding' - lift the major poop off the top for your compost pile and turn what's left then put more bedding on top.
If you have an artist in the family, they could paint whimsical art on the panels! You’d know for sure which piece goes where when bringing them out of storage!
I love that idea! Going to try to remember that for ours. ❤️❤️❤️
Barn quilt patterns?
@@sfcpower That would be great!
Very clever idea. 👍
My kids did that with the hurricane plywood for our windows🥰
I'm in Indiana and I use 4mm clear plastic. That way the hens get plenty of light, and the six inches above the door stays uncovered. That way they still get plenty of ventilation.
you can get a automatic heat sensing switch for around 20 bucks from amazon to turn that heat lamp off and on
I was thinking a thermostat relay to turn on and off as well.
I have bantam chickens that refuse to go into the coop and it’s 19 degrees now at 5am. The low tonight will be 12. They prefer to roost in a pinyon tree and do very well. I’m always amazed at how resilient chickens are.
You could place straw bales around the outside for insulation. You would only need about 2 high and maybe put the coops close together. Love your videos!
Last winter we had sub zero weeks & put straw bales against prevailing wind sides - it worked great and gave them a nice perch for outside when we had snow drifts. :)
If you find it's too dark for the birds to keep laying, you can use the clear plastic sheeting/roofing for light - it's surprising good at keeping it warm (we face the coop to the south so the sun warms it) & we unscrew the panels it when warm weather comes back. We're SE Ohio and really cold west winds and snow drifts so the birds stay in the coop unless I put straw on the ground to lure them out.
I thought you'd just use clear heavy duty plastic or plexiglass so they could still get maximum sunshine especially with the high cost of lumber right now!!
I love your positive upbeat attitude about just life in general. Such a nice needed break from all the turmoil going on.
Right - I would not want to live in a dark cave.
Up here in Massachusetts they do fine with temps below freezing, no heat. We decided not to use heat because of we lose power long enough they won't be acclimated to the cold and will shock them. Love how much you care about them ❤️
KEVIN, a thermostat Relay switch would be great in your pump house, then you won't have to babysit it.
My grandad live 100 miles north of me and never had a problem with his pump house freezing. 4' deep well pit outside with a 2 block deep above ground enclosure. The secret is in the sand. Very insulating.
I love how compassionate you are with all your animals. We were raised with the same values
Be prepared for a cold winter though. Keep warm and keep those beautiful animals comfy. Love your channel and Merry Christmas
We just closed our coop openings in with greenhouse plastic. We hope to build a hoop coop like yours in spring for our chickens to butcher. Stay warm and be Blessed!
Just love the hoop coops. Their little homes are so cute. They have it made. I love how you take care of your animals. Thanks, again for sharing your life with us all who enjoy your channel so much. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Nice hoop coops! Great protection for your flock over the winter. It has been a great Gardener's Fall! So grateful for the milder weather which allowed us to a little more growing time outdoors. The Fall garden is still giving us produce and the hoop and plastic row coverings helped a great deal... but winter is coming. Love the pigs! They will be happy with some shelter for winter. We have several of those clip on lamps, so handy. Thanks for sharing.
I wrapped mine in tarps, I need to rebuild the one I have is three years old and needs updating lol, this came along just in time
I can still remember having to dig our way out the front door when I was younger and lived in Southern MO. We used pots to scoop the snow and set it on the stove then pour in sink till we got far enough out to see daylight.
I love how you make everything neat. It's very satisfying!
Love it that you guys keep it real. All projects and teaching that are doable and practical. Thank you
you guys shoulda used a thick mil poly like your greenhouse to cover those ends. Still get lots of light!
Kevin, they make a thing called a thermocube. You plug it into your outlet and then plug in your heat lamp, or whatever and it will come on when the temperature gets down close to freezing and then go off when it gets above a certain degree. Really handy so you don't forget to turn on the lamp
Everyone nice and snug for the winter. Your breeder pigs are so pretty. The chickens will enjoy their new digs too. Y'all have a Blessed day.
Kevin They have a plug that you plug into that turns turns on automaticaly at a certain temperature. They are not expensive. around $15.00. I used them in my pump house with a little cermic heater. Just place heater in house and set temperatureon heater and the heater will come on when the termperature drops. I believe it is around 34. As long as heater is working you never have to worry about it again. I have had one in my pump house for 15 years and it is still working fine. Also the plug saves on electric. The only thing remember that plug won't work until it drops to the set temperature. I let my 90 year father and mother move into the house . I told him about the plug. I told him if he needed to use that outlet that he had to remove the plug from the outlet.. Winter passed and he needed to plug weedeater in that plug. He threw plug away because he said it didn't work. He forgot it was a thermostate plug and wouldn't work until temperature dropped to 34. This happened two times. The thermostat plug adapter was the best thing I had ever purchased. It is a good investment. Thanks for posting. You and Sarah are amazing. Hope your mother and father are back for the winter. I hope this helps you. Sandy
Saw someone else mention - thermo cube...we are def. buying at home depot!
Would think clear plastic would keep the wind out and provide light for them. A thick sturdy type should last all winter.
Heavy clear plastic sold by the yard with different thickness is only about $3.00 a yard at various stores. You are right - good comment!
I agree. I have a hoop house in Wisconsin. I covered with plastic for the entire unit. After a couple of years when the plastic needed replacing, I used plexiglass on the front so the chickens could have light.
Very expensive solution.
@@bjski4557 ditto. Also in Wisconsin. Regularly adding heaps of dry leaves cozies it up considerably. Only néeded extra heat a few of coldest nights when was below 0F. Insul board on ends with some more plastic and lumber, vents.
A second smaller shelter inside the plastic-ed hoop coop is idea, they will huddle up for warmth in smaller area if it gets really cold.
Be sure to take plastic off in spring or they will bake.
We use 4 or 5 ml thick clear plastic sheeting from the hardware store. Just staple it on. Cheap, fast and easy and it lets in plenty of light.
I'm fascinated that those pigs are so gentle. All the pig my uncle had were vicious bitey things.
And with the wellhouse wouldn't a heat tape with a thermostat work better for you?
Here in michigan my kitchen was build over the old cement porch slab and if it goes below -10°F my pipes froze on us. My daughter got us a heat tape and my wonderful hubster crawled around and under the sink and house and basement and wrapped all the water pipes. Now on cold nights I just have to peek in and see if the light blinked on to show its working. We haven't had a frozen pipe in 10 years. And as long as that was I bet winding it around the tank and pipes in there would work just fine. No worries on "did I remember to turn the heat lamp on? "
Before the tape I put a small bedside lamp in the sink cupboard to help. But it didn't always do the trick.
I noticed so many commenting on how your egg production will go down due to the dark coop. I think they forgot that you said they will be out roaming unless it is a nasty day. My parents had a huge chicken coop. Way to big and way to cold. We live not to far from where you lived in Wis. Had to collect eggs more than a couple of times a day and the chickens combs would partially get frost bite but they survived. Winters were much colder back in those days. . Before you were born. Have a wonderful day. I really look forward to your videos.
Everybody's toasty warm now! I loved watching you guys tuck in your animals for the winter cold. I commend you for the great care you provide for them. Great seeing your smiles today. Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. God bless. 🙏🏻💗😊🌻
Greetings from the south of Chile. We are a family that has decided to live in the countryside on a small farm where we start with hydroponics and chickens; Your chicken tractor videos have inspired us. Thank you very much for sharing your experience with all of us. Best regards from my wife and children
Just a “Red Neck” idea... drape a garden hose over the coop against the plywood before tracing and that should give oversized edge. This might come in handy if you need to add insulation later on for temperature control. Obviously, remove the garden hose. It’s only to give you an 5/8” width or whatever size garden hose you use. Great video!!
I LOVE that the pigs looove being scratched and petted. They seem to enjoy being talked to. Don't forget to update us on Hope and the babies! You have treated your animals so sweet and they in turn seem so sweet.
My oh my what an excellent example of the vocation of marriage! How nice to see team work at its best! Thanks for bringing us along!! Home made hot chocolate must be great in front the fire! Happy cuddling!
You guys win first place at the best camera picture. The picture is really clear and the color is just wonderful. What can be done to keep the cows warm ? I’ve never seen pigs so calm and sweet. It’s 44 here in S.Florida this morning, I have my heat on and I am sure others do to. There’s no laying on the beach today. God bless,stay warm.
When things are sower... roll with it. Ya'll be happy. Bad days make the good one's worth it.
Good video. Learned for our next season.
Second thought (edit): my folks were born/grew up in the Ozarks, just North of Springfield.
Lost Dad in 2019, but I recall him saying (and mom verified)... they experienced a foot+ of snow in winter when they were kids (I actually remember playing at the grands in the mid 70s in a half foot or more). Point being... be prepared for MUCH more harsher MO winters. Ya'll be happy... Be thankful for family and each other. Such great videos!
I so enjoy your videos and look to see if there is a new one posted everyday. Your personalities and zest for life draw people. At age 71 I can only be a want a be homesteader but love canning gardening , and quilting. Blessings to your family. You are encouraging and just fun!
I have always just used a 100 watt bulb in my well house and never froze up . We are in sw mo. But I leave in on all the time in winter. And I put the bulb down near the pipes.
She can't wait to get busy makng it her own, myrtle..You guys take such good care of your animal..!
I love to see Sarah being so comfortable with the pigs. Those Idaho Pasture Pigs sure made the difference for you guys.
Sarah, I was thinking about when I was younger (30s), I would bundle up and work outside, it was invigorating. Thinking to do that again 30 yrs later to get the energy flowing!
Wow, so glad your back! Feels like videoing with family and this has been the LONGEST week 😜 nice to see your smiling faces again!
Once again, loved spending time with distant friends! God keep you safe and healthy!
Good you have " buttoned up" for winter ❄❄❄ With two farms the work has gone smoothly. A real blessing!
We got a dusting of snow in New Hampshire last night and more may be on the way on Saturday. We are ready!
All our cattle & calves for sale have found new homes. We decreased our winter herd to 30 to make life a little easier. Fire wood is stored in dry buildings. Despite the severe drought, we managed to cut just enough extra hay for our customers, even though we were 1,500 bales short! Our farming neighbors all support one another with whatever extra harvest they realized. Wishing you and your family a safe and Happy Holiday Season. ~ Diane
Love how you show respect and love for your pigs. Decorating her house... you made me laugh!!!!! All cozy for the wintertime!!!!
Nice to hear someone anticipating the colder weather and the goodness it brings.
You all have the most BEAUTIFUL Farm
I use the (Easy Heat) thermostatically controlled plug. They work great saves on power, time and bulbs last longer. I even plug my tractor heater into one.
Your wife is a trooper. She is there at your side through thick and thin. You are a lucky man.
As I have watched over the years guys....you have ALWAYS put these animals care and concern first and foremost....THANK YOU....YOU GUYS DO IT THE RIGHT WAY... You make sure they live their best lifes....Sarah..still waiting for a final canning jar total? Would soooo love to know....
I love the chemistry and partnership between you two. That's what marriage is all about.
I look forward to every up and coming video. It is so interesting following you folks around on your homestead, and accomplishing every needful thing for your animals. They are taken care of.
I use the heat lamps for my battery bank and have them plugged into a thermo cube so they turn on at 35 degrees and off at 45. I love those thermo cubes.
Use a thermo cube for your heat lamp in the well house. Allows power at 35 degrees and turns off power at 45 degrees.
You’re both so great to your animals/pets!!!! There’s so lucky to have you!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️
Oh my goodness that was hilarious when the pig brought over the hay..... “ She’s busy decorating “ 😂🤣
We found the plastic you use on windows for the winter works great. It keeps snow out , keeps it warm enough, and , yet, still enough to allow air flow for the chickens. One could use velcro or staples and we just take it off, and roll it up when the snow is done in our area. Of course the wood on the back is great, but you do want to make sure there is plenty of airflow so the humidity doesn't go up. Maybe it won't be an issue for you guys since your weather is far different then where we live up north here. One could also use the plastic used for greenhouses too.
I do have a question though. Do you guys use hay or straw for the bedding?
Those pigs are so gentle and noisy. The one with the hay put her touch on it. They will comfortable in the cold. Taking care of your animals is the homestead way. It has been cold here in Alabama. The last 2 nights have been in the 20s and we had snow flurries lightly. Stay warm, enjoy the fire and have a safe and blessed Christmas.
love how you care and do everything together
years ago I built a hoop coop for my chickens I used 3 cattle pannels and put it on 2 ft walls. my coop is 10 ft wide and just over 12 ft long I use left over greenhouse plastic on my door and window during the winter .something you might want to consider .my coop is 3 year old made of mainly scrap shipping creates toped with silage tarp i got from a grain elevator 10 years ago. the coop is still holding up well
Love the way you both care for your animals! It was so cute to see the chickens check out what you were doing to their coop! The pigs are adorable! So sweet watching them help and get lovin's!
You two make an amazing team! Together y’all can defeat the world!!❤️ Much love from the coal camps of eastern Kentucky!
@Wolf Andrew I guess it’s like many other states but MUCH cheaper to live here. For an extremely nice home with around 100 acres will cost 1/10 of what it would cost in many other states. Our main source of income is the coal mines. It’s also considered one of the poorest areas in the country. It’s not uncommon for someone to not have running water in their homes. I just bought a 3 Br 3 bath + fireplace that had never had a fire in it & 5 other rooms with a wraparound 12 ft deck on 1.6 acres and the closest neighbor is 1/4 mile away. The man that originally bought this home had $250,000 insurance on it not including the contents. If I told you what I paid for it, you’d probably pass out!
@@tinahoward5931 Wondering cheaper or more than $250,000???
Kevin, we use a “Thermo Cube” switch that turns our heat lamp on when the temperature drops below 40. About $15 at Tractor Supply and less at a few other places. Been using this for years without any problem
Enjoy our “visits” with you all!
A 100 watt bulb has always worked for me, I'm glad you didn't make the mistake I've seen a lot of people do. Putting the bulb too close to the pipes, which can actually melt them, and cause a world of problems. Another thing you might want to check if you have not already is electrical boxes and pressure switch. They need to be sealed up good, bugs like to get in there for the warmth and can damage your contacts. Especially on your pressure switch.
Thermostatic plugs come in different temperature ranges, I use two different ranges in a well house or chicken house so if one burns out a second lamp will come on.
It is always a great feeling to know all the animals are safe, warm, and healthy :)
Still my favorite couple.
first-time poster long-term lurker here. just something to pay attention to and maybe research but I have seen and heard of cheaper heat lights backing out and starting fires after a year or 2 of use. the fix is to switch the bulb over to a ceramic or higher-end lamp. you can find them at reptile shops. they don't give off light but last way longer.
anyway . have a good one. and God bless
I like your pretty red barn in the background
My dad built a well house out of concrete blocks on a concrete pad. He used steel rebar for strength and of course cemented everything. The way he did it, it doesn't need any heat. It's built big enough to store canning in it too. Mom never had any issues with jars getting too cold or too hot in the summer. Oh, we are in the Ozarks, not far from the Buffalo river.
Sipping tea, watching y'all, and enjoying the 1ft of snow outside...for now. After Christmas the snow can go.
We found that you can buy a little temperature box from hardware stores. You plug it into your electrical socket, then plug you lamp light cord into that. It kicks on when the temp gets down to about 36 degrees and then shuts off when it reaches a certain temp. Saves a ton in electricity. Also we found that a 100 watt bulb works just as good and cost less to run.
There's nothing like natural living like God planned for us to live. You guys make it look so easy, and doing it together with passion for your home and the animals everyone is set for the winter. Stay safe and cozy and always prepare what's to come with love and wisdom! I have enjoyed watching and learning everything you guys do on the Homestead. God Bless
You guys are a breath of fresh air... You complement each other so well... God bless you and your family...
I put cinder blocks all around the base of my hoop coops to keep predators from digging under the coop.Coops look great.!
If it gets really nasty, you could make flaps for the doors that you can roll up or down as needed if a storm or high winds come through....great work! ❤❤
I love when you guys talk to the animals.
Facing your hoop coops with the door to the south will help also ... our winds here in the Ozarks come down from the North and NW
I bet the girls would love painting the hoop coops! Have fun being creative! God Bless!
Here in VT we keep them open in the winter, Birds build up down feathers to stay warm and do great. No reason to close them in as long as they have protection from the wind. Even my friend in Alaska that raises chickens keeps an open air coop with some wind protection. They adapt really well as the weather changes.
Exactly. Chickens are open air creatures and they are hyper sensitive to air quality. I'm in New England as well and I keep an open front on all my coops.
@@John_Malloy Its much much healthier for them. Closing them up like this is just asking for respiratory illness and other issues. Just like adding heat to a coop, not recommended at all for standard chickens. 1 power outage and you lose your entire flock as they are not acclimated to the cold.
Exactly! I lived in Wisconsin most my life and I never closed up my chickens. And NO heat lamps...you lose power your birds will die! My chickens and ducks were outside all winter with shelters for night. Exception...muskovy...they have to be kept off the snow and ice or their feet will freeze. Just had to make sure they had lots of straw bedding in their pens. I now live in southern Missouri as well and I am doing nothing different from what I did in northern Wisconsin.
@@John_Malloy We raise chickens here in TN, and have two chicken coops that they roost in at night, and they are basically totally enclosed overnight until someone lets them out in the morning. We don't seem to get sick chickens. Their coops have more air flow than our coops, so there should be no problem with air quality. It may not be necessary though, and I wonder about reduced light causing the chickens to not lay eggs.
@@FLPhotoCatcher Chickens seem to get by no matter what you do with them but they are not rabbits so it makes sense to me that they should not be housed like rabbits. I think if you built an open air coop to compare with your other coop you might see a difference. There has always been some controversy over this because it seems counter intuitive especially in extreme weather. I would refer you to a book called "Fresh-Air Poultry Houses." It was published in 1924 and is sold now as a reprint. It has some nice examples of open air coop designs and some discussion of chicken biology. Many of the large scale chicken breeders from that time believed these designs worked best.
Good stuff! Up here where it gets minus 40 and colder, I drain the hoses by walking slowly along the length of the hose keeping the hose at shoulder height. After, I blow on the end of them to ensure the water is out. This keeps them clear so that I can use them all winter long. Alternatively drain them and then coil them up and put in well house - just hook them up and turn the water on when you need them. The moving water will not freeze while you are watering. It is much better than bucketing water in the winter! Take care.
Back in the 1960's while I was taking college physics I thought of a way to keep pipes warm. Simply run an extra 1" pipe down the well down to water or 60'. When a well is drill put the pipe outside the casing. could use S40 pvc pipe. In the well house run along pipes that might freeze. seal the pipe with R22. The pipe will stay at a temp of the well 58 degrees without needing power.
The two of you work so well together. I love vicariously thru the two of you. I love in a city in Calif and I have a small garden. So I love watching you work to provide for your family.
I'm glad you're putting up your chickens in your ducts when your farm for weatherproof and Sarah and Kevin God bless you and your daughters
What about the rabbits and Hope, Henry and Hudson? Have been on withdraw from Living Trad. Homestead so I went back to the beginning and watched 732 videos that I missed
I was wondering about the bunnies too!
No word about the 10 beef cows and where they stay and who feeds them.
Hope and the calves have the lean-to side of the barn. The beef cattle will go into the woods. The bunnies were on another side of the barn in an enclosed or partially enclosed area. They are all good and designed to survive in the cold. They will all have a winter coat growing to help.
Thermo cubes come in three different features. On at o degrees, off at 10 degrees-on at 20degrees, off at 30degrees, and on at 35degrees and off at 45 degrees. They really work! Use them in chicken coop with radiant heat panels for my chickens -Safer than heat lamps.
We have the same heat lamp in our pump house but we use a Thermocube so that I do not have to turn lamp on and off. When the temp in the pump house is below 32 degrees it opens and let's the lamp go on. Try it, you will love it.
We leave the top open for the air flow. Chickens give off heat and moisture and it travels up into the air so the chickens are always dry. It's the moisture that hurts them. Check your coops and make sure it isn't dripping inside since you covered most of the air flow. We have dealt with minus 20 here at times, the chickens did great with no frostbite. Love watching your videos.
One inch of snow in the last four years,,,,,, heck I live in Alaska and I got 6 inches of snow in the last three hours..
You should measure the outside temperature, and the early morning temperature just to see how much heat the lamp generates. I have land in Heber/Overgard. I put an electric space heater with a thermostat. Works great. I set it to maintain 40' F. Never had an issue.
Love watching you 2 working together! Haven’t found that other half, but brings back great memories of endless enjoyable times and projects with my Dad growing up.
Add clear plastic as a roll up on the door to keep out wind and rain and still have light.
Yesterday I replaced my dark tarps with clear plastic because I couldn't stand them living in the dark. But mine are not free to roam.