I really like your 2 story chicken tractor, might have to copy that design. We had the same wheels on our single story tractors but recently replaced them with 12” tires from a kids bike that we bought for $5.00 at a yard sale... certainly makes it easier to move around the yard now.
We've been raising chickens about as long as you in Pennsylvania. We've had several flocks killed from predators. We have a coop with the deep litter floor method, but unfortunately raccoons dug under and killed most of my flock. I kept watching to see if you do the deep litter method, which I see you do in your chicken run but not in the coop. This might be what we have to do also, since the demon raccoons are so persistent to dig under the ground and get in. I know that hardware cloth should be buried, but this is an already existing large attached part of the the barn and my husband isn't willing to do that. It would take a lot of work. So, I like the shed idea and then do like you are and make the chicken run the part with the deep litter method. After all, they are only in the shed to perch at night and lay eggs, except for the cold winter months.
You could have maybe moved the few new breed buff layer chicks in with one of the broody hens to have them raise them up the rest of the way. Just a thought, always love seeing chicks with a mama teaching them!
That would have worked when they were a day old, but they were 2-3 weeks old here so the broody hens wouldn’t have taken them 😕. If these hens were broody 2-3 weeks ago, I absolutely would have done it!
Hello.. love your channel! I'm sorry if new to residing chickens ( ive only raised my chick babies for 1yr) o never knew that i could wean my chicks from the lamp. Do you have a video on that process? Can you wean them from the heat lamp anytime if the year? Thank you so much in advance!
This entire time watching rock a doodle i never knew the main guy that was a buff looking rooster named chanticleer was because of a specific breed of chicken lol.
Great video!!! Question....if you have more than 1 hen hatch chicks, do you keep them together? I had a hen hatch 2 chicks. 3 weeks later, another hen hatched 3 chicks. The 1st hen & 2 chicks are now with the rest of the flock. But when I try to let the last hen with her 3 chicks out with the flock, the 1st momma goes after and pecks on the 2nd momma. I don't know why?! They are in the same run, separated by an enclosure, so they always see each other.. I'd like to slowly get them all together, but maybe it's still too soon. The 1st chicks are 5 weeks old and the 2nd ones are 2 weeks old. Hopefully they all get use to each other eventually. So much easier when they all live together!
The mamas can be pretty protective of their chicks. I’ve been able to keep them together, but only if there’s plenty of space and each mama has her own dedicated feeder and waterer. They definitely keep to their own “area.”
I have 3 roosters that are just over 7 weeks old. Do I have to introduce them to the rest of my flock (1 roo and 7 hens) at night? Or can I put them together this afternoon so I can watch them? I also have an additional 7 chicks that are 3.5 weeks old. Should I wait a couple of weeks to throw them in with the rest? Currently everyone is outside in separate coops/runs but all can see each other. Thanks for a great video!
I’ve done it both ways, but I feel like dusk is best. that way you can supervise for 30 min or so and then everyone goes to bed. Then, run back out at sunrise. I would wait on the 3.5 week olds. Good luck!
Great video. Thanks for all the tips. I have a question about the red rangers. I was advised to get Cornish cross meat chickens because they taste better than the red rangers. Have you noticed a big difference in taste?? I would like to get away from the Cornish cross.
Oh gosh - I couldn’t disagree with that more!! The rangers have far superior taste, texture, color and nutrition compared to the bland and lifeless Cornish cross. Definitely give them a try and enjoy chicken that actually tastes like chicken! 🫶🏼
@@thehomesteadingrd thanks for the response. I did get 3 red rangers this year to try out. Frankly the Cornish cross creep me out because of how fast they grow.
I’m gonna take your advice and give the Red Rangers a try. Last spring we raised 12 Cornish Cross and at six weeks they were full grown and almost as big as a Tom Turkey. The meat was gross and those birds are definitely Poop Machines.
Hi, do you use the automatic sunrise/sunset setting on your ChickCozy opener or do you use the timer? I’m having trouble with automatic opening with a covered run, not enough light for the sensor. Thanks!
Great question! I don’t use the light sensor because, I agree, there’s not enough light because of the covered run. I use the manual time setting and just adjust it monthly based on daylight hours
Total newbie question, but do you need roosters for chickens to produce eggs? We want eggs, but hate being woken up by rooster throughout the night, lol.
Great question! Nope, a hen will lay eggs without a rooster. The only difference is the eggs won’t be fertilized, so you won’t be able to hatch chicks from them.
We are specialzed in chicken coop for 10years，we want to find someone to promote our goods，for example help we selling it，or take how to install video ect. If you have ant interested ，feel free to contact us best regards Nicole
I really like your 2 story chicken tractor, might have to copy that design. We had the same wheels on our single story tractors but recently replaced them with 12” tires from a kids bike that we bought for $5.00 at a yard sale... certainly makes it easier to move around the yard now.
Very cool! Great idea
We've been raising chickens about as long as you in Pennsylvania. We've had several flocks killed from predators. We have a coop with the deep litter floor method, but unfortunately raccoons dug under and killed most of my flock. I kept watching to see if you do the deep litter method, which I see you do in your chicken run but not in the coop. This might be what we have to do also, since the demon raccoons are so persistent to dig under the ground and get in. I know that hardware cloth should be buried, but this is an already existing large attached part of the the barn and my husband isn't willing to do that. It would take a lot of work. So, I like the shed idea and then do like you are and make the chicken run the part with the deep litter method. After all, they are only in the shed to perch at night and lay eggs, except for the cold winter months.
Oh my goodness your video popped up an I was SOOOO impressed I had to subscribe❤❤❤ 🕊️
Yay! Thank you!
Good morning from Forest lake Minnesota! Great episode Katie!!
Good morning!! Thank you!!
You could have maybe moved the few new breed buff layer chicks in with one of the broody hens to have them raise them up the rest of the way. Just a thought, always love seeing chicks with a mama teaching them!
That would have worked when they were a day old, but they were 2-3 weeks old here so the broody hens wouldn’t have taken them 😕. If these hens were broody 2-3 weeks ago, I absolutely would have done it!
Thanks for this! Are you worried about condensation from the metal roof in the winter?
It hasn’t been an issue! We had the same roof at the poultry palace too
Great video I learned something every time I watch you.
Glad to hear it! ☺️
I can't wait to subscribe thank you for sharing.
Thanks for subbing!
Awesome tour!!!
Great setup for birds
Thank you! So far, so good!
Hello.. love your channel! I'm sorry if new to residing chickens ( ive only raised my chick babies for 1yr) o never knew that i could wean my chicks from the lamp. Do you have a video on that process? Can you wean them from the heat lamp anytime if the year? Thank you so much in advance!
Great question! For layers, you start reducing the heat weekly until they are fully feathered (usually 6 weeks), then you can turn it off completely
Do you still have a camera in your coop-run? I need to set up something because we just lost 4 to a predator and I need to find out what it was. TIA
The portable coop is great!
Thank you!
All looks great
Thank you!
This entire time watching rock a doodle i never knew the main guy that was a buff looking rooster named chanticleer was because of a specific breed of chicken lol.
Kadnaknakt you mean in the beginning of the video the breed?
Great video!!! Question....if you have more than 1 hen hatch chicks, do you keep them together? I had a hen hatch 2 chicks. 3 weeks later, another hen hatched 3 chicks. The 1st hen & 2 chicks are now with the rest of the flock. But when I try to let the last hen with her 3 chicks out with the flock, the 1st momma goes after and pecks on the 2nd momma. I don't know why?! They are in the same run, separated by an enclosure, so they always see each other.. I'd like to slowly get them all together, but maybe it's still too soon. The 1st chicks are 5 weeks old and the 2nd ones are 2 weeks old. Hopefully they all get use to each other eventually. So much easier when they all live together!
The mamas can be pretty protective of their chicks. I’ve been able to keep them together, but only if there’s plenty of space and each mama has her own dedicated feeder and waterer. They definitely keep to their own “area.”
I have 3 roosters that are just over 7 weeks old. Do I have to introduce them to the rest of my flock (1 roo and 7 hens) at night? Or can I put them together this afternoon so I can watch them? I also have an additional 7 chicks that are 3.5 weeks old. Should I wait a couple of weeks to throw them in with the rest? Currently everyone is outside in separate coops/runs but all can see each other. Thanks for a great video!
I’ve done it both ways, but I feel like dusk is best. that way you can supervise for 30 min or so and then everyone goes to bed. Then, run back out at sunrise. I would wait on the 3.5 week olds. Good luck!
Great video. Thanks for all the tips. I have a question about the red rangers. I was advised to get Cornish cross meat chickens because they taste better than the red rangers. Have you noticed a big difference in taste?? I would like to get away from the Cornish cross.
Oh gosh - I couldn’t disagree with that more!! The rangers have far superior taste, texture, color and nutrition compared to the bland and lifeless Cornish cross. Definitely give them a try and enjoy chicken that actually tastes like chicken! 🫶🏼
@@thehomesteadingrd thanks for the response. I did get 3 red rangers this year to try out. Frankly the Cornish cross creep me out because of how fast they grow.
@@TheEssentialRanchersLife Totally agree - they freak me out, too. I've never raised them and don't plan to.
I’m gonna take your advice and give the Red Rangers a try. Last spring we raised 12 Cornish Cross and at six weeks they were full grown and almost as big as a Tom Turkey. The meat was gross and those birds are definitely Poop Machines.
Hi, do you use the automatic sunrise/sunset setting on your ChickCozy opener or do you use the timer? I’m having trouble with automatic opening with a covered run, not enough light for the sensor. Thanks!
Great question! I don’t use the light sensor because, I agree, there’s not enough light because of the covered run. I use the manual time setting and just adjust it monthly based on daylight hours
@@thehomesteadingrd thank you very much! I will try setting the time manually.
❤️👍Great stuff!
Thank you! Cheers!
What breed of layers do you have?
A have a lot of different breeds :)
thanksThat's so great
Glad to hear it was helpful!
@@thehomesteadingrd That's right. Please share more, my dear
Total newbie question, but do you need roosters for chickens to produce eggs? We want eggs, but hate being woken up by rooster throughout the night, lol.
Great question! Nope, a hen will lay eggs without a rooster. The only difference is the eggs won’t be fertilized, so you won’t be able to hatch chicks from them.
@@thehomesteadingrd Ah, I see. So, food, but no future generations. Got it. Thanks!
Every carnivore likes to eat chickens: foxes, coyotes , raccoons, wolves, bobcats and on and on!
Omnivores aswell.
We just purchased the predator deterrent eyes! So far so good!
Hooray!! They are awesome!!
❤❤❤❤❤ Hello beautiful girl 🖐️🖐️
They're black
We are specialzed in chicken coop for 10years，we want to find someone to promote our goods，for example help we selling it，or take how to install video ect.
If you have ant interested ，feel free to contact us
best regards
Nicole
Do you still have a camera in your coop-run? I need to set up something because we just lost 4 to a predator and I need to find out what it was. TIA
Do you still have a camera in your coop-run? I need to set up something because we just lost 4 to a predator and I need to find out what it was. TIA
Do you still have a camera in your coop-run? I need to set up something because we just lost 4 to a predator and I need to find out what it was. TIA