DON'T GET CHICKS UNTIL YOU WATCH THIS!!!

So you have chicks coming!?! So exciting.. but now what?
In today's video we show you everything you need to be ready for chicks!
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[@l0gic23]

Really thought this would be the one... You know... The one where he says... It's a me, Mario. Seriously, KZbin played the video on silent... I see him turn around and mouth move... I didn't hear him speak but I swear I heard Mario..

[@TallCFarms]

Another comment, and this one is regional based. I start my chicks in a solid wood framed brooder that my Dad and I built. They typically stay in there for 3 weeks before I move them to my "nursery" coop (which has a run in the middle of the main chicken run so everyone can get used to each other as they grow). I have learned, and this is in SE Texas, that I had to completely fill the bottom of my nursery coop with concrete before adding all the dirt and shavings - to keep the rat snakes and rats from digging up from below to get my chicks. Also, hardware cloth on every window or opening. I don't know if you have much of an issue with rat snakes up there, but once it warms up, around the beginning of March, we need to be planning for snakes (gathering eggs 3-5 times a day, sealing up the nursery, etc...) I love having the rat snakes around because they really take care of rats and pocket gophers in the feed room/barn, but I don't want them getting my chicks or eggs. Your heat lamps are awesome. I use the eco-brooders, because a barn fire scares the crap out of me, but those lamps look great. Overall - eggcellent advise all around. On water, I've found just a splash of ACV in the water the first 2 weeks, completely eliminates the poopy butt (poop that stays on the cloaca and dries up and seals it up. Had several issues my very first batch of chicks, but never after with the ACV)

[@Homesteadyshow]

Awesome advice here Rae! Thanks for sharing!

[@scattervanshine4978]

Could you show how you clean out brooder with chicks in it? Do you barrier them off and do one side at a time or what?

[@splitarrowfarm]

We end up just layering on additional layers of pine shavings until we move them to our barn and chicken run, then you can use all of the droppings and pine shavings as compost in the garden. It is a win-win and we have yet to have any issues with it.

[@hillockfarm8404]

You just confirmed again why i let my broody hen do all of this rather than buying chicks or hatching eggs.

[@JanicePhillips]

There's nothing better than a great broody! I've got an old girl that's never lost a chick and they free range during the day from just a few days old. She's amazing and let's me help with the chicklets, despite being a full Kelso fighter with 2 inch spurs! I adore my Blondie. She never has to lay an egg again...though she still does during the Spring, but she's earned her retirement here on our farm for teaching the next generation. I've got two of her daughter's coming up and one has got spurs, just like her mama! lol

[@krickette5569]

It's also a great idea to sterilize the waterers and feeders prior to filling them.

[@seeitoldya13]

#AskHomesteady or anyone really (Don’t own land or anything still in the military) but say you have sub-par pastures or it’s just not good land, could you use pigs to dig up soil and add their own good stuff, clear what’s there, and rotate them throughout your land and seed the previous paddocks they were in? Or does that not work? Been trying to learn lol

[@jeffenglishsetter8339]

sub par can be turned into a good thing by planting nutrient rich, poor soil tolerate cover crops like winter rye. You let the rye mature then roll over it/compact it whole. Then reseed into it with the same. Over time you'll create a mat or organic that also serves as green manure. I've been working on this method in Michigan glacier sand. I had a great turn out of buckwheat this year that produced excellent honey from the bees pollinating the honey. My game plan this year is to take a portion of that 3 acre field and raise meat chickens via the methods presented in these videos. Biggest thing to accept, when dealing with sub par soil/pastures, you can improve them, but you have to be patient. And thank you for your service (88-96 USN Submarines)

[@ericbailey3125]

I spent a lot of time cruising for chicks when I was a teenager. But, no desire to find any now! 🤣

[@scottmartinetti4875]

And the post office is whacked

[@1acrehomesteader43]

So much easier to let a good hen raise the babies. But I'm a glutton for punishment and prefer to keep my girls only for egg production. Besides, they tell me they don't want to be molested by a horny rooster! lol So I usually raise my chicks.

[@luanahaigood278]

Hey Austin not sure if you know the Kneady homesteader she has a KZbin channel. Her and her family went out to eat around Valentine’s Day and was hit head on by a drunk driver. Her husband was killed instantly, her children’s arms were broken, she suffered a brain injury two broken arms broken leg and two broken feet and ribs. Her brother started a Go fund me page. Do you think maybe your channel as well as some of your friends could do a collaboration to help support her. Maybe a video letting your viewers know what happened with a copy of her go fund me link. Go to the needy Homestead her and she posted a video label this is the hardest video I’ve ever had to make. In that video get she gives all of the details of what happened. Just thought this might be worth a try

[@wendieo5146]

You pointed to where you thought you posted a link to a video to get wifi all over the farm but you didn’t post it. Could you post that and the other links you mentioned but didn’t post? My wifi is really sketchy. Thanks a lot.

[@TallCFarms]

I'm excited. I've raised layers for 12 years now, and thanks to a friend coming up and helping me process an excess of turkeys and "asshole" roosters, I believe I'm ready to move on to meat chickens. I'm nervous as all heck, but I think this is the year. I already have a tom that was almost pecked to death by the other 4 toms (or jacks? I'm not sure the age when they go from jacks to toms), so I think I may have to process this one tom soon. He's very lonely in my nursery coop.

[@lisacurran2299]

Where are the links to the Premier One Heat Lamp - and - the pastured poultry packet...?

[@jbbrown7907]

Mid March is a great time to shave your upper lip Just saying

[@sarahleehazel24]

How do you recommend getting wifi out to the barn? Our house one doesn’t reach that far

[@timbradshaw8775]

I didn’t see links in your video. Also missed the Instagram link

[@moxximum]

Is your hat Tough Mudder inspired??

[@reelvision24]

Love you guys but I must say, you got that serial killer look going on.

[@tlgpb0627]

Also be prepared for the call to happen any time night or day. 3am, we've gotten the call at 3am. The postal workers want those chicks out asap. The noise level can be super high if there is a lot.

[@RPG-oh1yf]

🤣 3am! The sorters get there early and like "Not again!!!!"

[@kristinreynolds577]

Thanks for the awesome video! I was so excited to see all of your great advice! I have convinced my husband to raise some meat chicks, so we will see how it goes. But it makes it so much easier to have you guys as a resource guide!! Much love to you guys and your animals!! 💖💖💖

[@madginger3634]

do you rat your dogs? or have they rat'ted themselves?

[@susantaylor8507]

Can you show what feed you use for starter feed

[@KittehLiLMommi]

Nice PA licence plate! ;) yayy PA ;) lol thanks for the video!

[@DamnKP11b]

I literally just bought 8 chicks the other day 😂

[@fastricky69]

where do you order your chicks from????

[@lolitabonita08]

u reminds me of a kids book "Where is Waldo?"

[@graydonturner]

wow you're early! The weather burned us last year with the late freeze so we pushed our dates back this year a little.

[@Truthseeker722]

Where can I get those lamps?

[@jbbrown7907]

I'll try the camera.

[@Nicole-vg2qz]

You look like my uncle mark.

[@davemorgan787]

Don't eat chicks

[@jbbrown7907]

Very well done.

[@nancyfahey7518]

Butcher Box is 👍great. Finishing up our first month and looking forward to next month. We can quit whenever but we were very impressed.

[@Homesteadyshow]

I was SUPER impressed by the meat, honestly. We just ate pork chops tonight and wow!

[@tlgpb0627]

I couldnt help smiling at your post. After all the first thing you hear from addicts is "i can quit whenever i want."

[@JanicePhillips]

I just did my first batch of 26 Cornish Rock Crosses and they were SO EASY! We processed half at exactly 8 weeks and the other half a day before 9 weeks and I've had the All-American jiggling for days! They make the BEST canned chicken meat EVER! You can't get better. Now...I'm moving on to rabbits and sheep! I've raised many rabbits before, but this will be my first time raising them to replace grocery store meat. It's a little different than having some cute bunnies every Easter or so.

[@aniltamang8507]

Love your videos

[@LisaMarie05]

#askhomesteady Have you used a heat plate for your chicks? I'm debating on the Premiere 1 heat lamp or heating plate and would like to know your thoughts on each. We only have a small area for chickens so we'll be ordering 7-8 chicks and we live in Phoenix so cold weather isn't an issue. I am also curious about your thoughts on raising chickens despite the HOA Nazi's rules that state they are not allowed. I don't like breaking the rules that we have agreed to when buying this house but COVID has shown me how fragile our system is and this government we are stuck with has me very nervous about inflation and being able to properly provide for our 5 kids. We are eventually planning on moving to Tennessee and buying land to finally start my dream of having a homestead but that's about 4 years away.

[@auntlouise]

I ordered Bresse chickens to arrive the first week of February, so I could put them outside in April. They arrived the first week of January! I had to quick build a brooder and make it large enough for them to live in until it is warm enough outside to put them out. They have their head feathers already, but are doing well inside the barn. Today I am butchering my first batch of cornish hens that I received last fall (they all survived the winter and are plump and ready for the freezer). I also ended up with 6 roosters (I bought "hens" at the feed store), so they are going the in freezer today as well.

[@TallCFarms]

Whoa, what hatchery are you buying from? I've NEVER had my chicks arrive a week early. Not without the hatchery contacting me 2-3 weeks before that they can get the chicks to me sooner. A day, sure, but a week?? Never. I've been buying laying hens from Ideal and McMurray for 11 years now.

[@kimoscar2470]

Is this a re download. I swear I've already seen this before. Am I losing my mind?

[@TheHollabbeyHomestead]

All super awesome info! We getting chickens for first time this year. This video totally helped me out understanding the best way to care for young chicks. Thank you!

[@TallCFarms]

I'm sorry, $40 for that pastured poultry packet? I'm out. Too expensive.

[@janellekean9055]

Very helpful ty!

[@BrittanyandWill]

We got 100 meat chicks the same day you posted this but I didn't see this until a week later.. Thankfully it doesn't look like we made many mistakes! We have only lost one so far and that was less than a day after getting them.

[@SoilMatesofGeorgia]

Great tip on the chain for safety and ease of use. We haven’t raised any from chicks yet, but will eventually.

[@BlueW0lf68]

The Wyze cam is awesome! My daughter used it last year and sent me the link so I could watch the birth of her dog's first litter of puppies and monitor them as they grew. My daughter lives in Ohio and I live in Texas. We were even able to talk to each other during the birth via the 2 way audio.

[@jamesaust3272]

How would you snake-proof an area like that? Having them in a secure barn stall seems like it would be heaven for a medium to large snake.

[@kathyk479]

If you grew a beard with the mustaches, you would look just like my husband did when we were younger! Lolol. This is to funny! I need to find a picture! Lol

[@scottmartinetti4875]

That's a very heavy looking chicken tractor

[@Homesteadyshow]

It's actually a very light for it's size tractor. John worked in showbiz before he was a farmer and built sets. He used his knowledge of set building to build a lightweight but stable shelter. Really cool!

[@scottmartinetti4875]

@@Homesteadyshow that's interesting. Was he on walkill building sets? Lol. Can you do a show on that tractor? It sounds nice.

[@korryhampel6663]

Please link the video for wifi. I looked but cant find it

[@Homesteadyshow]

I new I would forget something!

[@Homesteadyshow]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2W2dYCqp7R3bbs

[@hunterellis8131]

Not very well insulaTED is the word you're looking for lol

[@judy3460]

Just got 47 dark Brahma chicks last week😊

[@spartman]

Im not seeing any links below the video. Is there one for the camera as well?

[@hounonymous2066]

I incubated 10 meat ducks last one just hatched yesterday

[@colliecoform4854]

Very informative but the best is get ready early!

[@katielakefarmandcottages5685]

Thank you Austin. Great information.

[@joanneganon7157]

You've got some time under your belt with this chain Demo. I remember when you did it with your eldest son when he was a wee lad LOL. Good Luck with your Chicks! JO JO IN VT 💕😄☃

[@Homesteadyshow]

😊 they grow up so fast

[@homesteadhelper9126]

When my chicks were due to arrive I wasn't quite ready yet. Fortunately, the quantity I ordered was not available when they were supposed to ship so I got a couple more weeks to get everything ready in time.

[@splitarrowfarm]

It is definitely all in the setup! Best of luck here.

[@bubbaredneck75]

You gunna do the chicken cam again this year?

[@herbhouston5378]

You will love the Cornish Cross chickens!

[@Emily-mq1lj]

Just got our 25 cornish today!

[@littleacrehomestead8914]

Getting our 100 chicks in Aug! Sonwe can butcher in the cooler fall weather.

[@splitarrowfarm]

Make sure to order soon! We already had one hatchery that sold out.

[@rosewright9451]

Did that roster end up in a pot ???

[@susantaylor8507]

I just ordered 30 laying chicken they will be here at the end of April

[@splitarrowfarm]

We just ordered 20, which breed did you go for?

[@benvarga6089]

My personal favorite hatchery is Tractor supply! 😆

[@Homesteadyshow]

Nice to be able to pick em up warm and healthy!

[@elizabethb3270]

GREAT JOB!

[@averagejeffhomesteader]

Is your barn heated? I live outside Erie area. So we have near same weather.

[@benvarga6089]

I feel you with the weather... I live in Lawrence county and it sould be 70 one day and 50 the next. And don't get me started on the spring nights.

[@Homesteadyshow]

No, but heat lamps do it for us

[@analarson2920]

Love the video and loved how you handled the info on John's book without giving it all away. #askhomesteady - What is the floor of your barn like, and is it like that throughout? We want to build sheds and barns and don't know what types of floors are best and for what? Do you have a video on that- all about your farm buildings? Thanks, prayers, and blessings to you all, be well, be good, be safe and be healthy! 0:)

[@Porkins69]

Do you ever foresee getting to a place where your chicken raising will sustain itself and you won’t have to mail order new chics? What would that take and/or look like?