Floor Heating for My Chickens

[@keithkuckler3184]

I grew up on a small farm in Minnesota, and, yes my ancestors were Swedish and Norwegian. I farmed myself until a number of years ago, when I became a fulltime cabinetmaker and carpenter. We used many of the methods you are using, we would let a straw/manure pack build up in our large chicken house every winter, we used to throw in lots of baled leafy alfalfa hay for the chickens to eat, they loved it, and, would get good nutrients from the green alfalfa. One thing that I have learned about using wood chips however. they do not compost very well, and, tend to use up huge amounts of nitrogen that is in the soil naturally to break down the cellulose in the wood chips. Of course chicken manure is pretty high in nitrogen, so, that may help. I always used clean oat or wheat straw for my bedding. I am enjoying your channel, because, it reminds me of the way most small farmers used to grow their own food. I fed beef cattle, and, grew grain, but, we always had chickens for eggs and meat, and, tried to raise a few hogs every year. Having the animals not only gave us great food that was healthy, but, it gave me something to do in the long winter months when I was not doing field work. Good Luck

[@norpuma55]

Do you use, or have you thought of spouting some of your grains for the chickens? This really helps convert a much higher percent of nutrition from the live food, than the grain. Extra vitamins and such as well. You need about a .5 meter floor space and then a rack that holds some plastic containers for the wet grain to sprout. Just search spouting grains for chickens. It really could save on some of your fodder costs too! Enjoy your channel and seeing what you are doing.

[@kevinbyrne4538]

Using compost to heat a chicken coop. Clever. I know that people in Canada use compost to heat greenhouses during the winter, in order to maintain the vegetables that they planted in the fall.

[@valhallaproject9560]

You may already have tried this, but we stopped using those kind of waterers or our chickens and have gone to a system with hanging buckets with screw-on nipples that they can push on to get water. So far has worked well and stopped the mess of spilled water. Chickens seem to like it. Gives them something to do and keeps the water clean of poop and debris. Enjoy your videos.

[@DavidSmith3750]

Best Coop I’ve seen. Practical greenhouse. Ty. Great job mate

[@suttonbogedain5874]

I have had the same hard pan situation. If you open the soil with a broadfork and drop some of the grain in, your chicks will till it in and loosen it up the rest of the way. I also built a 3' x 2' bottomless box out of 1" X 5" lumber with a 1/2" hardware cloth top to put under the waterer and planted grass within the box. The grass grows 4-5 inches and gets eaten, but the roots keep the ground loose.

[@simeonandalex]

Thanks for the tip

[@briantorsell]

Love the movable roost idea.

[@ecnalted1]

Your chickens look very healthy and peaceful. great job.

[@simeonandalex]

They are very happy chickens.

[@martinfaucher]

Hi Simeon, I have seen quite a lot of your videos in the past couple of days and really enjoyed them. I especially liked your videos about the "Bresse Gauloise" chicken breed and the videos about cutting down trees safely and accurately. This is undoubtedly because my wife and I are planning to buy some raw land soon in British Columbia, Canada for the purpose of homesteading (growing most of our food). I think one can never have too much "know-how" in this field and that's why I like your channel... you share generously of your "know-how". Thank you. You were wondering in this video about the packed and wet bedding under the waterer. Harvey Ussery talks about making a vermicompost pit in his greenhouse for feeding his chickens. He feeds his worms with horse manure. You could try constructing a pit directly underneath the waterer and put a trap door over it made of cedar boards with slight spaces between them to allow for drainage. Extra moisture would keep the worms happy and they would be extra proteins for your chickens. This would add to your "Karl Hammer" style compost pile for extra feed.

[@simeonandalex]

Thanks for info. Wish you the best for your plans with the homestead.

[@karenhorn6685]

I think Justin Rhodes made a wooden low box with a wire mesh or screen as a top cover to place under his waterer. The chickens walk on the screen and then any water drops to the bottom of the box. It keeps the ground surface dry. I guess you might have to empty the box out regularly but it does keep the ground dry.

[@cindymobley8926]

I have an idea for your watering system. You could hang metal poles, one on either side of the length of the greenhouse by chains that are within arms length (chains at the ends and at joints i.e. every 12 feet or so.) These metal poles would be parallel to each other. Then you could have one pole that would slide on top of the poles which would be perpendicular and of course longer than the "rails". This would allow you to move the pole from one end of the greenhouse to the other and allow you to hang the watering system from width to width as you desire. If you have an electric heater then you could use an extension cord on the outside of the rail, near the walls close to the ceiling, or it may be warm enough without that idea. Obviously, you would have to move beyond the "joints" when the time came. :)

[@simeonandalex]

Interesting idea. Thanks for sharing.

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

I'm so glad to see this video. I am currently using straw as deep bedding for my ducks and geese - but is it not working well, especially since the ducks are messy with their water. I am thinking I need to dig out a section of the poultry house and put in a gravel pit under the waterers to improve drainage there, and use wood chips in the rest of the aviary instead of straw to minimize wicking from the waterer area. I cannot change it during the rainy winter for several reasons, though. I am very glad to see that the wood chips are (mostly) working for chickens. When I kept chickens, I would add a thin layer of bedding under the roosts each morning to keep the compost going and to minimize odors. I try to do the same with the ducks, but it is more difficult to keep up with them. I like your method better. The whole grains you are throwing out is collectively called "scratch", at least in American English.

[@simeonandalex]

Maybe you could get a few chickens and use wood chips. The chickens might be able to turn the bedding for the geese and ducks. Maybe worth a try.

[@DavyRayVideo]

I accidentally listened to one of Joel Salatin's lectures at a Mother Earth News Fair in Asheville NC recently. I was waiting for another talk, and sat in on his presentation. I was amazed at the way he gets the animals to do the work of making the land fertile. I left that talk determined to go buy some cows. I have not started anything with livestock yet. I am impressed that you are making his ideas work for you on your farm. Good luck.

[@simeonandalex]

Thanks. Yeah, I feel the same way about him. We have had very good results with his methods so far.

[@troystutsman1400]

I know that you have pigs which can come in very handy this Spring when you're ready to replant your greenhouse... A few weeks before you're ready to start planting in your greenhouse again, start tossing down handfuls of whole corn down on top of your chicken's compost piles and when you're ready, just turn your pigs loose in the greenhouse... In no time they will have everything all tilled up, nice and loose for you saving yourself much back straining work...!

[@annmariewright1807]

wow! I never thought I would care about raising or farming chickens in a greenhouse.awesome info.Thank you !

[@mmfine718]

How about cordoning off a corner with a big pan. At the bottom of the pan is a french drain to remove the water( may need to keep it from freezing in winter). Fill it full of pebbles or cover it with a tight, strong wire mesh so the chickens can walk on it. Top off with a large waterer. Just an idea my husband came up with.

[@graceomalley1037]

this is such a great channel!!! thanks for sharing.......

[@simeonandalex]

Glad you like it.

[@donaldphilley8467]

Grace O'Malley

[@onedazinn998]

nice system :) I so want that big of a greenhouse!

[@johnshull102]

You could build a square box out of 2x8 boards and put under the waterer , then fill it up with pea gravel so the water seeps through it.

[@simeonandalex]

I like that idea. Received a similar tip earlier.

[@decl3430]

I have a small husqvarna hand held tiller that I use to turn over the floor of my chicken run with about once a month helps the compost process and lets them get the leftover seeds so they dont come up in my garden.

[@simeonandalex]

Yes. That's what you have to do if they don't turn it enough. I like to let the animals do as much of the work as possible. Saves me time and money.

[@troystutsman1400]

Have you ever tried sprouting your Barley... You let it sprout in trays for about a week... It grows into these really dense mats of Barley which you can feed to your Chickens, Cattle, and even your Pigs... They will all love it...!

[@raymondcline5193]

Looks like a great way to keep the chickens environment healthy and clean. thanks for sharing! just wondered if you could give us a tour of your property, home, and maybe show how you prepare your meals with the wood stove? I have enjoyed watching and learning from you. especially the tree felling video.

[@simeonandalex]

Hi there. There will be videos coming up that will introduce more of our property and homestead. I am trying to keep a good variety of videos coming.

[@DaleLClay]

Great clips, Thanks for sharing.

[@troystutsman1400]

Try using an old wooden palette under their water area to keep them up and off of the ground there...

[@markpicard5975]

Sally’s compost will keep the chickens warm. Rally for Sally!

[@strawb3rri.milkyy]

I like the chickens screaming in the background 😂

[@juwright1949]

make a pole tripod to hold the water container and just move it to a different location when you refill. 3 poles from the forest and some binder twin from hay bales along with a tripod lashing.

[@antoinettegurdely8811]

How about moving the water er, so that there is minimal compaction..also take you compost fork to work this area

[@glenmullet]

Awesome! Such a natural and ingenious process!

[@simeonandalex]

We like it a lot so far.

[@johnsommerfeld6889]

I enjoy watching your videos, thank you for letting us into your life!

[@simeonandalex]

Thank you for watching. Glad you like the videos.

[@altaylor1980]

If the greenhouse was mobile, could you not overwinter the chickens in the greenhouse then in the spring remove the greenhouse and power harrow the compost into the soil? Moving it each year and composting a new area each year? Only a suggestion I do not know all the time/cost details and how your homestead works. It is a fantastic greenhouse you have

[@hootche1]

Hi, very good video, just a a bit of info for you, the following information is paramount to good egg production, 1, Never put a cockerel with your laying hens. 2, daylight hrs, eg,. 15hrs per day , artficial light if needed. 3, good food, vitamins,minerals, with the odd greens know and then. 4, heat, 65f summer / winter, 5, clean water, drinking niples not water trough, NO WET FLOORS. 6, Nest boxes , 1 box per 10 birds, as thay all want to lay in the morning,no room is stresfull. 7, pest controle,eg Fox / Dog controle, around the outside of the polly tunnel, a must, wire netting with 20mm holes, molded into the ground.

[@simeonandalex]

Hi there. Thanks for your tips. We have had chickens since the 80's and have been producing eggs commercially for the past 3 years. We will have 350 layers this upcoming spring. We keep an electric fence about 1 foot off the ground around the greenhouse tunnel. That keeps all animals away.

[@truthbknwn]

Great, but aren't those branches a bit narrow in diameter for a roost? I would think that thicker dowels...even 2x4s, would enable them to warm the very tips of their toes as they roost.

[@gratefuloptimist22]

beautiful birds! thanks for doing what you do and for sharing. nice job.

[@PurplePaisley1292]

I think I just got my answer about the amount of space per chicken.👍🐔🐓🙂

[@EmRePhoto]

Very cool. I wonder how you could apply this on a small scale with a garden and a small flock.

[@francisgraf6393]

Maybe water nipples and a PVC gutter catch for the water? 12 of them in that corner? Would have to come up with a re-circulation or heating method to prevent freezing.

[@oldchickenlady]

Could you put sand and/or stones under the waterer so it would seep down into the ground but stay drier on top?

[@simeonandalex]

Maybe.

[@TheRebelmanone]

-Maybe use the same ideal you use when moving the roosting bars for the water, just move the water feeder when it starts to get too compacted in that area. Then it should dry out, and throw some seed around the area, and they will turn it. The wood chips will decompose faster with water, so it won't hurt them to be wet for a little bit, just move the water.

[@danielpope4301]

For your water problem you might try horizontal water nipples. I find it to be a lot less mess plus the water stays much cleaner. I have also found that I end up hauling a lot less water, maybe 30 % less which is always nice. It will take a little traing but once one gets it the others will copy that one.

[@simeonandalex]

We use nipple waterers for our chicks. I just don't know how I can keep them from freezing in the winter.

[@samfosteriam]

Those are happy chickens, such a joy to see :) Have you had any problems with foxes or other predators in that greenhouse? I would worry that foxes would dig under or even tear through a structure like that in the UK. I can imagine simple ways to reinforce - dig in the first 2ft of a 4ft high chicken wire around the perimeter perhaps, but you don't seem to have this problem?

[@bobrousse8593]

Great channel! I just discovered it tonight. I am a big fan of Joel Salatin and Justin Rhodes, too. I have a question that may have been addressed in your video on guns, homeschooling, socialism and freedom, but is a visitor on your land, tent-camping while looking for mushrooms, permitted by law to take one of your chickens? I am familiar with military dictatorships and the "soft tyranny" found in the United States, but not the type of regulations you describe as existing in Sweden. Thanks for putting together a great channel!

[@simeonandalex]

Hi there. Glad you found us. No, no one can take anything except for wild berries from the forest, mushrooms or dead wood. They have to stay away from your buildings too.

[@Growveguk]

Fantastic concept, great channel, greetings from the UK

[@simeonandalex]

Thank you.

[@Upgradezz]

Can anyone please tell me the steps needed to create a deep litter system like this?

[@doublsepp]

I once read that it is not good for chickens to sit on round roosts and that one should get square ones so their feet are not crippling... i really don't know if it is true and if it is true for natural branches like you use but maybe it is worth looking it up, or if you already know something about this i would be glad if you could share your experience. I am planing on getting chicken soon so every advice is helpful. Btw. thank you for sharing the idea with the deep bedding ;)

[@simeonandalex]

Hello there. Well, I have never heard this before. The only thing I know is that all wild birds sit on round roosts since there is no such thing as square branches. So to me it sounds silly. Something we do though is that we don't let young pullets or even roosters roost. That can deform their chests. We let them sit on the floor or on a poultry netting off the ground. The Swedish law requires roosts that the chickens feet can get a grip around. Chickens like all birds have a mechanism in there feet and legs which pulls their claws shut when they rest and sleep at night. That keeps them from falling off the branch while sleeping. Seems like round roosts would be natural.

[@doublsepp]

Swedish Homestead sounds right to me... i was wondering anyway... however thank you for your advice and good luck with your homestead and chanel!

[@simeonandalex]

Thank you.

[@truthseeker1364]

Where your water bowl is you should keep a spade shovel and flip the dirt around a little bit. Like once a week. Then move their water bowl to the middle and the other end throughout the winter

[@Lskitylou]

By the way your hens look very healthy and beautiful! I am a poultry judge and they look very very good. Nice job.

[@welshharlequin7722]

A few years ago, Joel toured Euopean farms. It looks like with your success, you'll have to invite him into one of your 'new' tiny houses. :) He could come give a talk ! :)

[@simeonandalex]

Man, I wish I would have know.

[@welshharlequin7722]

Go to his website, whenever. His schedules is updated all the time. www.polyfacefarms.com/speaking-schedule/

[@tarilwright9242]

What about mounting the bell waterer to a simple tripod and moving it every day the same way you move their roosts?

[@KennethColeStatenIsland]

Thank you.

[@lynnkunkel503]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge! God Bless!

[@judthemagicdragon]

This is really great I am going to try the same thing on a smaller scale ... have you thought about using nipple waterers .. I swear by them .. water stays cleaner .. and it stays much drier underneath .... Do you have any problems with predators with this set up ?

[@melovescoffee]

I'm a big fan of Joel Salatin as well. I don't keep any animals (yet) but i like to watch how it's done before making that decision. I would like to have ducks for the slugs. Just a few.

[@simeonandalex]

Yes. I got ducks a few months ago just for that reason.

[@djw5454]

Have you thought about adding Rabbits in hanging cages to increase the manure?

[@magnuskarlsen4390]

You should have several hanging points for your bell waterer, that way you can rotate it around the green house and it won't compact the soil. It adds about 1 minute to your daily chores. I've seen this at some farms.

[@10us101]

hope you still have sally the cow I think you should do just the opposite fence her with the other cows around her until she get use to them a good mo or so maybe that will work good luck great channel keep up the good work

[@simeonandalex]

Thank you. Check out the update I just posted.

[@christopheleblanc9175]

great explanation

[@Beecozz7]

nice set up!

[@simeonandalex]

Thanks.

[@mikehurd7769]

maybe chicken water drippers?? Love your video's

[@eveny119]

Would be nice if you show a thermometer in your videos so we can see the outside/inside temps. Q: In the winter do you ever give your chickens vegetables/greens? I saw a video where a farmer hung a cabbage on a rope and the chickens really enjoyed running around and pecking at it, for very little money.

[@donrad]

The chickens would get a lot more nutritional value from the grains, and the grain would be much easier to digest if you soaked the grains 24 hours. Even better yet would be to partially sprout the grains. You would save money this way. Additionally, if you fed them some fermented grain mash it would give them the probiotics they need for digestion.

[@simeonandalex]

Hi there. These grains are not their main feed. They just get small amounts of grain to stay busy and aerate the bedding. Some grains sprout in the deep bedding as it gets warm. I really like the idea of sprouting but I have still to find a easy way to do it for people on a commercial basis. We raised hundreds of chickens this year and sprouting takes both a lot of labor and time. Do you have good ideas on that? We are trying to work with brewers yeast and bokashi with our chickens.

[@villain1409]

Do you feed your hens Greens? I did they love them.

[@simeonandalex]

Yes. I do. Summer time they are in a mobile stable out on pasture and they get moved every three days.

[@miketrev28]

Sir, thank you for sharing so much wonderful information. Do I understand that you move the greenhouse in spring and make a garden there? Thanks, Mike

[@franciscoporras4461]

great information my friend, all the best to you from Texas. Frank

[@Theorimlig]

Great system! What about some sand for dust baths and gravel/grit for their crops? I understand it might be a bit of a pain to spread it on the ground if you're gonna plant in it, but you could probably keep it in a big tub or something. Do you give them any calcium, like crushed sea shells?

[@simeonandalex]

I made a video that is gonna air soon about dust baths and sand. They get a feed along side the grain that contains all the rest they need.

[@purple_leaf5770]

someone near us has a greenhouse coop as well. how is it ventilated? I am interested with this process of deep litter, warming bedding for the winter time. thx for another great video

[@simeonandalex]

We keep the doors open for ventilation if needed plus there is a window on each side above the door that can be opened. During summer months those open automatically when the greenhouse gets hot.

[@purple_leaf5770]

Swedish Homestead ahh got it. great nesting boxes in there too. thank you

[@mandadawn3569]

get rid of the shavings under the water use medium size smooth rocks the water will drain down to the ground and the rocks can be easily moved when its time to plant I haven't tried it yet but it what I have plan for next years chicken house/green house.

[@simeonandalex]

I really like that idea. Some other viewers have said the same thing.

[@gaynorjasonjack]

Nice system, thanks for sharing

[@johnredhd]

Do the Bresse chickens ever go broody? Have you ever hatched eggs using a broody hen?

[@ImASurvivorNThriver]

Very informative! Thanks for sharing.

[@elizabethvail7234]

great ideas. I love the grain mixes and the move able roost. which grains did or would you use. Super channel!!!

[@simeonandalex]

Thank you. I am using barley, wheat and oat because it is available locally. I think a big variety is good.

[@martinhatch9296]

Do your chickens get mite infestation and if so how do you get rid of it?

[@katiatomsk]

I've used a large pan under my waterer. It works great to catch the water and stop the smell.

[@simeonandalex]

Have you had issues with manure getting in it and keeping it clean?

[@rosemarywascher691]

I would like to know, do you remove the bedding in the spring when you turn it back into a green house.

[@joenadeau4419]

Looks great

[@simeonandalex]

Thanks.

[@lancesurgeon7614]

Put the water on a small cart so you can easily relocate it.

[@simeonandalex]

True, good idea.

[@Lskitylou]

Do you pick up all the wood chips before planting? Or do you add compost and dirt on top of it? Seems to me that there would be far too many wood chips to plant a crop on or in.

[@danfraser7479]

Warmth is relative. The chickens have dry feet, good roosts and lots of feed. just keep the wind off them and they are fine.

[@all-up]

I wonder how cold it gets in the winter time in Sweden?

[@sharlaoverton5799]

Thank you so gonna try this. I’m assuming hardwood chips?

[@rabblepeasant2676]

With this system is it warm enough out side to move the chickens to free range when the time comes to start your vegetables?

[@simeonandalex]

We start the veggies in an insulated are, some already in January. We have risk for frost until the end of May.

[@SimpleFull]

I am always worried about keeping the hens warm.. thanks for showing this!!

[@simeonandalex]

Glad you liked it.

[@woodspirit98]

Good stuff..just subscribed

[@MrCadapiter]

You talk about hatching more chickens. Are you buying the eggs or are you using the eggs your chickens lay? I look forward to watching a video on how you go about that.

[@simeonandalex]

Hi Paul. I am going to make videos about that. We use our own chickens for that.

[@nicoleroberts7515]

Something I have find is chickens love corn

[@joelbruneski6486]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I compost a lot and compost needs moisture. If it’s moist enough for one foot of bedding to heat up (which it doesn’t look like) is that not bad for the chickens? I have looked at this a lot and the two don’t seem to go together. I use deep bedding because it stays dryer.

[@cheyennepetersen3417]

Hi, great video! I just moved to Minnesota and it seems our house comes with stray chickens. I don't know if they belong to someone nearby but they forage in our garden space during the day. I have some experience taking care of chickens with existing structures but I've never started from scratch with them. I want to build them a shelter before winter in case they don't have somewhere warm to go and I have some questions: 1. I saw in another video that you should start the deep bedding/litter method in late winter or early spring to really get the compost going. Since we've just arrived, this isn't possible. Can I do anything to get around this for now and plan to do it properly next year? 2. There are only two chickens. What's the minimum amount of space they would need for a simple shelter? Like I said, they roam around during the day between the surrounding backyards so I want to try to be cost efficient in making this. 3. What kind of set up do you use for ventilation? I am also planning on using the greenhouse plastic to wrap around the structure. Any help is appreciated, thanks!

[@Miffny]

I though wood bark was not good as it can go moldy .It looks fabulous to me.

[@ucantseeme33]

what about a dust bath area for the chickens?

[@simeonandalex]

I dump ashes and sand into the saw dust occasionally.

[@RedStorm.]

String a rope across a large area, then hand the water from that. Slide it down a ways each day or so, so it’s in a different place all the time.

[@rhiannonfugatt3269]

How do you stop them from digging it all up?

[@neatpleats11]

Nice video.

[@falfas55bgas]

So where do you keep them in spring/summer/fall? I don't have chickens yet, but on my property in Indiana, USA, there are a lot of predators around - fox, coyote, hawks. I think I'll need mobile cages for summer to keep them safe?

[@simeonandalex]

The chickens we raise for meat are in small cages that we move daily. They are called chicken tractors. You can see them in my video about the Thanksgiving Turkey. The laying hens are in a mobile chicken stable called an egg mobile that is moved on pastured every three days. We surround it with electric poultry netting to keep them in and predators out. Then we have a gard goose walk with them who protects them from hawks.

[@troystutsman1400]

falfas55bgas Hey there...! My wife and I live in Northern Indiana, the area is known as Michiana because we are less then 10 miles to the Michigan state line... Was just wondering where you might be from my fellow Hoosier...? Have a great one...! Troy and Tracey

[@jertanner6316]

What are your average low temps at night/early morning? Maybe I missed that. My winters in USA get regularly down to -37C and we've lost chickens when it gets that cold and beyond. I've been kicking that compost heat idea for some time.

[@jeffdustin]

I have Russian Orloff, White Chantecler, 55 Flowery Hens, and Buckeyes. I plan to interbreed and see what happens.

[@marcus7coates33]

I wonder if you used poultry nipples instead of a waterer would you still have the same issue?

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Thank for the info

[@adus123]

how do you stop foxs geting in. and for water why dont you try water nippls on a pipe or something.

[@marvinmiller9226]

How do you keep the chicken killing animals out of the greenhouse?

[@SuperYtviewer]

Water Suggestion: Hang the water from a rail system. Then move the water often enough to spread the manure through out the entire greenhouse. The chickens get the water, and you do not have a single "heavy buildup" location in the system. - Just a thought - Annie

[@simeonandalex]

Thank you. Will have to figure that out with a movable heating system for that as well.

[@gerrygold9273]

Very intersting concept. The chickens are loving it and are completlly happy. Great way to look after your chickens and they look after you. Is that greenhouse movable so that you can move it to a different place for next winter ??? or would you just build a new one for the chickens in a different location? ?? Just found your chanel today and subscribed. I'm so interested ✔👍👌🍒😉