How to get started raising chickens

[@Miguel195211]

Love chickens, remind me of my childhood in the farm.

[@Cowboy_Steve]

Howdy Pete! Great overview of getting started with chickens. Once we figure out where we are going to live for sure... chickens are coming to the homestead lol. Thanks for sharing 🤠

[@doylerabjohn3435]

Great advice, we had a barn yard flock of about 100 about ( 25% was easter eggers) when I was 18 to 21.

[@WeepingWillow422]

I live in an apartment, so unfortunately I can't have chickens. But I love watching chicken videos... especially yours. I think it was last year you made one where your hens were angry with you about something and they wanted you to leave the coop. I thought that was so funny. 😆😆

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

Thank you 👍

[@johnburgin7478]

A few things left to tweak on the run since adding on . She’s ready for chicks . I’m sure our hen will like the company. A friend out of Lake Charles has a bantam that’s a bully . Whoops his Brahma rooster on a regular basis . Thanks for the info

[@eozen81]

Thank you for the video Pete. I can accept myself to have a perfect life if I have a neighbour who is ok with me keeping a rooster, you are lucky to have 😁

[@samelloit602]

Glad you post the good and bad again nice work Pete

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

Thanks 👍

[@TreasureFiend]

Thanks for the video Pete, lots of great information. We just picked up our first 4 chicks earlier this month. Very exciting times, we talked with our neighbors and they all are on board, I told them I wouldn't get a rooster. LOL

[@jimwall1348]

I’ve watched hours and hours of You Tube videos in preparation for having my first flock…dozens of channels. You are my favorite by far. When I have a question now, my wife says, “What does Pete B say about that?” Thank you!

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

Awesome thank you 👍

[@juliebarnett9812]

Thanks, Pete B.

[@gaynellhilton3004]

Awesome! Going to give this a try.

[@laurasavage1528]

Are those black australorps? I have some and love them. They’re great egg layers and have a gentle nature.

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

Yes they are, good eye 👍

[@Nautilus1972]

How about raising coops up off the ground there, skip? Rainfall is predictable. Prepare for it.

[@marcrenato3484]

BTW, ...I still like your hat, man

[@wdwtx2.0]

Sounds like you're enjoying the pollen too....

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

yep I think the tree pollen is finally over here.

[@loremipsum2302]

Good video. We are starting with 4 Rhode Island Reds chicks this year. We bought the probiotic baby chicks feed. Just 2 weeks in and so far, so good. Will try clover and chickweed. Do you know if the chicks will need grit to process the clover and chickweeds? How soon to add grit to their feed? Thank you.

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

They do sell chick grit that's smaller grit than normal. It should help with their digestion.

[@ldtexas1648]

Thanks for the tour. My run isn't as big so I just used the wood chips when mine got muddy. Works great. Yeah, I realize I need an automatic door. Are you going to do any butchering in the future? I'm thinking about it the way things are going. 🤔

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

No butchering unless a rooster gets too aggressive with me, these are only egg laying chickens.

[@ldtexas1648]

@@petebeasttexashomesteading Out of 20 chicks ordered last year, six of them were roosters. Didn't take long to establish kingship. Five wouldn't come back in the house and gradually disappeared. Either coyotes or coons I guess. Found out tractor supply doesn't carry ANY kind of butchering equipment.

[@rickydowell4195]

Have you had to dig the compost out of the runs yet? I know over time it builds up and you wonder why your head starts bumping the roof of the run

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

My older chicken run might need to be dug out soon and filled with wood chips.

[@Nautilus1972]

Aren’t the roosting bars too wide? They’ll shite all over them and then you have to clean the perches. Square or round roosts.

[@marcrenato3484]

Good1

[@jimwall1348]

I am just finishing up my first coop a drum. I’m confused about where, what and how to order chicks. Any advice?

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

Do an online search for chicken hatcheries in your state. That way the chickens don't spend more than a day or two in the mail.

[@abelsalazar2636]

Do you encourage any brooding for your hens to get more chicks.I been subscribed to your channel for a number of years since you caught your young hens not seen any little ones around.

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

We haven't hatched our own chicks yet but we are thinking about it. If we do, we'll probably use an incubator.

[@kimchianthony]

What's your assessment about the deep litter method for the coup for our climate?

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

I think it would be okay if you have a dirt floor, but not good for someone that has a wood floor. Also too much ammonia/urine smell for me and the chickens.

[@kimt.9684]

Did you keep track of how many eggs you get each month and the whole year? I figure with 50 chickens you should have plenty of eggs to make freeze dried eggs. 🙂

[@oscar9737]

Do you worry about foxes or other little critters that dig getting into those coops?

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

No, because the chickens are in the coop during the night and I have two Dobermans that are around during the day.

[@jimwall1348]

Do you keep feed and water both inside the coop and in the run?

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

I keep feed in the coop and the water out in the run.

[@jimwall1348]

My chicks are two weeks old now and thriving ( still in the brooder.) I noticed today that they are making motions like they are talking a dust bath. Is it safe to sprinkle DE in their bedding now?

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

Not necessary if they're in the brooder. Best to wait until they are older and outside.

[@jimwall1348]

I have nine Easter Eggers that are 17 weeks old. Several of them started laying last week. I prepared nesting boxes with straw and golf balls, but the girls keep laying their eggs in the coop. They go in the nesting boxes, but they scratch everything out and then leave. Any suggestions about ways to get them to break that habit?

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

They'll get used to it. Try getting some ceramic eggs and put those in their nesting boxes.

[@jimwall1348]

@@petebeasttexashomesteading Thanks for replying. FYI: The Hobby Farm guys suggested I put up curtains. I thought it was silly, but I put them up this morning and found two eggs in one of the nesting boxes this afternoon!

[@lowkey5340]

I have en egg bound chicken it's probably to late she is basically almost dead and I've done everything i could and im leaving her to rest in a dark place with water and a hard boiled egg

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

I know it's sad, I've had a few that died that way and you feel helpless when it happens.

[@gunnyd9282]

Are those Cyami's?

[@TreasureFiend]

I was thinking Copper Morans

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

I have mostly black Australorps and my older chickens are road island reds and blue Andalusians.

[@Chrysaphius86]

Where’s the best online store to order chicks from??

[@TreasureFiend]

I was going to order from Cackle Hatchery as they have a small order option of just 3 chicks and can be mixed and matched for the "City Town Female Special 3" but I found a local farm that I can go in person so I went with that option.

[@Chrysaphius86]

@@TreasureFiend I was going too order from Cackle Hatchery as well.

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

I would order from a hatchery that is in your state, that way the chicks won't spend more than a day in the mail.

[@loremipsum2302]

You'll find online stores are a bit on the insane side. When I was looking, the hatch / delivery dates were out to June / July for the breeds I was looking for (Rhode Island Reds or Orpingtons). My local feed store told me those breeds sold out within 30 minutes of them arriving at the stores. There's a line since the store opens for those breeds. We waited for a month hoping the rush will calm down; but, nope. So, I finally took off work to go stay in line. But, I agree with Pete - best bet is probably local hatcheries that don't sell online. Edit: I was looking at Meyer Hatchery, Cackle Hatchery, McMurray Hatchery, chickensforbackyards. Like the poster above said, some of these do have minimum orders - so, at least 10 or some numbers. If not, some will charge a fee, while some won't even sell it to you.

[@Chrysaphius86]

@@loremipsum2302 seems like Tractor Supply has good options

[@mikemacinnes6120]

They jersey giants. I have 30 black and 20 white!! Why the bare backs. I have set of girls like that. Can’t figure out why. Do you know why? Good video love your stuff Central NJ here

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

I think it was just a phase they were going through, now they are fine.