How to Get Started with Chickens: Everything you need to know

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[@remzibytyqi3447]

You are the perfect crazy chicken lady 😁

[@theJustinRhodesShow]

Best content of the day :)

[@galeparker1067]

@@theJustinRhodesShow 🤣🤣🤣👍👍right!! 🇨🇦

[@KendelM]

Thank you so much I’m a 13 year old and you inspired me to start a homestead and get some chickens. Keep up the good work.

[@Mitch-sw9wj]

Good luck young man

[@linwayanimaldiscoverysanctuary]

Me too ! Just found out about homesteading last year ! I got a ton of books and just started my garden!

[@lindahubbs8146]

The Bandit • thanks for sharing, I’m proud of you…

[@Gardeningandstuffwithholly]

That is awesome! Good luck!

[@jillyd2807]

Good luck, young man 😊

[@christinatortorilla8519]

I love how you just called your wife "Beautiful One" as if that were her name, that is so sweet ❤

[@Iamgodsarmy]

I've learned so much from this channel , worked on a farm to get hands on in processing chickens and turkeys all while being a single father, the end goal is to be homesteaders

[@michelerae53]

I’ve been following you for several years and I have to say that this is my very favorite video. You have explained from start to finish the whole process of raising chickens in a very cohesive fashion. I get confused a lot of times when the video jumps around. I love love love one animal at a time step by step. ❤❤❤

[@bjo867]

My sentiments exactly. I've been asking him for these videos. So helpful!

[@SunshineCountryChickens]

This is the man Justin that got me started and even convinced me to start a chicken channel! You changed my life and everyone around me has been affected in a positive way I cant thank you enough for giving me the confidence to get started!

[@jeaniLovesAnimals]

I found the Tyrannosaurus chicken in your homemade brooder fascinating..🦖 Thanks for sharing. ❤️☀️🐥🐥🐥

[@hollyjobitner3285]

I had forgotten about the dinosaur in with the chicks. 🦕💙

[@tabp8448]

Love it!

[@HollerGramma]

Thank you Gideon ~ ❤🦖❤

[@lindahubbs8146]

Justin, thank you…your channel is always a joy to me. You’re such a wonderful teacher.

[@MChen-eq7rj]

Love the info. Laughed when I saw the dinosaur.

[@Scipiogirl]

One thing that I add to my faster growth chickens is liver. I boil a chicken or some beef liver, chop it fine, and feed that the first week, one time. Helps their nerve development on the faster growth birds. I learned that from either Storey’s guides or Joel Salatin. I put a thin layer of Vaseline on their bums when I put them into the brooder. I haven’t had any more pasty butt since doing that.

[@Triclocarbon]

Appreciate the gems 💎

[@Twangg1]

During WWII, Victory Gardens and home rearing of chickens and other poultry was highly encouraged... and it was said that two hens for each member of your family would provide you with all the eggs you'd ever need... Personally, I think that is probably more like five for each 2 members of your family, but to each his own! any extra can be freeze dried and used for molting time when egg production drops

[@galeparker1067]

Thanks Thom! And I have heard people say how much less((!), what they call organics, could not even show up at the landfill IF folks were ALLOWED to have 4(?) chickens per large enough city lot..... Just a thought....

[@dongriffith2662]

inhereted some family land and your videos have been beyond helpful. :) we move in next spring but have been putting in all the infrastructure this summer/ fall. you guys are helping change the world.

[@mariemaggard4011]

I love your tips. You are just too cute in how you talk and explain things. You have a great teaching voice. Thank you for sharing!!🐣🐥

[@teslinjoe5938]

Great video! When I was a toddler, I was unsupervised for what was probably only a minute at my grandparent's ranch and accidentally "loved" a baby chick to death -- the memory hurts to this day and I'm 66 years old. It's probably why I've loved chickens and spoiled them rotten my whole life.

[@catherinefoster1481]

My grandmother's nickname was "Chick" for the same reason! She thought they were "asleep". So she'd put that one down and pick up another one. The story goes she cried for days - but the nickname stuck for years.

[@laurieclarkson9180]

Awww so sad, but you didn't know any better! When you said "The memory still hurts to this day" reminded me of a story my ex-boyfriend's mother told me about her childhood. She was a little girl on her farm and she loved all the animals, including the barn cats which her father thought were a tremendous nuisance. After another litter of kittens were born, she overheard her father telling her mother that he planned to drown the kittens to get rid of them! She was horrified so she snuck out in the morning and gathered up the kittens and looked for a good place to hide them from her father. She went to the edge of the farm in a wooded area where generations of family had dumped old tires and such. She saw an old abandoned refrigerator and put the kittens inside it and closed the door. She went to school and later she went to check on the kittens and sadly they had died of heat exhaustion and suffocation inside the fridge. She still gets very upset about it to this day and I warn people about keeping fridges on their property because many kids have played inside them before and got stuck and died too. You guys had the very best intentions. You were just little showing love the best way you knew how.

[@bearrootshomestead7210]

6 years weve been watching you and learning from your experience. Thank you justin and family.

[@theJustinRhodesShow]

Thanks for the long time viewership

[@et6493]

I've been watching you every sense I've had chickens 4 1/2 years and you are the best thank you for all the information God-bless

[@julietbowden6189]

Great video Justin! I love how the turkey chicks turn and face the corner so they can’t see you! ❤

[@AceAlbatros]

I live in an apartment in Pittsburgh, down the street from me rarely when I take the back road to get home, there’s two chickens just walking the same street every time. Twos a perfect number for their yard too

[@marshasmith6320]

Gideon I love your chick condo!! That’s awesome! Thanks for showing us. Great video!! Love all the chicks!

[@lazarus_phenomenon9581]

I have 4 hens. I get 4-6 a day. Chickens are awesome. Your setup is wayyyy better than mine.

[@meggadub]

Thank you Justin your videos are always so easy to watch and easy to relate to. You show the good the bad and the ugly keep up the good work.

[@dulciemargaretcolton145]

Hi Justin. We really enjoyed listening to ur chat all about setting up to keep chickens. When I was young we always had chickens at the bottom of our garden. We loved them so much.

[@belieftransformation]

Great demos & encouragement! Thanks for sharing! Those little boys are great with the poultry & fun to watch! Blessings to all 🤗💜🇨🇦

[@ledos392]

Been keeping chickens for years now. I like them more for the show and the more exotic breeds and great video

[@vinlago]

We set up a brooder in our RV where we are living until we are done building our house. Same setup as this dining room version but a slightly smaller bin and no exit door in the side. We made a top with plastic garden fencing to keep them inside although we took them out often to get used to being handled and so they could stretch their legs & wings. Soon as they could handle evening temps we moved them outside to a coop/run (we are in a warm climate). They were underfoot for several weeks but we all survived. 🐣

[@gailstritzel9066]

Thank you so much for making this video! I have an established flock, but got new chicks recently. You answered my questions of how to integrate the new ones with the older ones and what to feed the mixture of ages.

[@lindahubbs8146]

I have 16 pretty girls for myself and to share with my sweet family here in Colorado. My granddaughters love them. I’m adding 20 more including a rooster. Plan to hatch eggs too. I have everything I need, just waiting on my new hens to arrive. All my 16 girls are an assortment but decided my new girl order are dual purpose Rhode Island’s . We are in a season of these being most important over assorted beauties. I found that my brahmas go broody but love there feathery feet etc.

[@CountrylifeGifts]

I really like the way you are taking care of your baby boy too :) great example of a great father. God Bless You!

[@TheKamakuraGardener]

Good day from Kamakura, Japan 🇯🇵! 🤩🐶👍🏾

[@Kkviolet1822]

Thanks Justin for all of your inspiration across the world! Youve done an amazing job

[@tammiedunbar6166]

Thank you Justin &Becky . I started watching your channel during Covid shut down. And really enjoyed your presentations. And I started gardening again and started a flock of laying hens during the Spring of (2021). I live outside Metropolitan Atlanta and I'm enjoying the peace& contentment of caring for living things and reaping the bounty of fresh eggs and vegetables &fruit. I added Asian Pears trees and more plum trees to my backyard orchard. Thank you for inspiring me to flow into creative possibilities. Your elder children are becoming teenagers to fast! Be well and safe & thriving.

[@krisfaydetv4209]

Why are you so genius ❤ your creativity for gardening is very powerful.

[@LJFullHouse]

Justin, I’ve been making our own feed from whole grains. I decided to grind some up for our chicks, and they went crazy for it. Also, store bought or homemade, I soak the chicks feed and give it to them with the water in it. So much less mess doing this. I am going to implement the feeder box that keeps the shavings out of the feed. We currently have our chicks on shredded paper because it was free and all we have at the moment.

[@rafaelsuarez230]

i started to get interested in birds back in 2017 with your videos. They are very encouraging

[@alexandraulinski3751]

This is a fantastic intro to chickens. I’m experienced with ducks but new to chickens. The brooder is excellent and you went through every detail! This is exactly what I needed for advice to start my chicken farm. So grateful. I even shared this video with my sister because the mesh under the feeder/water setup in the brooder would be great for her slurping ducklings.

[@haou132]

You are fantastic !!! Love and blessings +++!!!

[@surgicaltechcrafter2169]

THANK YOU! We are very first time chicken owners, we are building our coop and after weeks of waiting our first batch hatched and shipped Monday evening. My boyfriend went to a way out of the way different Post Office yesterday that received them. He called me and said they are not making any noise I said they are dead. He got inside the car and opened the box and yes ALL DEAD! My heart broke. So now we have 3 post offices to call for our replacements.

[@suzyqakers2418]

tytyty finallly hubby may take some advice, his tractor is in the garage and he doesn't believe me so watching you he realizes, it doesn't have to weigh 200 pounds, we only have 6 chickens,.... and all this advice is soooooooooooooo valuable. we used to have a farm many years ago and lotsa livestock, but now we are old and just need something to sustain us, I love this video. This adventure is going to grow into more chickens, and more brooders, and more tractors. I love your platform for the feed etc... have a blessed day, from the UP of Michigan, Yupersue

[@jaxmom9043]

But what do you do with chickens in the winter. Those coops do not look insulted and when it gets below freezing(not to mention below zero with an even colder wind chill) what do you do?

[@WanderingWellnessRV]

Thank you, Justin for a informative and entertaining video! Saving this information for when we get land/a farm of our own. Fingers crossed hopefully by next year, if not sooner.

[@jeannelohr3901]

Thank you for your honesty and showing us your reality! Family should come first! You guys aren't perfect and none of us are either!

[@thestork8386]

This video was extremely helpful, it answered many questions that I had. We’re currently planning our homestead that we’ll be starting soon and while I spent a chunk of my childhood on a homestead, I know there are other and oftentimes better ways of doing things. And this video blew my mind as far as how to raise chickens. A chicken tractor in a stationary pen?! I would never have thought of that. Excellent video, I have taken notes and look forward to implementing these methods when we start up. So thank you!

[@paulaknapp4592]

I thank you for showing me step by step how to care for and house chickens 👍🏻

[@betsysmucker3708]

I have books on chickens and learned more from your video then what was in my books! Thank you!!!!

[@Byrdro]

Great video! Thanks for posting! Just got our first 8 chicks. We'll keep watching for new videos!

[@courtneystawarz5190]

We have chickens for the first time and I made the screen cover like you showed. I feel so empowered! Homestead DIY here I come!!

[@meanderingsofavengaard7732]

Would it be possible to create an electric fence roll up? With my health declining I am struggling with lifting those electric fences. Everything gets tangled in those things: my feet, grass, any branch or twig within a ten mile radius. I have lost rings, fallen and bruised myself pretty badly from getting caught up in it, and even laying it out and doing the careful roll it catches on itself. It takes me almost three hours to take a fence down, roll it up, haul/drag it to the front yard, set it up, figure out what is keeping it from charging, and then move the chickens. It's not simple or easy. I have no husband or kids or hired hand to do it for me. It would make it so much more accessible to be able to wheel the fence over, start putting it up as it unwinds. Then when it's time to move you set one post on the portable roller and wind it as you go. No heavy lifting to keep the work from getting done. Kids could use it, older folks with arthritis or Lyme could use it even with flare ups because of the wheels. Then in winter you just roll it into storage safe and sound. There has to be a cost effective way to make this part of homesteading less time and energy draining. I love my chickens. They make me so happy. I can't build permanent structures because I rent. If these fences were just a little bit easier to lift and maneuver life with my chickens would be a lot more enjoyable.

[@lorraine-bluebrit2242]

Thank you very much for the video it is very informative Even though I never going to have a homestead I'm elderly and my body is full of arthritis but I love watching homesteaders and you are very informative in this video thank you so much I enjoyed it.

[@AlexRoss-eo2fp]

Was not following for awhile but still enjoy your content whenever I pop in. Keep at it Justin enjoying all the way from Barbados.❤

[@user-wz3xm7qt5l]

I can't express enough how much joy and hope and inspiration your video brought me, i'm not usually a very patient and focused person and i've never before listened to such a detailed explanation about raising chickens but i did today and it brought so much joy and inspiration to me, the way you explained such mini but super important details, i don't know why but it sparked so much hope in me about a long lost dream thank you so much for that. plus loved the little Dino vibing in there😂 keep up the great work all the best❤

[@laurieclarkson9180]

LOVE THIS! This video is absolutely incredible. Best video I've seen on chickens! The only thing I was hoping to see, is how to prepare everything for winter time.

[@baynerw]

I really enjoyed this video! Thank you. The hands-on inventiveness and ingenuity are appreciated. My daughter keeps chickens old style and has too many, she offered to give me some and that is why I watched your video. Her and her husband have no backyard grass anymore....30+ chickens and dogs. I want to keep my grass so the chickshaw sounds like a good idea. You seem to have a good grasp of the balance of the natural while trying to make it manageable. Good video.

[@MinOfForest]

Thank you for the amazing and thorough information. I’m super excited to get chickens this spring, but I don’t know anyone who has ever kept them. I’m spending winter learning as much as I can, but I’m pretty nervous. As soon as you quoted “Anxiety means go, so go!” was the first time I thought “Heck yeah, I got this”

[@Indigenous_Patriot_1175]

I truly enjoyed this video and subscribed to your channel. I’m new to homesteading so I will take all the help I can get 😊…. Thanks for all that you do

[@SpliffyMeister]

Rule of thumb is up here we wait until after the may 24 weekend so between that and june 1st is usually around the time to set outdoors just like some plants cant be transplanted until you remain at around a 15 Degree Celsius and above. Most times there is no risk of frost. Some people like to wait a full month before putting chickens outside. Great Video very informative! Thank you

[@IsraelKalungi-mf7tj]

Good work done!

[@debbiesmith2207]

lovin the chickshaw!!!! and everything else. thanks for making the video :)

[@gysfamily5832]

You have excellent equipment, stables and knowledge. I learned to raise chickens

[@SimplyBackwoods]

I so appreciate what your sharing about the chicks and starting out with them. I've asked on various channels how to feed the chicks and if I can ferment their food and how old do they need to be. Your the first to give me an answer. Thank you! I think it was you that said they are pigs with wings and so true. They love to eat 😅I'm looking forward to fermenting food continually and will save money in the long run. I have two Turkens, 2 Black Australorps and and a light Brahma. I bought them from a local farm and feed store so they didn't have to be shipped to me. I also buy their developer food and pine chips. I need to ask about getting the shavings and not the chips since I do the deep layer method and like doing it. I'm starting out small with room to increase in time. I'm going to keep the hover brooder in mind for my next set of chicks. They started out in a smaller kennel with a heat lamp. I am looking forward to getting their developer food fermenting tonight for them to have in next few days when it's ready. Is it still alright to give them the garlic clove in water with honey for their gallon of waterer They are 9 weeks old now. I do give them grit I purchased for them. I've also giving them dirt with DE and they love it too once a week. Thank you for sharing the wire frame you put their food and water on. It has drove me nuts that I'm changing water continually and they have pine chips in their food constantly too. I have been giving them mulberries, broccoli sprouts, a scrambled egg from time to time and other table scraps. I also pick grass outdoors and bring it in for them too. I'm growing sweet clover and chicken forage so hope soon it will be ready to give them some as well. I've got it growing outdoors for when they go out as well as some started under lights to give them soon. The chicks are growing like crazy and now are in a super large kennel in the basement until their outdoors quarters are ready. I'm also wanting to make sure it's going to stay warm here in Iowa and no more freezes. We have had tons of rain too so don't mind waiting just a bit to have them outside anyhow. I have a small wire enclosed chicken run but they got too large before I had it done so waiting to take them outside yet. Too many predators here and they definitely like to fly lol I covered the top of the very large kennel to keep them in for now or I fine them sitting on the top or out walking around lol I've watched some of your other videos so have some good ideas how to build their outdoor area. Chicken coops are expensive and never big enough for even a few chickens. Better to make one's own and have that compost corner. I'm trying to find some aluminum siding for what I'm building. So the chickens must not fly over the netting? Do you have videos for when it's too cold for the chickens to be outside? Here in Iowa winters are brutal. I hope to get in on the kickstarter for the book. I love that guarding goose. Thanks for sharing the chicken tractor. Giving me some ideas. Thank you so much, Justin for your information. You have helped me so much!

[@i_be_eternity]

I can’t wait for that book to come out. I have polyface designs and it’s well worth the money.

[@mccoolfarmandgarden]

That screen under the waterer is a game changer! We have quail and I’ll be making that this week for our new hatch

[@dr.rev.lindabingham]

What a blessing!

[@suemauer5965]

Thanks for the tips...three days ago I bought four chicks at our local farm store. They are living in my laundry room in a brooder made from an old pack&play! I need to add more shavngs.

[@cluckandstrut]

Seeing all your chicks makes me so clucky!! 😂 My silkie hatched two chicks today & she is still sitting on 4 eggs. 🤞 Hoping they hatch soon! ❤

[@tabp8448]

Wow. Love the homemade brooder, I wish I had seen this when i got my first chicks. It's very informative. 🐤🐥🐤

[@faithrada]

Nice Job Justin.. great tips. Thank You. 👍

[@Balharbor28]

I can't remember seeing, even in my dreams, of which I have had some of the most beautiful, anything really as beautiful as most of these birds with feathers that are incredibly beautiful.

[@nancyd.2881]

Thank you so much for this video. I been waiting for you to do an explanation of this. Very very helpful. 🎉

[@thomasreto2997]

Thank you Sean for showing us this man’s farm in orchid land! I’ll look next time on island at Makuu.

[@eithanlong1355]

Man I talk just like you! My daughter lives it... I gotta start my own page this is perfection

[@BrianaRoberts-nx3et]

this is probably the best intro video ive seen thus far! well done! I learned so much!

[@tfisher67]

I laughed so hard when you said "you don't do that math in public, you do that math in private"!!!! I can totally relate to that!

[@sierradante]

Missed the seminar…hope you’ll have another one soon.

[@shandysgarden]

Amazing! Thanks Uncle Justin!! Anxiety means go. This the best chicken video I think I've ever seen. It may have just gotten me off the fence. My raising chics fence, that is😊

[@bigqueue]

Thanks for the video, I'll have to look for more of your insights on chickens. I'm in New england, and I'm particularly worried about the winter.

[@andriaharper]

I just love watching your family.

[@Jerry-dq4om]

Absolutely great knowledge!!!

[@poultry_power]

Justin, thank you You’re such a wonderful teacher.

[@phylwilton1966]

Thank you so much, for the suggestion about the TURKEY chick growing up with the chickens!

[@mays_ways]

I love the love, thanks for the ideas!💡🤝

[@truestory923]

The BEST INTRO to chickens!! Thank you, I'm no longer so scared

[@patiencevitacco373]

Thank you for sharing your experience and enthusiasm. ❤

[@seizeimmunity4113]

Thank you for this video. Im takin over my late uncles chicken pens and this helped a lot

[@jdwilsun]

Good plan, deep bedding & movable coop.

[@queenresharyan1659]

thank you for the share... this is great info

[@jackiesnowflake2255]

I have two chicks with this last batch of 21 chicks that i dont know how survived but they have and now they're with the year olds. One has a crooked neck and a vet has told me his neck has been broken and my other one is blind in one eye. Theyre surviving😊. Ive been watching your channel off and on for quite some time and its amazing from the first i saw to now how improved everything is. I now have 35 chickens. Some of my chicken yard is in pasture and the rest in wood chips. I was regretting the wood chips till i watched this video. Ive got maybe a third of acre for my chicken yard so i cant do much but ive built one hoop coop and am in process in building another one using 6 cattle panels per coop. Ive got trees and bushes they can get under if needed or they can run to their coops. I wish i could send you pictures of my coop and yard id like to have your opinion on them. But i like what i have😊. I also learned the deep litter method so i changed it after 6 months and it went into a compost bin. Im looking at your compost bin and its giving me some ideas. Thank you for all your videos ive learned alot.😊

[@creamynessification]

so many brilliant ideas! thank you for your hard work! liked and subbed!

[@aico847]

Your book should arrive today. Awesome content

[@meganvester8819]

Such good information all in one place!

[@FamilyFarm2024]

love your chickens

[@wpchastain]

Love the dirt trap, building one tomorrow!!

[@natyb3976]

Thanks for sharing your video sir God bless you always.

[@SonniesGardenPA]

Hey Justin, the chick's are so cute. I never heard of garlic in the water, but it makes sense. Thanks for all the good info.

[@Proudtobetunisan1680]

greetings from Tunisia I love the british people go ahead bro

[@susansaffioti2111]

So beautiful! I love your style and the children are beautiful!

[@MiriamJoyDowd]

If we don’t have a chicken tracktor (going to prioritize the final chickshaw build)…where should we put the chicks at 3/4 weeks??

[@jaredr8284]

Hi Justin, how about a simple spring on your chicken run door to automatically close it behind you? Thankful for your videos! Informative and enjoyable.

[@johnlee7085]

We got 7 eggs and supplies as a homeschool project. We candled during the second week and one was not viable. We also had 1 that was essentially stillborn. They stayed in a tub like yours for the first week, but we had to return it with the other supplies. We also have dogs, so we transitioned to their old kennel (only used when training pups). We did need to line it to keep them from escaping. It’s overly big now 20” x 20” x 40”, but we were told they needed to stay inside till they were fully feathered; 5-6 weeks. Even at 3 weeks they are probably bigger than 4 per sf. Like your feed and water ideas.

[@sustainable-you]

Love it, 2 questions please: 1) How do you deal/avoid with mites in the chickshaw? and 2) can you introduce a little goose to grownup chickens?

[@TopRealtor333]

You can put wheels on that chicken tractor to make it a bit easier. Loving your content. We are thinking about chickens.