Raising chickens 101, getting started & what they don't tell you

Even if you've had chickens for years, you'll probably learn something in this video. Packed full of information

[@gpymama]

Roosters are not only good for fertilizing. My roo fought off a bobcat and I have video proof. All my hens and roo survived. I am sitting in my coop right now, and I love my roo and hens. There is a reason why they say the rooster is the least appreciated animal on the farm.

[@gpymama]

I lost two hens yesterday to a mink. My rooster was almost dead when I got home from work from fighting it. Minks will kill all chickens until none are left. My remaining hens, and rooster are living in the basement until we fix the problem. I love my boy so much. He is still resting and has facial abrasions.

[@gpymama]

The mink tunneled into the coop from the floor.

[@decayedcake1245]

do you have instagram?

[@arsenal4life870]

I had a rooster I called him killer , he was exceptional he was so furious and mad though he was very clever and smart, he picked every cat and dog in the neighborhood and nearly killed a falcon he was very huge (brahma) but never attacked humans and liked to be petted he lived up to 7 years cus he was a member of my family

[@decayedcake1245]

@@arsenal4life870 a very good age for a chicken

[@smartboi9655]

Roosters prevent chickens from fighting, protect them, call them when they find food, and warn them about predators.

[@goodlifehomestead6876]

Agreed. A good rooster is an asset.

[@301larussomusic]

@Brian Stefanick right

[@thangsut711]

My rooster is very skittish whenever I'm around... and he runs away when a small animal comes by. But he is still a very good boi.

[@godlytechreviews4]

@@thangsut711 is the rooster very noisy?

[@findingsolutions198]

@@godlytechreviews4 yes . Very noise

[@kpaigem1270]

Hi! I learned from my great grandfather a trick for the nesting boxes.He would place golf balls, some people use fake ceramic eggs, in the nesting boxes to encourage the chickens to use all the boxes! I hope this helps :)

[@obsidianwing]

Ceramic eggs works good

[@fasteddie7772]

Yeah, but why would you want to bend and stoop to get eggs out of 14 boxes when you can just have one box up high and get all the eggs easily? Not to mention saving the expense and back-break making all the extra boxes. Best use of a ceramic egg is helping them to lay in the nest you want them to lay in, and for choking a thieving snake to death.

[@jussayinmipeece1069]

@@fasteddie7772 because the eggs get crowded and fall and break the bottom ones get hot. Also chickens are picky so they will literally refuse to lay if the nest is full.

[@cominooculto]

@@jussayinmipeece1069 yeah

[@ElGallo978]

They use the same nesting box for more heat generation and protection against other predators that attack both the chickens and the eggs. They support each other like a community. However, sometimes not all of them get along very well tho.

[@elainecollins9565]

Such a gorgeous book - each shed is unique and inspiring, and I love all the tiny details Kotite features to help readers imagine how to create their own She Sheds kzbin.infoUgkxe9yi0sulKgsp0VJJCIrLWWkvVqcU7LFR . The feature on Dinah's Rustic Retreat is like something from a fairy tale. It's really inspiring to see how creative all these ordinary people are in making beautiful and useful spaces on a modest scale.

[@IanAlderige]

Rooster protec Rooster attac And if alarm cloc don't work Rooster has your bac

[@ullianove151]

You... said it.😅

[@jacobsinger97]

Yess

[@jawad_youtube]

Epic🤣🤣

[@diamondkev8818]

EHHHHHHHHHHH LOL

[@bloomer1286]

True I’m Muslim and my rooster wakes me up in fajr :)

[@simplelivinghighthinking7007]

Chickens have amazingly good characters. I've seen a rooster risk his life to try to save a chick. I also saw a rooster adopt chicks that lost their Mom. Thank you for this nice, informative video.

[@buteos8632]

Simple Living High Thinking :D

[@mabbis8583]

Last month a dog from the neighboor broke the fence and got his way to the chicken area, the rooster saw it inmediately and went straight in to attack the dog, he lost the battle but all the chick lived that day

[@breannaellenatkinson7144]

I didn’t know they would help raise the chicks 🐥 ❤️🥺

[@drfaizulhassan2319]

Hey, anything to ask ,plzz , I am veterinarian (DVM) and also M.Phil In Theriogenology....Particularly, my research on poultry semen cryopreservation...

[@drfaizulhassan2319]

@@breannaellenatkinson7144 Hey, anything to ask ,plzz , I am veterinarian (DVM) and also M.Phil In Theriogenology....Particularly, my research on poultry semen cryopreservation...

[@alexryherd9810]

A good tip for homesteaders with dirtbag neighbors with poorly trained dogs, if possible, reinforce the bottoms of your barn or coop doors, or even fence gates with heavy lumber wrapped in chicken wire. It will help prevent the predators or dogs from getting through, also, maybe even nails or screws sticking out of them slightly to help deter. Sounds extreme but from experience I can tell you that sometimes things like this need to be done.

[@SBE3000]

I'm worried about my dog. As an aussie shep he has big herding instincts. Training only goes so far and he loves to chase fast moving ground prey. He is not a pet. He is a guard dog and is trained to do 2 services tasks, he will not be leaving. But I will have to go through a learning curve of protecting the hens. Hoping I can teach him they are part of the family he needs to protect.

[@ourdesertwonderland]

Animals are instinctual creatures and innocent at that. Yes I do agree that every person should be responsible with their animals but sometimes accidents happen.

[@michaelafrazier3387]

@@SBE3000 If he kills one of your hens tie it around his neck for about a week. Chances are he will never bother one again. Tricks of my dear grandma.

[@user-ti2rn4wi7y]

I buried 2x4 inch mesh wire around the outside of the entire coop, 1 foot extending on the outside and 1 foot on the inside (chickens dig too) Just 2 inches under the soil, and I've never had anything make it inside, and I've seen the evidence where they've tried. We have everything in Florida, coyotes, foxes, neighbors's dogs, raccoons, skunks, possums, armadillos (yes, they will kill chickens) otters, and very large snakes.Not to mention hawks and owls. If you don't protect your poultry, you're just giving the local wildlife a smorgasbord. Also, coyotes and dogs can chew through chicken wire. I use chain link fencing for the walls, and cover it with 1 inch chicken wire to keep out the snakes and rats.

[@alexryherd9810]

@@user-ti2rn4wi7y I use chain link as well with chicken wire wrapped around the bottoms. I've had good luck with the chicken wore wrapped heavy lumber I put on the base of all my doors. The few times something has tried to get I'm they just left with empty bellies and bloody mouthes

[@gamelikar]

I am not going to use this in my life but I’ll still watch it because why not. That’s the beauty of KZbin videos back in the day, something that will never appear now.

[@NickandSilkeCreate]

We love our backyard chickens 🐥 they are so much fun. Our hens lay one egg each almost every day. We used a green plastic egg 🟢 in their nesting box to get them started laying eggs and to teach them where to lay them. It worked like a charm 😁

[@Teajonmustard]

It would be so much better if everyone just had a chicken farm in there backyard.

[@misimcfarland5212]

I'm very experienced with chickens. This is an excellent basic guide. The one thing you could have added is about the benefits of keeping a closed flock. I see a lot of new people making the mistake of buying random chickens from others, and at markets, and adding them to their flock without a quarantine period, and of course ending up with endless problems with a range of sickness.

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

Misi McFarland thanks for the kind words and advice! Agreed, mixing chickens is tough and almost an entire video of its own. Thanks again

[@misimcfarland5212]

@@hobbyfarmnutt8028 Yes, easily a video on its own.

[@bigdoggjohnson18]

The established chickens will sometimes attack new chickens. You fence in the new ones in your run to introduce them. Within a week you will be all good.

[@jimmccarley3191]

Pox can go through an entire flock fast if you have mosquitoes. I used to hatch a lot of chicks to sell at auctions and flea markets. I vaccinated every chick within the first few hours of hatching. They say after 24 hours it is too late to vaccinate for pox..

[@jamalanewpizza6334]

Misi McFarland im sure you're experienced in other areas too ;)

[@karinadiaz5679]

"Next you want to train your chickens!" I died lol

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

Glad you got a chuckle. I crack myself up but I’m not always funny to others.

[@alexanderblum9882]

thank you for the comment because that helped me find the humor in it haha

[@jeffwestbrooke279]

Instead of chasing them to put them away I have mine spoiled. I have a bag of treats (usually dried worms) and I shake the bag and they come running. Its funny to watch their fat little bodies sprinting for the coop when they hear the treats.

[@mjshaheed]

I laugh out loud every time when I see them run towards you to their treats.

[@loopsruby]

Good idea...

[@jedijoe1976]

@@mjshaheed My wife says it looks like old ladies holding up their pantaloons.

[@konoo0219]

I just call them like I snap my fingers or click my tongue and they start to come running.

[@axlrose9054]

Is it easy as she said to raise chickens?

[@dibrentley7915]

its easy to get your chickens back into the coop. Everyday get some thing to bang on and then put food scraps in their run. They soon learn to associate the bang with food scraps and come running (or sometimes low flying) and then you just need to close the cage door.

[@johnboy1103]

di brentley I just shout come on chucks and they come running every time I just always give them some scraps as the reward

[@dibrentley7915]

@@johnboy1103 ive changed mine to come on girls time for bed and bang their feed bin and they come running.

[@DavidStrickland-collegesuccess]

Thanks for making this delightful video. I love that you moved through useful information as a brisk pace rather than wasting many minutes of irrelevant storytelling. I also got a huge laugh from the last picture (about training your chicken).

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

David Strickland thanks! It’s rare for people to take time to compliment anymore. Glad you enjoyed it

[@txgal3967]

Great video! I also have chickens, rabbits, and ducks. I do love my rooster Doug though. He alarms everyone of predators, calls everyone to bed, and he's pretty smooth with all his hens. 😎 Also he is a gentleman with the snacks.

[@ajiamigo]

My rooster is my favorite bird. His personality, his role, his bravery, and his loving nature when the turd isn't in breed mode. He'd make you wonder how the heckle of calling some coward a chicken ever came from.

[@SBE3000]

You made me laugh a bit, my mom always wondered how "pansy" was an insult bc they are hardy flowers. 🤣

[@chris2790]

Well, the put down is chicken, not rooster!

[@montecarlo4294]

Work isn't a big enough word to describe raising livestock

[@cyavsqz67]

Unless it’s therapeutic like it is for me 😆

[@kdiddy4714]

I know men who run multimillion pound business and work 14hours a day, then go to the gym, that's work lol.

[@critterfestsanctuary2446]

I fully agree. I run a small Animal sanctuary and I have not had one day off as far as a weekend trip ect in the past 4 years. I average 12 to 14 hour days depending.

[@oftin_wong]

You got that right ...apparently the word drudgery was coined through the discovery of agriculture

[@tecumsehzacateco8798]

KingsleyD if you think that’s work, you have no idea what real hard work looks like smh 🤦‍♂️

[@mindsuretherapyprograms2480]

This is so useful. I am so excited to get my first chickens soon. I like the way this is straight forward, pleasant to watch and informative without complications. It is also very positive and light hearted. Love it. Thank you

[@hennypenny7381]

Instead of boiling fresh eggs, I steam them about 20 minutes or so, depending on how many and how big the eggs are. They peel just fine if you steam them. This also tells me that store bought eggs are older when they get to the market. I have read, they can be up to 45 days old. Plus they are washed with a harsh solution, which can get into the egg, as egg shells are made of calcium and calcium is porous. Love your flock! They all look happy and healthy. :-)

[@BlessedVet]

Thanks for the tip.

[@kylew.lostroh7931]

I will always have a rooster with my flock. They offer great protection, let hens know where food is, and I love letting the hens hatch a few of their own babies out every spring.

[@zennus1]

💯

[@tech53tjw77]

I just recently started raising 4 chickens. I'm excited!!! Thanks for the information.

[@sg639]

How did year 1 go?

[@Balharbor28]

Such beautiful chickens should be in a museum for display of their beauty.

[@traviszachery9672]

This brings me back to when I was a kid and my Grandma, rest her soul, had me rounding up all the chickens before sunset.

[@mabbis8583]

Last month a dog from the neighboor broke the fence and got his way to the chicken area, the rooster saw it inmediately and went straight in to attack the dog, he lost the battle but all the chicks lived that day.. not useless at all

[@threemermaids7925]

Thanks for the video. Excellent information, short and sweet. (I won't mention the rooster thing.) I've had chickens now for 3+ years and learned a few things. The little chicks that we buy in the spring are nice enough but the chicks that were hatched here in the house...wow, friendlier by far than store-bought chickens. The main thing I learned is that the chickens self-segregated; each batch that was hatched became one group. Each new group kept itself apart from the other groups. I had one flock but there were 4 'family groups'. I give away excess roosters and keep only one or two to protect the flock and provide a new generation...well, plus rooster are pretty to look at.

[@Postofficejoe]

That's very interesting, ..thanks

[@angham3829]

Hallelujah 🎶 Glory to God ♥️ 🙏For more happy chickens.

[@asdfghjkl900321]

3:00 That chick on the swing is the cutest thing I saw in a long time 😁

[@maribelmeza4494]

I absolutely LOVE this video! Found out some things nobody has talked about, on other videos. I guess they all assume we know the basics. She also gets right to the point, with a good presentation voice and great visuals. That’s what makes a great informative, concise, and enjoyable video. GREAT JOB! Blessings.

[@s731s]

I have an intense phobia of mice and rats. Thank you for sharing that info. That alone makes me realize I'm probably not cut out for the little chicken coup I've always wanted.

[@reyastallman2818]

Planting things like mint should keep them away!

[@maddierosemusic]

Yup, the rats show up from nowhere and live side by side with the chickens. They'll burrow under a slab of concrete. They suck.

[@i_wouldprefer_not_to1196]

@@maddierosemusic Why is that? I have idiot neighbours who dump rubbish illegally in the alley next to my house so mice (sometimes rats too) can be a problem at times anyway. I was also curious about how my elderly dog would react to chickens in his yard. I'll confess that I'm totally ignorant about chickens and this was me dipping my toe in to find out about them!

[@michaelafrazier3387]

Get a Cat !

[@Ritarosephotography]

This is exactly me. Intense phobia. I have dreamed about chickens but as soon as I heard this I realized I can’t do it.

[@amusingkiwi9586]

My roosters a good boy, he protects his chickens, and im expecting chicklings in a few mounths. So yah not usless...

[@roflstomps324]

@@lisabajada3558 I was going to add the same thing. Roosters break up more fights than they start.

[@anabelletalstein2479]

@@roflstomps324 indeed, we originally got a rooster because our Golden Laced Wyandottes were abusing all my other hens in the flock when we added our Ayam Cemani, he did us good and put them in their place, sadly, he was sold, after time he began over breeding hens even though he was the only male in our flock, we have had two doofus roosters and three very smart ones, the first two we have ever owned were Espresso and Pepper, we got them before the Ayam Cemani, but we didn't know they were males. We wanted a male-only pen after, so we separated Pepper and Espresso from the Ayam Cemani sadly Espresso and PEpper didn't get along alone, so Pepper moved back to our main run, and Espresso stayed alone until we sold him, Espresso caused a lot of trouble anyways, at 7 months old, he was still not fully sexually mature or acted like a adult bird, tripping us and jumping on top of hens from the loft on purpose. Pepper stayed, so did Cluck Norris. After time PEpper got really skinny because Cluck Norris did not let Pepper eat, but Pepper was a really good male so we just separated him off into the extra pen with our slackers, in the end, we hatched some chicks, two of them being crossed with Pepper, and two being crossed ith Cluck Norris (the Cemani roo) Pepper's two offspring ended up being males, Donut and Frost, then Cluck Norris had a pullet (Peep) and I'm unsure of the sex of the other chick, I'll just call it she, (Meatball was her name) was my first and most depressing chick death because I knew she would not survive and I bonded to her. (she had an extremely bad abdomen infection) in the end, Cluck Norris was sold because he was being a jerk to our girls, and we mainly stuck with Pepper, him and his girls began free-roaming, but then Donut from the main flock pen and got lose and badly injured Pepper which none of the males have ever tried to fight before which was strange, thanks to Donut though, we almost lost some hens free-ranging a few days later while Pepper was in the infirmary healing. Pepper could not do his job for about a week. Luckily, everything is peaceful at the moment, but Donut will be leaving shortly to a friends farm, my friend recently lost their old rooster, he was 7 years old. They asked if we had any males left for sale and we are giving them Donut for free. Despite some issues, I will never stop raising roosters or be afraid to hatch them out. I will proudly keep any males that I hatch as long as they prove to be good for me.

[@pattyleabo426]

That’s so happy :) good rooster

[@anabelletalstein2479]

@Hammerschlägen M I find I I know my chickens well, and I must say everyone should know their bird to the finest of detail. This way you can always make sure they are in shape and healthy.

[@charlotteavolio1079]

Lol, chicklings.

[@fayprivate7975]

You give out so many useful tips! We inherited 7 chickens, unexpectedly, when we bought a house in rural Arkansas. It’s been a steep learning curve, especially since they didn’t even have a chicken coop. There are nasty predators in these forests in the Ozarks! Videos like yours are really helpful! Thank you!

[@larrywebster2126]

We live in the mountains of TN and know nothing about chickens except they are pretty much maintenance free. I don't think I would even have to feed them but I do. They take good care of themselves by free ranging eliminating ticks and other tasty bugs. We let them out in the morning and they go back in just before dark and get locked up. They ain't never been sick and the rooster takes great care of them. Key is when you live out in the woods is to have dogs & daily noise. Once that goes away the predators come in. Only lost one once when we all went into town. Late fall & winter is airborne predators being that the foliage is gone in the trees, the 4 legged predators get hungrier especially the bears before they go to sleep. Target practice this time a year let's them all know. Having misc huts for the chickens to evade to really helps otherwise they be on your porch all the time. Perimeter sensors are a must during winter when you spend most that time in the house, will let you know when a 4 legged predator is around, fire off 2 shots in the air with your 22. The rooster will always let us know when their is danger and he don't let them stay too far from the house if we're inside. When we is all out including the dogs the chickens fan out. All I know is they are pretty low maintenance. Being that we get freezing weather about this time I don't clean out the chicken house. The poop and hay mix generates heat at night to help keep them warm while they roost. They get fed feed and scraps twice a day, clean water throughout the property. Don't hatch the fertile eggs, let one of the hens do it naturally in the summer.

[@renzdealexandria1189]

Is Marty Bryde still living in Ozark?

[@ipunzer1]

@@renzdealexandria1189 love that movie!

[@KevinsTripSurvivialGuide-xd6bf]

@@ipunzer1 show

[@baraka7004]

Roosters are very Beneficial. The hens enjoy having one. He watches out for the flock.

[@bigdoggjohnson18]

Only have a rooster if free ranging.

[@jimmccarley3191]

I am going to put this as nice as I know how. Hens are like women some hate a male and some tolerate a male, and some cannot get enough of the male!

[@janasheenhaider3941]

What if you have more than 1 rooster

[@guardiandogoargentinos1385]

@@bigdoggjohnson18 I'm going to have 60 hens and 20 roosters in a square encaged area using a 6'×150' fence

[@guardiandogoargentinos1385]

@B Ball big differemce between legal and lawful though.

[@allanmccarthy3084]

Thanks for the video. I'm relatively new to keeping chickens. My research shows, chickens, unlike other birds that roost with feet curled around a limb, like to be on a flat surface in order to rest there breast bone. That is, a 2x4 is the best roosting platform for a chicken not a typical closet pole. I have eleven chickens and they seem to love the 2x4 configuration that I have in the coop.

[@bigbuilder6013]

Vertical or horizontal?

[@allanmccarthy3084]

Horizontal or the 3.5" width of the 2x4 (as a builder you know a finished 2x4 is 3.5" wide) flat for the feet and breast to lay on. The 2x4 should have smooth edges so as not to cut their feet. Best, Allan

[@SuperDobieGirl]

Cary Howe how do you know how dinosaurs slept? Were YOU there?

[@SuperDobieGirl]

This video is not accurate. Please read all the comments there is better advice in the comments than the actual video

[@mygirldarby]

@Cary Howe birds ARE dinosaurs, they aren't just related to them. Technically birds are avian dinosaurs.

[@jcloud2928]

I used a 10 gallon bucket, drilled an appropriately size hole to fit a auto chicken drinking cup near the bottom (more can be added) and filled the gaps with silicone. Makes a great self watering system. I would purchase cups from tractor trailer store or feed store as first choice because of pricing. Nice video. Really enjoyed it.

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

j cloud great idea! Thanks for sharing

[@hasnainawan9080]

chickens are so facinating just wacthing a chicken do its own things entertains me so much

[@ALittleGardenUpNorth]

“Now it’s time to train your chickens” got me worried for a sec 🤣 I learned a lot from this short video. Thank you. Just got 4 hens today, that’s all I’m allowed in the city. I’m super excited.

[@foxtrot2284]

My moms chickens would bully one (she had 3 and had a lot of room) it got to the point where we were worried she would get parasites and infection from her wound. What ended up working for us is making chicken saddles. They couldn’t get past the fabric to harm her. Plus they’re super cute

[@buckbuchanan4902]

Great information. I am just about ready to get my first chickens, but have no experience with them, so this is very helpful.

[@theymusthatetesla3186]

You've squeezed a lot of good points into only 5 minutes!

[@patrierdelyi2919]

Roosters get a bum rap! Though not "necessary" if you have only layers of the same age and just want a few eggs for your family. However, every hobby farmer knows that long-living "pet" hens benefit from a "leader" of the flock. This is usually the roo. In a "roo-free" flock, the biggest, oldest matriarch hen is usually the "leader". Some old hens "crow" and act like roosters. Flapping and indicating what's good to eat. Then again, they may chase pullets and other hens away from food sources! A rooster is on constant patrol for food and dangers. He crows to indicate food and alert the hens to duck for cover if there is a predator. He will even round up the harem and get them into the coop if he suspects a bad storm. Roosters can count. (In a smaller flock size.) They know when a hen has not been accounted for and will stay out and crow incessantly until she comes in. A rooster will "play favorites". If he likes a particular hen, he will spend half the day tid-bitting her and indicating places to lay her eggs. He may show her multiple sites and she may reject them until he finds a good location! The next day, he may do the same for a different gal! He's a player, yes, but hens don't really mind this arrangement. Old hens- the matriarchs (at least 3 yrs old, and older not laying) may tell the old man to "get lost buddy". They may ignore him and even hen peck or dominate him- especially if he is a new younger roo. But a good "working" rooster knows his job description and takes his job very seriously. In a flock of multiple roosters the boys will be boys and get distracted competing with each other and may even be too busy to do their diligent business of leading the harem. A rooster in his prime will shoo away a smaller, younger cockerel. Or a banty. Often, when you have a larger flock of, say, 20 layers- the roosters will sort the gals out and divy them up! The big boy will manage, say, 12 little ladies, while the smaller or younger fella may win over a small harem of 3 or 4 and they will stay out of each other's way. A roo only needs a harem of 2-4 ladies to be a made roo. Observing the interplay of flock members, the psychology can get mighty interesting! Personally I prefer the "heir and spare" method. You may loose a rooster to a predator or illness- like heart disease and calcified organs. A rooster can live 10-15 years, but at about age 7 younger roosters may challenge him -and win. Sometimes a younger, macho roo will even kill a larger, dominant leader. The hens don't get involved, they readily accept any change in leadership. An older roo should be removed from the flock and "retired" with a couple of old matriarch hens if he isn't quite up to the demands. If he is still a good breeder, then separate him with a smaller, less demanding harem of 2-6 layers. And let him live out his retirement years. Ideally, when you have a particularly good breeder roo start working on junior(s) before his twilight years to be certain you have standbys and replacements of the same or better quality. If you don't want to get into husbandry, give the fertile eggs to somebody that does with the agreement that you can pick some of the cockerels. I used to be a rooster-free flock keeper, but after having kept roosters for the past 6 years, I would NEVER go back to being rooste-less again! Not only are roosters very beautiful and smart, but they can also be very tame.

[@BlingBlingTheBSOFTHEISS]

I think my Jaw hit the floor when I saw the photo of that hen with the tail of that mouse.

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

Bling Bling The BS OF THE ISS I know right!! I’ve seen my hens eating mice but I couldn’t get a pic so I pulled that one off the internet. But I knew it’s possible so I was pretty sure someone captured it.

[@jimmccarley3191]

they will eat frogs, lizards, bugs, anything small that moves is fair game. Frogs will holler when the chickens get after them and they will kill the ones too big to swallow. First time I heard the frogs I did not know what it was.lol I am 69 and had chickens nearly all my life.

[@ScotteiCovers]

They never did forget that they're tiny dinosaurs

[@samueladams1775]

@@hobbyfarmnutt8028 my Ameraucana rooster Mr. Whiskers killed several copperheads and small water moccasins. Snake meat is tasty to chickens.

[@jennyclark6183]

@@hobbyfarmnutt8028 If a hen lays an egg that is not fertilized and no one takes it, what will happen? Will she sit on the egg forever, or will she abandon it, or what?

[@bluemirror6056]

"Chickens get overheated easily" _My chickens that come from Arizona:_ *Visible confusion*

[@saguarotreker]

Tho, in my early days of keeping chickens here in the AZ. I did loose three birds when it got to over 119 degrees and their water became too hot for them to cool down. Since that time I have learned that as long as you have plenty of bedding down (pine shavings or straw) and a source of cool water (ours comes from our large aquaponics system) and plenty of 100% shade all can be safe. Since then our flock has been quite happy throughout the hot Arizona summers. Misters are a great option as well.

[@SpriteoftheDnieper]

Tons of people have them in South Florida, too 🤷‍♀️ I pass by my neighbor’s free ranging chickens everyday

[@saguarotreker]

@Kenny Lemon That is fantastic!! Glad to hear this.

[@TheLaLaFarm]

We have about 140 hens. No roosters. Enjoyed your video.

[@VeraPastaEthiopia]

THANKS!! @ 4:30 Before boiling the egg, pierce the flatter-end of the egg with a needle. It will be supper easy to peel it latter.

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

vera pasta great tip! Thanks

[@marenm515]

Nice vid, but..."Roosters are only good for fertilising"!?! Yes, hens can live happy lives and lay eggs without a rooster. But that doesn't mean they are useless or unimportant! Roosters protect their flock, they always keep watch and warn about predators, telling your hens when to hide and when to stride. If they find good food they call the others to share. They leed your chickens in the coop at night, always counting them and keeping an eye open for everyone. They attack enemys without fear to save their hens (including cats, dogs and humans which is why many people are afraid of them.) Some very good roosters are more like 24h bodyguards, really. Yes, they get bigger and heavier than their female counterpart and therefore they may loose some feathers when getting jumped on. But as stated in the vid: They loose and regrow their feathers twice a year anyways. Oh, and roosters are good for fertilisation.

[@chernagast6754]

My rooster, Mr. Wook, has saved my girls from hawks, owls, raccoons and possums. He always gives his treats to the hens, he's never pulled their feathers, and the hens feel much safer with him around.

[@IrisMG]

Thanks for the video

[@sztrebor843]

There are many components to doing a pro job. One place I found which successfully combines these is the Coop Magic Tactic (check it out on google) definately the most useful course i've seen. Check out this super resource.

[@BillJutz]

Great comment, when I heard 'the only thing roosters are good for', I was going to say the same thing you did. And roosters have their own pecking order, if you have more than one.

[@hammieinvestigations5392]

Yes I totally agree 100%, Rooster protect, keep watch, set alarms, and share food. I also believe hens are more content and happier with a rooster.

[@theriveraschannel]

We are new on growing chickens but we are enjoying it so much! Especially now that they are giving us fresh eggs everyday. Thank you for the tips, it’s very helpful 💕☺️

[@DragonUdo]

Cute video. Short, but very informative! Thx

[@TommyBrown-Joliet]

Thank thanks for this informative video. I have six chickens and my wife and I like them. we like to watch them in the evenings sometimes they're better than TV

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

Tommy Brown I like drinking a glass of wine in the coop after work. My way of relaxing and laughing. They are so fun. Thanks for the comment

[@xbemos]

Best chicken vid ever. Love the shots of a manageable and fun coop!!!

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

Thanks! Had fun making it but too many haters out there ruin the fun. Thanks for the positive feedback!

[@kazzana9013]

Missed informing about grit. Soft grit like oyster shells is calcium and hard grit for grinding food. That is tiny stones, granite etc.

[@Junkinsally]

Kazzana -Oyster shell is not grit. There is no such thing as “hard” or “soft” great. There is grit for chicks, which is smaller in size and adult chicken grit. Oyster shell is considered a supplement.

[@jimmccarley3191]

oyster shell is to help make the egg shells harder by replacing the calcium the hens loose when laying. I will make 90% on here mad but if you have your chickens on the ground they will get the grit they need to grind their food. If you provide diatomatious earth for the chickens you can still eat their eggs and the chickens will fluffy their feathers with it to kill any crawlies and if they eat some it will only kill the worms if they have any. It is safe and if you swallow some you may notice you dont have worms anymore either. It wont hurt you.

[@austin1839]

Just pick up a pack of the new and improved 'Egglets' from Walmart which work great now. Just spray the inside with Pam before pouring the egg inside and follow the cooking instructions.

[@mrpbright]

Thank you for this video. I see many comments are from people with more experience with chickens. Their input is good also. Your video helped me understand the beginning part of raising chickens. For the entry level chicken curious, yours is the best I've found. Well done and thank you.

[@ktms1188]

You can hard boils a fresh egg, Pro tip just get the water to a rolling hot boil then lower the eggs in (don’t put eggs in cold water only super hot water) then boil normally. The proteins will create a shell inside that way, then they can be peeled easily even while fresh.

[@TranceXZero]

Pro tip. If you have trouble getting chickens inside when you want use a long stick like one off the mop without the brush of course and use that to maneuver them around. I whistle to them while angling the stick in front of where they shouldn’t be going and now they all know once I have the stick they all flock together and waddle inside like fatties (: I always use the stick method to bring them inside since I keep watch of them while they are outside and bring them back in after 10-20 minutes due to predators. Since I don’t have a rooster I am the rooster and they will flock to me when there is trouble.

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

iLessThan3i great tip! Thanks for sharing!

[@Azlorn]

That's right... I AM the Rooster...

[@i.greene]

This was one of the most informative videos I’ve seen! Thank you!!

[@fancythat5136]

I just learned you can steam fresh eggs for 18 minutes, cool off with water and the shell comes right off. Puncture the top of the roundest part of the egg where the membrane is and it slides right off. I am now pickling my extra eggs...

[@Demi.d3mi]

I love chickens, they are so smart and provide eggs. Everyone in the country should have a flock

[@dgerdi]

squishy booty totally agree! If possible everyone should have chicken. They are nothing less than the farm‘s backbone for centuries.

[@jamesb.9155]

Thanks for your show! At night our chickens roost in some fruit trees and are typically about 20 feet up. They come home to roost long before dark like clockwork!

[@opiumbrella3351]

You should build your chickens a coop. Not only are they not suited to sleeping outdoors like wild birds, they will get eaten. The rain/wind/cold/predators and stress of not having a safe place to sleep will ensure your chickens have a very shortened lifespan most likely.

[@jamesb.9155]

@@opiumbrella3351 They have a caged pen but fear the ground. Besides they are the wild variety. Oh, they will get eaten alright...

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

@@jamesb.9155 I’ve stopped replying to peoples uninvited opinions because they usually have to get the last word in and they insist I’m wrong. Not saying I’m not, just sharing my experiences and every yard, coop, chicken is different so what ours do may be different than what others do. For what it’s worth for that comment, mine are in a well built coop but those predators still find a weak link and kill half the flock sometimes. I think your chickens are smart hiding in trees! When free ranging, mine still get picked off by fox or hawk…or the neighbors dog breaking in.

[@jamesb.9155]

@@hobbyfarmnutt8028 They are fabulous animals and many people enjoy them almost like pets. They can't help being a prey animal and so they can thrive with daily care and attention to their diet, health and safety. We did have a lethal outbreak of some virus a few years back that was quite alarming. This is in rural India and we buried all but a couple that survived. We never found out what disease it was. Wild birds and even Peacocks and monkeys visit our garden regularly and could bring in diseases too. Thanks for your input!

[@lindahughes6675]

Just a tip. Fresh eggs can be hard boiled just 24 hours later. The key to a hard boil egg is room temperature. Bring covered eggs to a boil shut off burner, wait 13 minutes, drain, submerge in ice cold water for 15 minutes, peel directly out of water and refrigerate.

[@extendedp1]

I have watched a bunch of chicken videos, but still learned a lot from this short video. Thanks. Subbed.

[@stormbytes]

Really terrific video! Lots of great little tidbits. Thank you

[@summmmmmable]

I have 7 gals in my backyard and I talk to them and give them mealworms. I never know chickens are that much fun until I started. Great video

[@stevenlindhorst7579]

How many eggs do you get with 7 chickens

[@summmmmmable]

Steven Lindhorst 2/day average

[@osiadaczfamilyfarm8036]

I plan on getting chickens for spring. This was a great introductory video! Thank you very much! Laura

[@cathyshappyr]

They're loving and you'll see the meaning of love from animals that actually help feed the world ❤️ prosperity for your stomach

[@wabashstudio]

Some decent information in this video. Also a lot of incorrect information as well. Rosters are great for protecting the flock. They will stick by there side day and night. Fresh eggs boil and peel fantastic. Just have to boil them right.

[@i.a1932]

I agree.

[@jerrywilkerson3616]

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[@joshuacollins9346]

Roosters are risky if you have small children. Some breeds are SUPER aggressive, like Rhode Island Reds. They'll jump up and go for their faces. A lot of them like to attack when your back is turned also. I still have a scar on my knee from a rooster spur when I was younger. I recommend Buff Orpington as the best dual purpose breed. Big body and decent egg laying, but you can get that anywhere. Buffs have the best personality of the chickens I've had, the hens are so gentle. I don't think I ever got pecked harvesting eggs out from under a Buff hen. The egg laying breeds, like White Leghorns, will drown you in eggs unless you only keep a few and they're so scrawny that you can't do much with them after their production drops off. Even if you want to raise chickens just for meat, I recommend you avoid Cornish Cross (supermarket chicken). Almost any order of chicks will end up with a couple that develop splayed legs because their freaky genetics makes them grow too fast. It's seriously heartbreaking to watch them try and get around and putting down young chickens is terrible.

[@danielel1874]

Thank you for all your great tips. I don't have any chickens yet and I don't know if I can have them where I live, but I'm going to look into it and I value your advice. It's so straightforward with things I'd never think of, thank you.

[@ckity2376]

Recently became a chicken mom to two beautiful chickens. I love them with all my heart! ❤ Thank you for making this video! I learned a lot! :)

[@ckity2376]

@Black Knight sis im 16...

[@thejusticeappalachianhomes1454]

Yes! The underground wiring around the run and fence line.

[@adventureswithzippy4221]

Roosters are good for other things. I think everyone should have a rooster. When I use to have chickens, my hens didn't lay much eggs but when I got a rooster they started to lay eggs better.

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

Fireflame lawless roosters are fun but not everyone can have roosters due to neighbors. I didn’t mean it as it sounded, I really only meant that people can have chickens and get eggs without a rooster if that was the only thing stopping them from getting chickens. Thanks for the comment and clarification

[@jerkyturkey007]

@@hobbyfarmnutt8028 that's a very valid point, many backyard chicken raisers can't have a rooster because of the noise they make, an occasional bribe of a half dozen fresh eggs can smooth things over with busy body neighbors, lol.

[@jerkyturkey007]

@@sweet.patata I've never done it but one video shows grabbing the rooster, cradling him upside down and using a pair of pliers close to the leg and giving it a little twist and it comes right off with just a couple of drops of blood.. they say it also reduces damage to the hens feathers.

[@sweet.patata]

jerkyturkey007 btw i already gave away all my 10 chickens

[@wendyhunter5313]

@@jerkyturkey007 what comes right off? The leg?

[@bouquetoffood8918]

Yep~this video is the bestest; "What They Don't Tell You", Exactly! Continued Blessings♡

[@makingmcgees2167]

Great video! I've had chickens several years and learned a few new things. Thanks!

[@FrancisRoyCA]

I'd like to offer a different point of view on advice you give on fresh and hard-boiled eggs. You can make a perfectly easy, body-warm hard-boiled egg. Step 1: bring your water to a ROILING boil. Place egg in roiling boil. Keep roiling boil for about 2 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the residual heat cook the egg. The shock of the heat causes the exterior to gel up and to contract away from the inner lining of the egg. Note, that (in my experience) this works for HARD boiled eggs (7+ minutes) not soft-boiled eggs. If you are concerned about cracking, carefully poke ("gently dig") a pinhole in the large end with a thumb tack while being careful to not pierce the air sack's membrane. This will cause extra space for gas expansion without having the white pour out like toothpaste. Some have suggested vinegar in the water, I've not found it to make a difference, but your mileage may vary.

[@RaoulPrompt69]

The vinegar trick is putting just enough in. I do about a teaspoon per quart with an 8 minute boil for small eggs followed by a long ice bath. The acetic acid eats away at the calcium of the shell, too much and you get a brittle shell that comes off in tiny pieces.

[@lauragrandgenett]

You’re right. This method always works for me too. I keep boiling the eggs for exactly 15 minutes after putting a dozen fresh eggs in boiling water. I put a lot of salt in the water to prevent leakage from cracks.

[@jondoe292]

Sea salt in the water when you boil , and rinse in cold water whe peeling.

[@JenniferBenniferASMR]

What an incredible and informative video! So many good tips! Thank you! The info was true to the title 😁 It also really made me laugh hard when you joked about training them at the end 😂

[@hardwareclothwww.sebossfen6011]

Thanks very much, I learned a lot about chicken coop building.

[@ladytiedi]

An Alton Brown trick I use with great success for fresh eggs- don’t boil but rather steam! I put them in a veggie steamer in a pot with water below the thing. Then heat for about half an hour ( I start with cold water…hot water won’t take as long) When done, dunk in ice water. I can peel a day old egg with ease 😉

[@Oasis_Desert_Rose]

Our chickens LOVE Onions & Raw potato...!!! The Secret is to chop it fine first!!! Now I have a good strong Food Processor/Chopper for all the kitchen scraps!!! (not dry onion skin! That you burn or use as a Wool dye!). Its worth it to truly see 0% Waste and feed the animals!!! But best system I've seen yet is the guy who feeds 100's of chickens for free of a huge compost pile!!! I LIKE IT! Thanks!

[@dennisjones2124]

Getting my chicks tomorrow, I'm excited, thanks for video

[@phakzofficial6452]

So many chicken out there sending support from Phillipines

[@katiriaedwina]

Great video. Full of information and I love the end. 🥰 Thank you!!!

[@bwghall1]

a chicken with pests in the feathers. I use chalk dust. talcum powder. works every time. oldtimer UK.

[@Aceislife6]

I'm excited to start my homestead thank you for the video

[@CubanGardener]

Love the useful tips from this video. I started raising chickens from pullets 3 months. Learned alot from this video. Def will be a sub

[@sanketmarutiraosonawane9519]

Short and extremely informative video. Thank you for posting.

[@guyanaplaces592]

I use crushed garlic cloves in their water once a week as a natural antibiotic.

[@ritathomson9764]

Hi, dose this work on the hens eyes when they drink it? and what else dose it help with? thank you and God bless

[@YolklahomaRocks]

We put apple cider vinegar (with mother) and honey in their water twice a week. We also give pumpkin.. fresh cut in half or canned every couple of weeks.

[@jonanderson4280]

My grandma used to slice aloe vera in their water.

[@corryndawnjenkins5629]

I sprinkle garlic powder in their mash, they eat it and it stops them from getting lice and mites. none of my chickens have ever had lice or mites.

[@sweet.patata]

My mom used apple cider vinegar when my chicken caught the chicken pox(it’s not contageous to humans btw)

[@zaccariasippidabarbersmith9922]

Good video. I'm clearing the property getting ready to build my coop.

[@danielgeci4513]

For a complete novice this video is packed with allot of info i couldn't find in 100 vids. The others basically recycle the same info, but this one gave some good nuggets I couldn't find as most others assume you know already. You're sense of humor at the end got you a sub

[@craigsayner7341]

I watched a guy made a bracket to hold a 5 gal bucket about 3' off the ground, he put a cookie sheet pan on the ground, he then drilled a bunch of 1" holes in the bottom of the bucket. He would then find road kill and put it in the bucket, as maggots formed they fell thru the holes in the bottom of the bucket and on to the cookie sheet. Chickens loved them and I am told they are healthy for the chickens.

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

I love that idea! There are so many flies around a chicken coop, it’s not like you’d be encouraging more unwanted things - instead it might lower the numbers.

[@isybee]

You are right about the hard boiled eggs. I've never been able to peel them gracefully. I did not know it would be much easier after a week. I'll have to try that, thank you. Great video, by the way. Although I've raised chicken for over 20 years, I still learned something new.

[@candyrosepetals]

Isybee Smith In addition to waiting a week, also bring them to a boil, leave at a boil for 2-3 minutes, then turn off burner. Next, leave the eggs submerged in the water for appx. 12 minutes. Then, pour hot water out of pot, rinse with cold water, then fill pot halfway with cold ice water. Let sit a few mins, then you’ll be able to peel them soooo easy and NO nasty grey on the yolks. The cold water increases the pressure inside the egg to make it easier to crack. Works great!!! Perfect boiled eggs.

[@candyrosepetals]

Isybee Smith Tapping the ends of the boiled eggs on your countertop or the side of your sink and they’ll peel better, too. Hope this helps!

[@myrond3588]

Steaming the eggs has proven far and away the easiest eggs to peel

[@candyrosepetals]

Myron D Steaming kinda like I described or different? You have no idea how many deviled eggs this Southern Baptist lady right here makes! Lol! What would we do without chickens and their wonderful gift of eggs?!?

[@lenascountrylife4694]

Can't wait to get chickens again. Thanks for the tips :)

[@beyond.gardening]

Best chicken video ever....no need to go anywhere else. Thank you!🌻🌹

[@davidhamberlin5155]

We are building our first coop tomorrow, this has been very helpful, direct and to the point! Thx so much, bok bok!!!!!!

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

David Hamberlin any pics of how that coops coming along?

[@sweet.patata]

My rooster is such a gentleman. He always treats his hen babies like he would with his mates and does not peck them like the older hens do (except when he mounts their backs of course). The older hens are always so mean to the offspring.🐓🐔❤️

[@buteos8632]

Cakes Gaming there's always something nature has thought of ;)

[@sweet.patata]

Buteos yeah

[@sweet.patata]

Also for some reason my younger rooster hides, starts shaking, and making weird noise like its pretending to be a hen that is laying an egg. This doesn’t happen that often though.

[@buteos8632]

Cakes Gaming oh no, gender confused rooster :D the older one will show him the way, hopefully...or not, maybe he starts laying eggs :P

[@laurita1941]

Oh, my chicken, mama chick, is very old. A month ago, one of my younger hens had 1 baby chick. As the chick started to age, the hen just forgot about the poor chick. That's when mama chick started caring for the little chick, she not mean to it at all.

[@queenieburgers50]

Great idea with those closet brackets and just a stick! I was actually thinking about it tonight, easy and cheap options for perches, and I think your idea will work! I didn't bury wire on the sides of the chicken run, our soil is so rocky, it's not very easy to dig at with a shovel, I'm hoping it's the same for animals and their claws. I thought chickens would be easy based on youtubers said about chickens, but they're a lot of work, much more than a cat. Spoke to someone yesterday who had to give up their chickens because of how much work they are, and it's something I've considered many times. It's a lie to say this is easy, that's the part of your video (and others on chickens) I don't like. Everyone I speak to in real life talk about how hard it is, especially the winters. Don't want to mislead others who are considering chickens who haven't had them before. Otherwise it's a good video.

[@lesliegibbons1364]

I haven’t found it difficult or a lot of work to keep chickens; just so enjoyable!

[@beernbashrc79]

I think people who think they are hard are either just trying to handle too many (chicken math) or are over thinking their needs. They don't need much.

[@Helloreality101]

Thank you for the no nonsense video!!

[@allan7934]

informative. And the info you shared certainly isn't talked about often enough to know about. Thanks!

[@lauramyers324]

We put our chickens away every night before sunset. We do this by throwing a couple small handfulls of dried mealworms into their chicken run..which of course connects to their coop/roost. We close the fence door when all 13 are in. It took about a week to train them to do this, and it works much better if you don't feed them a bunch of junk food after dinner, else they won't be that hungry/motivated by the mealworms.

[@rushellealexandra5243]

mine put them selves up for the night i just have to shut the door to the run.

[@blueeyedwolf1977]

I do the same with my cornish girls- give them a small plate of "treats" and they fly right up and in! :)

[@SuperDobieGirl]

Laura Myers they will go in at night without being trained. Roos will bring the ladies home as another mode of protection

[@Anna-pj8te]

Laura Myers mine just go in by themselves every night.

[@sweet.patata]

After a few days of getting used to their new home (and after chasing and using bait to get them inside) all ten of my chickens get inside by themselves as soon as the sun starts going dowm.

[@CelticRootsFarm]

Good info. We’ve been homesteading for a few years now. We’ve had pretty good luck with using a portable electric fence. BTW- This is the first season that for several weeks now they haven’t been laying at all. Granted, some of them are older girls, but we have approx. 30 chickens and no eggs... at all.

[@hobbyfarmnutt8028]

Yeah, been there. Stinks having to buy eggs for a few weeks when you pay to feed so many chickens. I’ve found the best layers just lay white eggs but why would I rather have poor layers than get white eggs, then complain when I get no eggs 😕🤪

[@ariarovira4674]

Lol, you actually got me with the last "tip" I found this SO helpful!! thank you!

[@davidschmidt270]

Thank you...never knew about how hard it is to boil really fresh eggs! Pro tip👏👏👏👏