Raising Chickens For Meat: Week 7 of 8, Why do this?

[@jeaniemiller9883]

John, You inspired me. I am a 53 yr old woman who owns a barbershop with my husband. We bought 15 acres out in the country. I started watching your videos along with several other homesteaders. I bought your book and along with my daughter built a chicken tractor after your style. I currently have 19 chickens being pastured raised (started with 20 but 1 died) and I am 4 weeks in. I'm working on getting ready for harvesting the chickens. If I can handle that, then I am moving forward....I'm amazed at how many customers of our barbershop are interested in buying our chickens.....one person at a time we can change the way people eat in America!

[@giovanniflores8269]

Mexican farmer here! Currently on a binge watch on your channel.

[@jonathanrayfencing1824]

Awesome message John. When I get discouraged on my own farm, I watch your KZbin channel and I am encouraged to keep on going. Thanks

[@gotadventure7180]

I am from Trinidad and I am a farmer also am looking to start my chicken production and your videos are a big help. and what you said in the beginning is true farmer live simple and it's a joy to grow and eat your own food.

[@Combat_Pyro]

John Suschovich If you ever need to rebuild or expand your chicken tractors you should try this mod. Buy two 10’ sticks of 1X4 pvc trim board from Lowe’s or Home Depot, and lay them flat on the bottom of the tractor like skis, heat the end up with a heat gun and bend a ski radius into the front and rear of the boards. You no longer need wheels, or to lift the front of the tractor up when moving them. They slide over the grass very easily like a sled. I’m running one tractor this way presently and it’s been great so except for 90’s and 180’s, and only then because the side edge of the “ski” catches any raised soil areas of the pasture. Anyhow, check it out.

[@punkyroo]

Love the more "personal thoughts in the canoe" segment. I 100000% agree. I liked every part of it. Especially changing the meaning of wealth. Though I still have an office job, I'm blessed to be able to work remotely somewhat frequently, and the entire purpose of my starting my own homestead is to achieve the sort of "wealth" you talk about here. Spending time with my daughter is the most amazing, valuable thing in my world.

[@farmmarketing]

Thanks

[@paulmcwhorter]

I hope you will sum up the financial numbers. Costs, price, profit, number of hours spent raising the chickens. Really enjoying the series. Hope you continue to post videos.

[@farmmarketing]

We will go over all of that Paul.

[@brianphilbrook5262]

That was one of the best canoe talks yet. I've been working on our farm now for a year and no amount of money could possibly compare to being around your wife and kids. Thanks for answering all my questions. I have learned a ton from your videos. It's been cool watching from when you started on here showing what you were planning on a piece of land (without much money if I remember right) to being so busy and running around it'd make most people dizzy lol. Keep it up.

[@farmmarketing]

Thanks Brian, and thanks for continuing to follow along. I went back recently and watched some old videos, it is really insane how far I have come and what life looks like now. Life is a journey for sure. I'm glad you're enjoying your journey as well!

[@ahmedshalabi4310]

John! you are an incredible guy. I've learned a great deal of your videos and Ive been following you since you rented that corner of a farm and raised your first chicks in a trailer. I cant thank you enough. Well said about what wealth is.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

Well put on "wealth" and I couldn't agree more. Thanks for the vid. Helpful as usual :0)

[@farmmarketing]

You're very welcome.

[@manuelsuarez7738]

John: Add 120 chickens to your 1M chicken goal....I bought your book, built two tractors and I'm on week 6 of the first batch. The second batch arrives in mid-June. Greetings from Vermont. Keep up your great work!

[@patriciavyce1993]

Sharing is caring. Love that about you. Thank you. 👍

[@farmmarketing]

and caring is daring! Thanks for stopping in Patricia!

[@dwaynehowe3968]

i love your passion for all that you do! yes you are truly a blessed man!

[@daveburgess3200]

Thank you so much John for all of your efforts and videos. They are more than a little inspirational. I am a total newbie in this and my Lovely Wife and are so excited to get started on our new farm that we just purchased. Our ‘farm’ is basically bare now but we have plans to raise a whole bunch of chickens and some beef. Love your input on everything you do.

[@canadiangirl5159]

Farms are a great place to raise children, I can remember growing up near a farm family with 7 children. Big families are wonderful.

[@suburbanplantation1770]

I've been watching along time and have put into practice many ideas gleaned from your show. the best was your chicken tractor plans.I highly recomend anyone thinking about raising cornish cross to buy a set of your plans and build one.over the last several years my wife daughter and my self have becomevery self sufficient here on just an acre and a half.thanks again your friend marc from west fall ny

[@farmmarketing]

That's so cool to hear. It's exactly why I post all of this information. At the end of the day this lifestyle is fun. Life has to be fun, otherwise it's no fun, and that's no fun. haha

[@jamaha268]

Greeting from CANADA ! I raise meet kings,Roughly 400 per yr @ one day old. When it comes to the feed I always make sure they never run out.They are known as Power Eaters.I usually loose about 5 out of 400. When I slaughter them they weigh roughly 5.5 to 6.5 lbs.I keep them indoors and later depending on the weather,They free range. I enjoy your vids keep on posting thx.

[@PrattFamilyHomestead]

I'm way WAY behind but catching up! Another great addition. Loved the "pond talk". - Mike

[@mar91942]

I just ordered your book! Looking forward to building my tractor

[@fabiantush7213]

I like you perception of life so much. I admire your work and i am looking forward to learn more from you. Thank you so much.wish you the best

[@jillschlegel5129]

So much good information , thanks for helping get started with my pasture poultry plan!

[@iwantosavemoney]

Am not sure if you have looked into bresse chickens but am super excited about them. My hope is they became the new meat chicken...

[@Mate2Frio]

Thanks for this. The breakdown of process and procedure has given me confidence I'll need to do the same. Looking forward to week 8 ~ ?? . An interview with some customers and some reviews of the product would be cool to have.

[@farmmarketing]

I hadn't thought of some video with customers and some reviews. That's a good idea.

[@mikehurd7769]

Nice work John. I feel we've spent so long breeding things both in and out of the food we eat that we are now starting to see the cost on our health. Things such as diabetes, food intolerance and food allergies are now more and more common in this generation. Unless more people start thinking about better diversity of food the worse it might get.

[@farmmarketing]

But the great thing is that more people ARE thinking about it and taking the steps necessary for positive change. There will be successes and failures, missteps and progress, but we'll get there.

[@unwindingmeditation4577]

wearing the same pants lol im with you 100% ..the rich yo speak about ..aah makes you so real i like it, so i will subscribe seeming you sound like a down to earth type person..love it

[@misslileve]

That's awesome! I'm from the Yakima Valley!!

[@online_screen_name]

Like the BMC shirt, do you ride? - Ah never mind you covered this in the end of your video, that trip sounds amazing!!!

[@farmmarketing]

I used to be a Cat 4 road racer in addition to the big trip.

[@ozzieulloa6088]

your right you are the richest man. im the second richest im cow calf. prodicer in jalisco mx. started 8 years ago was an automotive master tech in ca.usa. changed my life. alot of hard work ahed lookig fowrd to it.

[@danielschneider1504]

Thanks for this videao- it's my favourite of the series

[@farmmarketing]

You're welcome Daniel

[@kathrynmarshall11]

There is no happiness from buying pants or cars or whatever , Especially when we work day and night to be cool and people like us !!!!! that is why the people are busy and they don't have time to see there children's . The real happiness is what you are doing (good job) work with your hand and eat from your farm free of chemicals and enjoying your time with your family Many people they don't get it yet, they will soon mark my words.

[@IslandExoticsHomestead]

John, Love your video's! Like your take on "wealth" sooo true agree completely. Thanks for these great videos!

[@farmmarketing]

Thanks for following along Tracy. It's cool that this allows me to have conversation with so many people from so many places.

[@mabdinur85]

In your answer to Brian's question ... have you run sheep or goat a few days ahead of your chicken to manage the grass? I haven't experienced it myself but some of the regenerative farming concepts have chicken trailing pigs, sheep, goats, or cows as a way to manage pests and to dig in the manure of larger foragers? Seems like an intriguing experiment if you ever have the time to explore it.

[@MrSparrawk]

its been 3 years since this video. I dont know if you are going to see this comment or not, but I'would really like to hear your thoughts on types of breads to raise now?

[@333widowmaker]

The barley fodder comment you addressed in the video has to do with actual fodder and not planting it in your pasture. You basically grow a mat of barley grass that is about 4-5 inches high and they eat it all including the roots. 20 percent protein and all the other good stuff. As for fermenting, you can check with Justin Rhodes for that. He does that religiously.

[@DerickShantima]

Hey john

[@tbmomsen]

Amazing!

[@Avidarcher88]

awesome job. thinking of using tractor for storing pellets/firewood in winter.

[@farmmarketing]

That's certainly a thought. Don't want to waste the space right?

[@IanJoe-xm4qq]

I love how u keep calling them birds😭

[@205004gs]

Outstanding video!!!

[@farmmarketing]

Thanks Gene!!!

[@toonverbruggen9528]

John, love ur videos, When is the next video coming out I've been checking every hour for the last 5 days?

[@farmmarketing]

It's out now Toon, sorry for the delay. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKK3gqSefayhiNU I had some emergencies on farm on top of my technology being screwy.

[@thomascr3876]

Thx for all the sharing! I've read your book, watched a bunch of your videos, started experimenting and have been thinking about how to economically put this in shape here in France... Could you tell us more about your experiments and ideas with red rangers? Here in France, the norm for organic or "farm poultry" is slow-growing breeds (81 days minimum at slaugther). The most common breed is called "cou-nu" (which means bare-neck). I've tried a batch this year in a pastured pen your size and even with restricted feed they got very fat. I'll adjust the feed composition next year but i'm also thinking they might need more exercise. I'm also having a hard time with the economics. The birds take longer to grow, in other words you can't grow as many with a reasonable number of tractors AND the price you sell them is way lower: around 8.5-9€/kg (4€/lb). The only decent compromise i've come up with is to use a trailer shelter with electric netting around (like salatin''s eggmobile) and move it once a week. Any other ideas? Last simpler question: do you move them on wet grass? I've lost two this summer after storms: Very hot during the day, quite cold at night and moving them after the storms onto wet grass... and they weren't too young.

[@farmmarketing]

Thanks for all the thoughts on chickens Thomas. With the rangers in the past I did something similar to what you mentioned. I put up the portable netting around a set of chicken tractors and let the birds roam about during the day. That system had some flaws for me that I will experiment with in 2017. Those experiments are going to be changing the chicken tractors a little to allow for easier in and out for the birds. Changing up feeder and water placement possibly, and I'm open to any suggestions. I have moved birds onto wet grass. There's benefit to waiting until later in the morning or early afternoon to when the grass is clean and dry. It all depends on what the weather is going to do after that move and how bad their manure is in the old spot. The poultry industry globally is in an interesting place. There's a ground swell of people that want something different. We just don't have the funding of the big guys and there's no great way to share information (aside from APPPA.org) that I know of so everyone's experiment take time to get around. We'll get there though. There's cool stuff happening and I'm proud to be a part of it.

[@growmaster4625]

can you answer the age old question what came first the chicken our egg

[@davidwoodruff703]

Can you raise Cornish cross in a coop without grass in the winter?

[@tonylopez3528]

This is seriously my first comment ever!! Is that pond on your property? How many acres do you think one would need to be a self sustainable property?

[@aidan6726]

Can you add up all your costs including the chicken tractor price and show it in the next video

[@hopefulvoyage]

Thoughts on Jersey Giants as a marketable broiler??

[@jornvanderheijden988]

Hi John, I've been watching your videos on your CSA and your meat chicken adventure. Incredibly invaluable material considering you're probably the only one I've seen doing such a detailed report on such an enterprise. I've been brainstorming about a hybrid farm focusing on not only the meat but also the feed. I've seen plenty of farms producing worm compost and selling the worms. Since chickens love worms I thought that adding such an element to your farm would profit your birds and your wallet since you would be selling worm compost and chicken and spend less on your feed. I don't know if compost would be suitable to incorporate into a CSA but I'm pretty sure the compost would sell. Please let me know your thoughts on this.

[@Melvintheegreatest]

I live in Yakima near all the hop fields and I cant stand the smell when its hop season. Love beer hate the smell of hops, strange no?

[@sunflowersnbluebirds7362]

Thanks for the great video!

[@farmmarketing]

You're most welcome Kylia

[@soundsofrelaxation4566]

Hey John, I have tried to order your printed bundle 3 books for $161.00. It keeps taking me to your merch store. I am not interested in buying merchandise right now, but would lobe a direct link to your site to purchase your books. Can you help me get there? Thanks a bunch!! -Julie

[@Fluentmotion]

"When I count all my blessings, Im the richest man I know."

[@charlesigwilo2882]

Please how do get a farm land?

[@olaoluwaanuoluwapo8337]

Amen

[@olaoluwaanuoluwapo8337]

Amen

[@aviheer3901]

Which medicine increases the weight of chicken

[@xavier3961]

No cable........How do you live? LOL. I am with you, I am learning more and more that I must decide for myself what is really important. I am enjoying your videos, but I have a question. Can you free range chickens on land that was formally used to graze horses?

[@farmmarketing]

Of course you can free range chickens on horse ground. I don't see any issue there.

[@leftyloveschicken9523]

John, I raise chickens in my garage. I know this seems odd, but it's what I do to have my own stock. I purchase a dozen per batch for a space that can sustain 10 healthy birds. I normally get 8 to 10 survivors after two weeks. My last two batches have had 100% success rate. Meaning all 12 made it to harvest. I've used a water supplement for the 1st two weeks both times. Not saying this is a cure all, but do you think this supplemental water treatment is viable for a larger operation?

[@ncooty]

Have you ever considered soaking/ fermenting the chicken feed? I haven't checked research on it, but some claim fermentation improves digestion, thereby improving the efficiency of the feed (converting feed into chicken meat).

[@farmmarketing]

I have gotten a whole bunch of comments on this. I have not yet experimented with it. Might be an experiment next year only because so many people have asked. I don't know of anyone doing it or how it'd be done but I'm sure there's research out there somewhere.

[@chads9818]

John Suscovich I have done fermenting and it worked great for my regular chickens, ducks and turkeys... but the Cornish didn't do as well because they got a lot of feed compacted in their nostrils, from front to the inside of the mouth. Idk if that was a fluke, I only had a couple. it smells pretty bad and can be messy but really saves on feed.

[@preppin4it936]

does anyone know if you can raise meat and egg laying chickens in same coop together?

[@MetaView7]

Thank you

[@farmmarketing]

You're welcome!

[@nielnalam9587]

Good day. Sir John, may I know the diameter and length of your PVC feeder? thanks for sharing your videos!

[@joserodriguezvargas6918]

Me gusto su gallinero,me pasa el modelo porfavor :D

[@farmmarketing]

Gracias

[@notyett79]

Thank You for all the great info! Love your videos! Do you give your birds chick grit!

[@namuddunorah3570]

i can start to feed my broilers at 1/ one week and expect them to do well by 2 months

[@jrwalker1048]

John, We have seen some google Earth aerial footage for the farm....How about some drone footage to give the viewers a better idea of the place. Your thoughts, JR

[@farmmarketing]

haha, would love to, cannot yet afford a drone

[@marno21]

Good man. I like you.

[@alinice82]

I love your videos and I want to live the same. Where do you live?

[@jaybieacoba3423]

Sir jhon how to avoid flies on broiler chicken

[@jadsreid9220]

Hey John as it relates to running over the chickens with the tractor; have you ever considered running a bit of wire or heavy string across the width of the tractor so that it nudges them along?

[@farmmarketing]

I have thought of it. Or some kind of brush or broom, or a piece of PVC, or another piece of wood, or some hanging chains. I think I haven't acted because of paralysis of analysis. Not sure what the best solution might be.

[@jadsreid9220]

OK brother man, as long you're thinking about it; I know how much you value productivity.

[@laoivanlloyd4846]

How many chicken do you have

[@pusongaming9860]

Make a 1-7 week on a single video plz

[@patrickgrandy6665]

Hey John what’s the dimensions on your chicken tractors

[@karshner26]

I recently purchased you book off of Amazon (great read btw), and I plan of building my very own chicken tractor using your book. I’m going to start with one batch of 30 broilers and was wondering how much feed you recommend for the entire 8 weeks?

[@farmmarketing]

Loose numbers here, they can consumer about 13-14lbs per bird, with 30 birds that's about 400lbs of feed total.

[@cafeurumitero9464]

Rain????

[@chronelogy]

How much is the chicken tractor? Where can i buy them?

[@Catty_cat007]

how to treat a chicken with a cold ?

[@TheDevinhanson]

Can we get an update on the tractor situation?

[@farmmarketing]

Sure Devin. The short answer is that things are great. I have to be mowing at a specific time for the radiator to get clogged. Other than that the machine runs great and has been very useful.

[@benjaminunderwood12]

my question is John by the way thank you this is helping a lot but I found for you here in my home hometown $6.39 for 50-pound bags. but how do I go about finding processing plants or is it financially feasible for me to do it myself

[@farmmarketing]

Your local AG Extension can help you find a processor. Also ask other poultry farmers in your area. It can be feasible to do it yourself, but with the things you'll have to buy or gather you'll probably want to do it more than once to justify those expenses.

[@insaneinnixa]

I'm not sure if I missed it or if you haven't talked about it. I found this series yesterday so been binge watching. How much do the chick's cost where you get them? I have a place locally that sells them for $.39 would that be a good price or can I get them cheaper?

[@purplechickenfarm9298]

$.39 for a meat bird is a steal! the cheapest I know of is more like $1.39.

[@farmmarketing]

Agreed with Paula, $0.39 is cheap. Mine were $1.43.

[@derrickmercado9007]

IS THE SDS BIRD OK TO EAT?

[@ouroboros7917]

You should take advantage of that lake! What about raising ducks?

[@farmmarketing]

I have some smaller ponds that I'm considering putting ducks on. They one is too open to the public including the public wildlife and dogs. I'd just end up losing the ducks.

[@falin6136]

John,greetings from Russia.please tell me what breed of chickens you have and how long slaughtered the bird?thank you

[@farmmarketing]

Greetings from the US. I grow cornish cross primarily, slaughtered at 8 weeks. I have also raised the red rangers and slaughter at 11 weeks.

[@falin6136]

summer always keep chickens in these houses,or depending on the weather?)))

[@AngelOrtiz-lk9cy]

have u try raise a ostrich

[@farmmarketing]

I have not tried raising an ostrich Angel. They might be too big for the chicken tractors.

[@patricklynch5766]

do you recommend using chicken tractors on active cattle pasture?

[@farmmarketing]

I have not tried it so I cannot talk with any experience Pat. My fear would be that the cattle would try to use them for scratching and then end up breaking them. You could stop that with some 2-3 strand electric fencing and be alright. That's what I'd do.

[@neiallswheel]

+John Suscovich another young farmer, Mr jack Spirko is sprouting black-oil-sunflower-seeds for his ducks. a quick 2 day seed-soak cycle and the birds make good eggs from their "super food". could definitely be worth an experiment, good luck, keep swinging the arms about LOL . cheers Neiall in Bulgaria kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnTWpaOra9KIrbc

[@chickens2984]

i have a question, do your male meat chickens (roosters) Crow?

[@farmmarketing]

Sometimes they get big enough where they start to try. It's like a teenage boy going through puberty.

[@penfoldooo2160]

"regenerative agriculture" - yep, that's where it's at. Chickens that have the fewest genetic problems tend to be called "utility" breeds. They have not been heavily modified for quick meat or lots of eggs - they are "all-rounders". So if anyone wants to look for a breed that hasn't been genetically tinkered with, and has high survival rates, have a look at the utility breeds.

[@Den0Q]

is there a market for feathers?

[@farmmarketing]

Not that I have found yet. They are hard to clean and I don't know they have any purpose. At least not one that would justify the work involved with cleaning and sorting them.

[@thecynic807]

So do these chicken pay your bills

[@farmmarketing]

They pay some of them. My farm is quite diversified.

[@jacobfarrugiaprogta5-fifa139]

How many money you make on the chickens

[@farmmarketing]

Typically I have about $13-14 into the expenses of my birds and sell them for $24ish dollar when all goes well.

[@MarkHerndon]

Just started watching these tonight and I estimate $2500(profit) every two months with 250 chicks?

[@354133]

Damn, I can only get about $2.90 for a bird and that is after I process them. Of course, I live in the Philippines. Wish I had a niche market to sell too!

[@moorehomestead8250]

I raise some chickens for eggs but I have 50 I love having them do you obviously raise any for eggs an if so when is a good time too add your new baby chickens too the older chickens ?? Sporty and I love your blog

[@moorehomestead8250]

John Suscovich help me I wanna farm in a better way I have 15 acres

[@jamescox9100]

you have talked a lot about eating healthy. Do you raise rabbits or have put a thoughts into it. They are healthier for you the chicken.

[@cavemanjoe7972]

James Cox While rabbit is leaner than chicken, it being more healthy than his tractor-grown chickens is hardly debatable. On top of that, there are many other problems raising rabbits (can't use tractors, they'll dig out & get eaten), and most people in farm country aren't going to pay the $8-$13/lb he would have to charge to be worth the work of growing them to size when they can just pop one with a .22 or catch them in a rabbit box once in awhile for variety. Some places, maybe, but rabbits add whole new levels of complications on a CSA/production level farm.

[@farmmarketing]

I have a friend who raises them. I'm not that partial to rabbit meat. I haven't tried raising them myself yet as I've been focuses on my other goals. It's a thought for the future but for now I'm going to skip over rabbits and buy them from a friend if I want one to eat.

[@aidan6726]

Can you add up all your costs including the chicken tractor price and show it in the next video

[@farmmarketing]

I'll do my best OutDoorGuy

[@thecynic807]

What if their bodies grow so fast that their vascular system doesn't grow as fast and their veins or arteries get squeezed to death and their heart rate rises and they have a heart attack. Kind of like a fat heart.

[@tannerdude5345]

I’m in Florida I have problems with snakes and all kinds animals u think this chickens tractor would keep out rock pythons ? Lol

[@namjignerak]

Ducks would love some water.

[@farmmarketing]

yes, ducks do love water

[@allinone2469]

Pz wat e how

[@rayan3182]

U are soo handsome 😍😂

[@synapse49]

Uhh ohhhhh. No Week 8 of 8 yet. I can only assume the chickens revolted and John is now a hunted man.

[@farmmarketing]

haha, needed extra editing time, that and processing day didn't line up perfectly

[@petergriffiths2903]

+John Suscovich the wait kills me.... theres only so much youtube we can watch.... WHAT DO WE WANT? WEEK 8! WHEN DO WE WANT IT? WEDNESDAY NIGHT (AUSTRALIAN EASTERN STANDARD TIME) :-)

[@farmmarketing]

WHAT DO YOU GOT? WEEK 8!!! WHEN DO YOU HAVE IT? Well... a little late I know, haha. Sorry about that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKK3gqSefayhiNU

[@synapse49]

Here I was prepping for the Chicken-pocalypse. Guess I'll have to find some fried chicken tonight.

[@peteruff5819]

fodder is easy

[@ouroboros7917]

His animals are pastured, they don't need fodder.

[@peteruff5819]

Fodder would replace the grain I kept my laying flock

[@ouroboros7917]

Sure, but I think that cornish x because of their growth rate cannot be fed only fodder. What's the protein percentage of fodder?

[@peteruff5819]

winter wheat fodder is 24%

[@peteruff5819]

John mentioned it I'm simply stating its not rocket science. feed cost will go down the birds will be better hydrated. but labor will increase

[@evewerookore337]

Don't u give drugs to Your birds