Would We Do It Again?

[@Majston]

I so love the amount of videos you've been releasing lately, they are a highlight of my day! :)

[@jennburnett1823]

Yes! Same here.

[@caririley8771]

Same here!!

[@salinamcdaniel8878]

I agree I love watching their videos

[@susanknight8961]

Same here, it’s great to see all the progress they guys are making.

[@alliewolf3392]

I agree!!!🤗

[@maureenthefirst1]

Your boys are getting such an incredible education from their hero dad. Your little guy watches you like a hawk and so he is obviously wanting to follow in your footsteps. God Bless you guys, Meg, you are looking so good. I wish you the easiest birth.

[@sherrybacon8041]

When is the birth? Due date?

[@marylouise890]

August That’s all I have heard them say.

[@hanorabrennan8846]

Ben and Meg, just to quote you guys; "It was organic, non GMO and soy free" means that your birds were better fed than most Americans!!! From the industrious labour of yesterday, you both look fab. and I love how in touch with Mother earth your boys are. Real, real nature's children!!! Few and far between. Well done, all of you and great to see the male bonding with Art!! "Ducks suck to pluck" should go down in the annals of homesteading from Bri!! Leave it to them to explain the reality of homesteading. Love those guys.

[@miaace5070]

You're not kidding we hate plucking duck 🤣

[@normalara1417]

Wow, 58 birds! I just love how your youngest son follows daddy all over the place, ready to help out with everything. That makes my heart smile.🥰 God bless you all.🤗🙏💖

[@watcher3774]

I like how everyone has been getting together to harvest chickens lately. And filming different aspects of the same day. Watched art and bri earlier and now yalls vid. No disappoint at all. The NC homesteading KZbin community is some of my favorite KZbin videos to watch. Such a wholesome bunch of folks that help others in anyway they can. Kudos to y'all. I look forward to many more wonderful videos from y'all.

[@andread8169]

I was thinking the same thing! Want to move to North Carolina or Arkansas just to be friends with all these awesome homesteaders!

[@colliecoform4854]

Agree completely. I don't watch the butchering, something I would have to really think about. I get attached. Love raising them for eggs but then they are pets. My goal is to get some mini Jerseys for milk, cheese, etc. Chickens for eggs, a few goats for cheese, soap, whatever and I'll keep buying my meat. My daughter says she would have no problem processing but we'll see. My garden is my price and not and I can't wait to move and get some more land to really grow everything (except Okra 😁).

[@samanthatorres9517]

No wonder you guys settled on NC. Such a GREAT community of life as it should be. Makes me want to move there! Seriously! Thank you for sharing your experiences ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@AnnieFinney-k6u]

@@samanthatorres9517😊

[@deardrasnow1953]

I see an outdoor kitchen in your future... sending love.

[@pattihusk8181]

As a city girl, I love learning about your homestead!! You guys are the epitome of how our Country was built! 59 birds into the freezer is a very BIG grocery haul🥰🥰!!

[@hanorabrennan8846]

Patti, I fully agree. They brought the 'California Cool' to North Carolina. Hope they appreciate it.

[@breakheartorchard]

You guys are doing fantastic work. Thank you for sharing this information. It helps folks like us who are considering different types of livestock animals. Sometimes having the numbers helps to decide to shift resources in a different direction. Congratulations on a successful “harvest”.

[@candylynn152]

Absolutely Love The Sweet Families Working Together & Sharing/Spreading The Love 💞👍🥰🙏WTG~Adults & Children❣️💞🙏🥰👍😍❣️

[@heatherk8931]

Ben, I love your problem solving ease, and your boys are learning first hand from you. Great things in their future. Meg, you are so sweet and looking wonderful! Love you all!! Great show of the process!

[@4KidsandaFarm]

We wonder all the time of raising our food is really worth it...money wise food is so cheap...but if you add in all the ethics and all the other benefit you get from growing your own food...it really is priceless. 😊 love you guys! We will be processing in about a month!

[@christycoalson36]

I love opening up KZbin n see The Hollars have a new vlog

[@maryjemisonMaryjay1936]

Christy C. Yes ❤️❤️

[@faithrada]

No pressure... but yea... love the vids. 🙂

[@jueliabaker8909]

I am 67 years old and live in East Texas. I am so proud of you and your family. I admire what you are doing. Every skill that you have will help you become sustainable. I am an avid fan. God bless you.

[@dixsigns1717]

Thank you so much for sharing your views and outcome with us. I so look forward to your videos. We are raising 70+ C-monsters ourselves and splitting the costs with good friends who have a child that needed major surgery this year. Community is so important. Blessings And as a 40+ year goat breeder, it is always awesome to sell to someone that that carries on our good name in the show rings. :-)

[@hanorabrennan8846]

Hoping that child will no longer require costly surgery in the future. Are you aware that a lot of 'clued up' americans come to Europe where health facilities and surgery is mostly free? I feel that you are all being ripped off tremendously. The injustice of society doesn't help so this is a heads up. Head for the countries that are part of the European Union.

[@margmurray1945]

Oh, Ben, that was a sharp knife ! My hubby used to do that to test his knives for sharpness, too....and Meg, remember all the bone broth that you will be able to get out of all those birds !!!! Enjoy !

[@hanorabrennan8846]

Marg, that was the part that made me cringe despite the fact I did my nurses training way back in the 1970's!!! Nothing else would disturb like that!! Despite that, I hope to order one of Ben's knives when he has the time to establish himself. I reckon they will be a collector's item in time, in Homesteading. Would love my grandchildren to appreciate and notice what they have missed.

[@karenandriancontainergardening]

I grew up on a farm and I remembered when it was time to harvest the chickens. It’s good to know where your meat is coming from. Nice job guys!

[@bonesbigfoot2654]

Thank you so much for sharing your information. I would love to totally see the whole butchering process. Maybe in the future you could show that but put a huge disclaimer about what's to come for those who don't want to see. There's nothing like raising your own food whether it's meat or veggies/fruit! Congrats on a great accomplishment. I love watching all of your videos. You two are such a wonderful couple and family.

[@jemmiestone5731]

What a blessing to have a lot of meat in your freezer. Happy to hear that you all had lots of help. You guys are doing great. God Bless Y'all.

[@Tigga5027]

I really want to thank you guys I have been learning a lot from your family and friends and right now I’m stuck between mobile home or yurt lol Thank you

[@SwimCoach8]

Thanks for the great video and the numbers breakdown. Even if the birds were a bit more expensive...knowing where they came from and how they were produced is well worth it.

[@kimberlywallshield5999]

Love you guys! "Found" you a few weeks ago through Roots and Refuge and went back to the first videos on YT of y'all's and just recently caught up to current times. Love your content. Love your family and the inspiration your provide! Keep up the awesome job.

[@And1Mixtape9]

Congrats guys for getting another milestone done in your own home ! It's enjoyable to see the progress and lessons learned as you keep on your inspiring journey. Thanks for keeping it real and humane 🙂

[@pamalapeterson5352]

How interesting to see the results of your labor! Thank you 🙏 for sharing! God bless y’all and stay safe and healthy!

[@donnamays24]

What a beautiful thing to share the cost, the work and all the bounty. Working together is awesome, I love Art and Bri...blessings to both families 🙏🏻💖

[@dwalsh4027]

You are involved in a great community of homesteaders. So nice

[@maureenthefirst1]

Bottom line they also gave you back income because of the land prep they provided which if you had to do buying compost, and the many other things required to do land prep. You would have paid significantly more out of pocket. Even if you only took $1.00 off the cost per bird or $.75 their cost compared to buying Organic, pasture-raised birds etc. I think you did pretty well. Thanks for the breakdown.

[@bonnied3550]

I was going g to Ditto that coment

[@janetwithers7427]

Such a great harvesting day with friends, family and good food. You are blessed with wonderful support system. Way to go. 🐔💖

[@irmibullinger1421]

I watched Art and Bri's video already today and it looked like you guys worked hard but had a lot of fun too. I especially liked when Ben and Art talked about fatherhood. Both of you are great parents and I know your children appreciate you. Many blessings to all of you from TN

[@mattsara2802]

So fun to watch! We've been butchering for years but next year will be the first year on our property and is so exciting but makes a little nervous too! Thanks for your positive outlook on all you do it always makes our day!

[@lisaarbour6784]

Very interesting to witness your first chicken processing on your land! You have some wonderful friends that came to help...you are blessed!❤

[@sharonnowlin2297]

I love the way that your family is living!! Your boys are learning so much helping with the animals! Every kid should know quite a bit of what your kids do everyday!!! That's a lot of birds for your family !!! Great Video!

[@joshuatreewinex]

yeah, awesome. really great to see community spirit in action. love the light touch on the processing footage but I had already seen art's footage on your day so... lovely. luv ya'll

[@deannakinsman6790]

I remember "chicken harvest day" back when my grandpa had them...I HATED plucking those things!! But they were the BEST tasting chickens I've ever put in my mouth!! Blessings 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟☝️💝☝️💝☝️

[@bettinah.7429]

A hard day’s work shared with friends makes for a bountiful and ethical harvest. Also may I add you are getting mighty close to a silver play button!! 😉

[@terrihubbard3741]

I like how you say the mobile home is "almost done" but you don't have walls (drywall) yet! I like your outlook! :D

[@kennethgibbons2487]

You guys are wonderful people - anyone who cares about their animals/birds the way you do is worthy of acknowledgement. When I was a young teenager I used to raise ducks (Muscovy) and my family nearly disowned me as I had 80 at one stage and they were messy! My "business plan" never worked as people at that time 1960's bought chickens but there was no real market for ducks - so much for young ambition. Love you guys - God bless you all - keep laughing.

[@mlm7598]

Awesome, you guys just thrill me with all you have been doing and getting accomplished. I can imagine the fulfilling feeling eating off the land totally. You are almost there with that step as well. Long strides since you left the west coast. Absolutely fantastic! The house is getting done and baby will be here right after that ...... (hopefully not before).............LOL I am so excited for you all. Another adventure to be sure. Stay healthy and happy and enjoy the journey and the destination is beyond belief indeed. So so happy for all of you and your hard work is sure paying off. I remember back when you landed there and said "what have we done'.......or close to that. BUT YOU DID IT! Look at where you are now! Love it!!! Blessings

[@batpherlangkharkrang7976]

Hi..... Meg and Ben, thank you for sharing your video homestead chicken farmer garden 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 👕🐔🐓🐥🐖🌱🎥👍👍👍

[@AlpacaMade]

What a satisfying feeling to know the meat is covered for the most part, til Meg is walking around with another Happy Hollar on her hip. I sincerely wish for your new baby to be as smart and charming as Wilder; that would be the mountain of whipped cream on the sundae 🍨

[@SharonKarkara25]

Wow!!! So much meat!!!🐔🐓🦆🥳🎉 Great job everyone!!! Another great day on the homestead with friends to lend a helping hand. Love seeing your journey ❤ love and blessings ❤🙏

[@francescampbell4731]

Thanks for sharing and I appreciated how discrete you were in filming the butchering. As a meat eater I am happy to be in denial as to where my meat comes from but envy those like you who have the ability to feed your family by growing your own fully knowing how safe that food actually is. It also must be said I was in awe of how sharp that knife was! Holy crap is all I can say about that one! Great video, thanks for taking us along on your journey.

[@jodytempleton-jackson1377]

Sounds good how people help each other!!! Good to have good fellowship.

[@kkelly277]

You are really living the homestead life! We bought organic chicken from an organic butcher and the poor little thing looked like a baby Cornish hen- not the Cornish Cross kind. Anyway we gave up on buying the organic chicken because it was so tiny and very expensive. Glad to here Art was with you helping tp process. I know he is a nurse and would be careful around you with the pandemic. Been real worried about all my homestead KZbinrs. Keep up the good work and stay safe.

[@LittleMountainLife]

Awesome guys! Those prices are totally reasonable. We have a similar problem with the terrain of our property and the chicken tractors not sitting flush to the ground. That’s why we build two small (3.5’x6.5’) tractors so I could easily manage placement around obstacles and uneven ground. Each one holds 12-15 birds and it was super light but still protective.

[@TheFarmingLife]

That's awesome you had the opportunity to grow your own chicken meat especially through this virus where it is got very expensive here in Pennsylvania. Your channel deserves a hundred thousand subscribers tonight. Have a great evening.

[@deanasharp4775]

You two sound so at peace God blesses you

[@lisanester3338]

There’s no better peace of mind than knowing exactly what went into your food. Everything looks beautiful! Stay well. Peace

[@memyselfandeye8377]

Awesomeness! I kept expecting to be grossed out. Thanks for sharing your expertise and time with us. Yummy for my tummy.

[@CallmePancakegaming]

Glad your uploading more lately. Look forward to your videos. Great information and fun to watch. Im naming some pea fowl after you in my next episode of planet zoo... Keep up the great work Ben and Meg

[@clh476]

Love the crossover videos with other families! Glad you guys take care of each other is very encouraging.

[@louisedavidson7775]

It is such a delight to see another video from your lovely family, it brightens my day when I get the notification. Thankyou.

[@joyarnett6570]

You guy's sure have come a long way it's exciting to watch your journey and see your accomplishments...

[@lily12370]

Meg, your man gets HUSBAND OF THE YEAR AND FATHER OF THE YEAR award. He works so hard to make his family/wife happy and safe. He is so gentle and loving with the kids/wife. Appreciate what you have!🍷

[@AfterTheRains]

Beautiful healthy organic chicken in the freezer. What’s not to cheer about. You are all looking so fit and healthy in your new life.

[@blueheronfarm3818]

Hey guys! Great job! From the research I’ve done, if you can find duck or geese, they run $9/#. So good job. I’m sticking to the Salatin style tractor. The wind in Oklahoma is too vicious for the Rhodes version. I am taking them all down to 18” high, though. Meat birds don’t need 2’ high spaces.

[@ciciliacurt6227]

I'm glad you know how to do ALL the work old fashion way. God's grace be over you and ALL yours 🙏😍😍

[@ladycat661]

Wow wonderful love that y'all got a great harvest on y'all's bird's and nothing like a good bird you rised and love seeing the wonderful community coming together ❤️ Thanks for sharing God Bless sweet friend's ❤️ ❤️❤️

[@andreacooley133]

AWESOMENESS 🥰 sounds like it was a great success and you even learned more! Which is a bonus as well 🤗 thank y'all for sharing 😁

[@SuesSecretGarden3]

Great job guys. You are so lovely. Proud of u . Keep living your Dream and sharing. Love it .🙏❤👏👍

[@joannewilson6847]

You did a wonderful job with the raising and butchering the chickens. Thankyou for the video and explaining all the finances associated with raising chickens. Will be interested in the design of a new chicken tractor for hilly areas. Take care all xx

[@cherylemaybury9967]

It was great to see Art and Bri helping you guys out. I love your community.

[@mikejones3155]

Awesome video. .. great breakdown of the cost at all levels .. so glad you guys are growing your own food , so rewarding.!!!!

[@bettinah.7429]

I think the word you are looking for Ben is a pavilion. That would be a great addition to your homestead.

[@andyteohockguan7243]

Awesome, friends and family working together, God bless

[@marcusjohnson336]

I like watching your channel because your whole family is so polite and happy. Never see you in bad moods. I know those days happen but you don’t show it. Hope y’all have a great 4th July.

[@cynthiafranco4313]

that is great now u don't have to buy it from the stores and u now what u feed them this is so good God bless u 'all

[@virginiaduty3138]

so glad to see you doing more videos.....they make my day ....sending peace an love

[@moondazed5451]

Al at Lumnah Acres has a great outdoor kitchen where he fired house butchering. Congratulations on the harvest, you've helped me move a little closer to doing this for our family.

[@serenagomez3864]

Great job! Thank you for your hard work posting!

[@susanknight8961]

Thank you so much for the breakdown of the cost of raising meat birds. I agree with getting a different kind of bird holder. I bet you will come up with a new kind of Mobil chicken holder. I’m thinking like a robo converting box. You guys did really good. So nice to see how far you guys are coming in the homestead. Please make a target or amazon wish list for the baby... we want to help xx

[@hanorabrennan8846]

Hear, Hear!!

[@wakeandbakewithmaryjane1767]

He goes in the shed, comes out with a child.........keeping them in the shed, now ? :D :D :D :D I love the heart felt farming yous do, and raising your animals. Yous are the best homesteaders ( and one other homestead ). I am planning me escape from the city life and I want to be a good human to the animals I raise, yous are teaching me an honest, caring way to raise animals on a farm/stead.

[@1sweffling]

Thank you so much for thinking of changing your chicken tractors:) For all the reasons you mention I was thinking along the same lines when I last saw your poults: I have kept ducks, chickens and geese, and like them to have the best possible lives before they are killed. I also think water birds do need access to more water than chickens do to live a meaningful life. The joy a duck or goose experiences when having access to swimming water is huge!!

[@olddaphon]

nice set up you got there. the food looks great. and best of all great friends.

[@gailbrault9251]

Your boys did a good job with the birds. I like how the chickens enrich the land for further plantings. Circle of life. Art was noticeably surprised how far you have come with the farm. Its unusually warm in the midwest at the moment so pace yourselves and stay safe.

[@bound4sunshine]

You all did such a great job this year! I have loved watching everything you all are doing. It's been wonderful watching your journey ever since you came through my area in your travels through the pacific nw

[@julieseatter5775]

Hi guys, great job, heaps of yummy roasts coming up. After 4 years of growing and plucking ducks I found that increasing the water scolder temperature a bit more and doubling your dish liquid to get through the oil on their feathers and as you found out doing them at the right age all helps to getting a clean carcass.

[@jch1965]

Ben is such a hard worker! Good job getting everything set up for the processing. 👍🏼. Meg, those carnitas!!! Yum! My favorite. 😋

[@bowenfamilyfarm9776]

Thanks great. We are doing the same. We slathered 66 cornish cross. They were on average weight 6.5. It was the best chicken I've ever had. We are on our second batch now.

[@annpage3085]

You all are an awsome family....love the way yall raise your hogs and chickens...the old way.......Ann From Georgia

[@minnesotagal507]

Wow, that seems high. But you can't beat the flavor!

[@lindabunce5133]

Another adventure would be a compilation of "The Best Of..." recipes from your friends and you. Sell in the fall before the holidays.

[@marinar3772]

Thank you for the numbers! I appreciate that!

[@JoJoDragonslayer]

It's definitely worth it, and when you get your system down for where you live and what works for you it'll be even better!

[@JoJoDragonslayer]

And what y'all are teaching your boys . That is priceless.

[@alisonshanahan9529]

It's not just the cost of the meat, it's the fact that those birds worked for you whilst they grew. That makes them taste even better.

[@beetee3272]

Looks like a successful harvest & a grand meal 😊

[@frankgori9582]

Congrats on your successful harvest.

[@TexasVeteranPatriot]

Love watching you guys! It's almost time for my move back to the farm and am looking forward to the final retirement (my second). You need to reduce your feed costs by planting feed patches of things like red clover, alfalfa, and buckwheat rather than specialty feeds. There are plenty of feed plants that'll give you healthy chickens. Of course, my world is not the same as yours in regards to choices. I eat any old chicken I can get LOL! But still, feed plots are totally organic, self-replicating (they can reseed themselves), near zero maintenance (except mowing time) and also serve other purposes, like buckwheat for flour and alfalfa for the other critters as well. Also, all 3 of these plus white clover and goldenrod are great for bees should you try that venture.

[@JoryValley]

Man I’m blessed. I get my non gmo feed from a local farmer for 15/bag and my birds for around 1.20 ea. I usually avg 7.00-8.00 per bird (depending on losses) with cost of bags and labels. The feed from the farm store smells like urine to me when compared to the feed I get from the farmer, it smells so good I want to eat it.

[@pjkz63]

❤️great job. Seems like it was totally worth all the cost and hard work.

[@sandhollowhomestead6972]

Proud of you folks! Your dream is coming true! 👍

[@TalkingThreadsMedia]

Guys... This was terrific seeing everyone come together to help you out! Get the job done...yet still enjoy the company and the food! Many blessings to all! Best wishes from Kate in Olympia, WA -- 2:00 pm -- 6/30/2020.

[@jonabriggs8829]

You guy's are so great, I just love your Video's you and your Kid's !! Ty for sharing !!

[@TheWickerShireProject]

We just put in our Hugelkultur raised beds. We have 2 dozen or more meat birds at another Homesteaders Property. This reminds me of whats to come. That sharp Knife though. So everyone knows....HE KNOWS KNIVES! Our Permaculture Property is Bumping along in its infancy! LOVE ME SOME HOLLARS! HI MEG! Baby Bump!

[@504carl]

If you want a heavier meat bird if you're selling to make a living buy some speckled rice and cook it and add it to the chicken feed, it makes them heavier and cut down on feed cost. Try it.

[@Roehrtribe]

Clabbored milk is a huge help too.

[@karenparra9768]

what is speckled rice

[@rebeccahenkins1697]

Soak the feed and make sure they have grit - they will absorb nutrients better and need less too! Add the cooked rice and greens and forage - bigger birds for less! TFS~~

[@reesekolcow6136]

KAREN PARRA - Mr. Googlepants says it’s quinoa mixed with rice.

[@abcd1234jason]

Rebecca Henkins soaked feed is a myth in fact Iv found soaked feed just means less water bowl consumption, see the food is designed to expand with water for instance a bird can eat 80grams of food so if 20% of that is water when it's soaked it means the bird is really only getting about 65gram of food, however the dry food bird will eat 80gram and therefore would grow quicker because it can absorb more nutrients, I do agree of you soak the feed in water it looks like there is more food but it doesn't work that way

[@DIYSolarandWind]

Bravo, house garden baby chickens. always stay awesome.

[@sandyoklahomatransient8557]

Excellent!!! Loved the video, and price break down. I can imagine all the equipment would add up in the beginning as well, then pay for itself in years to come with additional bird harvests. I was at Sprouts Natural Food store, a organic chicken would cost us $28.00 for a 5 pound bird. I passed on buying several because I felt it was a bit pricey at the time to buy 3 at once. Sending hugs to y'all.

[@theodorecarlton5245]

Keep the good stuff coming thanks

[@southernlass8430]

Great experience for all of you! Have raised Cornish cross a few times, you will lose big birds in heat! Here is an idea when raising two different breeds...try ordering the reds a month earlier than the Cornish x...then you allow the slower growth birds their full 12 weeks while limiting the fast growth birds to 8 weeks while still processing at the same time! Just a thought! Love what y’all are doing!

[@eaccristo]

Excellent....you are on your way.........

[@josieflores3843]

I love the way she said carnitas!! Lol 😁💞 southwest food always bomb 🍖💖