What a difference some HAY makes!

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8:20 - Chicken TV to the end!
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Happy growing!

[@judya.shroads8245]

Farming keeps ppl going. My friend was 103 and still farming hay and potatoes, plus a few other veg. He peddled his home grown veg to our town. He passed away at 104.

[@edibleacres]

That is a stunning age to get to!

[@acolley2891]

True. Every lifetime farmer I know was pushing 100 at death. Good bacteria, stress relief and mild physical activity.

[@johnsada2026]

@@acolley2891 Mm mksl

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Thank you for the respect to our elders.

[@hilaryboyd8594]

My husband’s family has farmed our land since 1810. I have spent countless hours working in the garden with my mother-in-law, just soaking up knowledge. I come from an old farming family too, and the combined knowledge and years of experience that I’ve had access to is an incredibly valuable resource (and a blessing). I call one of our parents before I ever have to resort to googling a farm question (not that there’s anything wrong with a little help from Google!). I think farming communities are one of the few left that still value the wisdom of our elders.

[@RobWool]

I don't think I'm alone in this but I do like the nature of your talks. I find it informative or even a way of reconfirming thing I may not always remember. Its like talking to neighbor and sharing experiences that both benefit from. So not all are hear for some kind of chicken ASMR. Thanks for the talks and sharing.

[@edibleacres]

Thanks for that.

[@hilaryboyd8594]

Agreed! Although I do love hearing those sweet little voices just clucking happily away. 😍

[@deecooper1567]

Absolutely agree 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@antiowarr9467]

Love it very very much,you have a good heart to your live stock. The last time I seen someone place a full leg of meat down( I know its stripped) for chickens was my grandfather, he would do the same with moose legs. That was over 45 years ago I remember that as soon as you opened the door. Thx for bringing back that memory. ;)

[@edibleacres]

My pleasure. They love having access to it.

[@annettenewton6240]

One thing I did on my roost is turn the 2x4’s down the flat way, the wider side for them to roost on. That way they can keep their feet good and snuggled under them and keep warmer. Plus they want fall off them either.

[@edibleacres]

I'm getting this feedback quite a bit from folks. I'll consider it heavily.

[@taunyaharmony2938]

I learned from another farmer the science of chicken feet & they recommend the narrow way. Even sites an injury from it. Curious to know other views. My flock has both

[@hotartesian4163]

@@taunyaharmony2938 I have different sizes of roosts in my main hen house. Some like the narrower boards, some prefer the wide or crowned part of a split rail, and some hens want to roost in the nest boxes. The way they get so picky about which container they drink from is what I have to laugh about. They literally get attached to a certain color or shape, and will wait on a hot day for said preferred waterer to be filled, while other chickens are happily drinking from their own favorite container. Some want plastic, others porceclain on steel, and there are some chickens that want a puddle.

[@gendeb9666]

I really enjoy your channel. I always get a kick out of “vegetarian fed” chickens...they are the most carnivorous thing out there in the US food system . If only people knew...

[@edibleacres]

I always feel a little sad to read that on egg cartons...

[@tracycrider7778]

Isn’t it the truth😂😂

[@joannc147]

I’d only had my hens about 4 mos when I heard some “happy screaming”. I look up to see one of the girls had killed a vole (good girl!) and was displaying it to the others - who gave chase, of course. They are most amusing!

[@tracycrider7778]

@@joannc147it’s hilarious when they are babies playing keep away with mealworms 😂😂

[@gardeningindalmatia3434]

Hahaha, we call our chickens "pack of velociraptors" so i can totally understand why you would feed them meat. It's an awesome source of protein for them. This morning we were making a new pile of compost and 2 little mice hid underneat the high bedding the moment the chickens saw them...well, let's just say the mice are no more. P.S. we also use hay bales for chicken bedding and also for mulching the garden before we throw them under the chickens. This way we get mutple uses from the bales.

[@edibleacres]

Sounds like a lovely system you are evolving there. Yeah, we've uncovered little voles and mouse areas accidentally in the chicken yard. I feel bad for the little fluffs just trying to live a life, but it's an honest and real thing that happens there...

[@hilaryboyd8594]

We call ours little raptors! Just try getting out unscathed after opening up a can of no-sodium sardines in the chicken coop. They go nuts, and it’s pretty much adorable. 😄

[@gardeningindalmatia3434]

@@edibleacres We are testing and adjusting the system the whole time to see what works and how we can improve. But overall i must say bales of hay are a life saver as a source of cheap mulch and compost material for high bedding.

[@gardeningindalmatia3434]

@@hilaryboyd8594 Sometimes i feel like I'm back in some sort of "living with dinosaurs" documentary or something when i enter the coop. They climb onto the roost and watch you intensely into the eye... the only thing is I'm not sure are they watching me or my eye (to try and eat it).

[@CaptainCocktale]

We call our chickens "tiny dinosaurs"!!! They love it when I bring them Turkey and duck carcases and any other meat bones we dont give to the dogs. The funniest thing our chickens learned this spring and summer is that our pool lights are a bug/beetle magnet at night and that our blue skimmer basket is where all those bugs end up so anytime they see me pull out one of the skimmer baskets they all come running. I'm pretty sure I could lead them anywhere with that blue basket. We taught them the command " go home" to get them to go in their coop when we need to mow or do work in the yard and we taught it using that blue basket. Chickens are much smarter than people give them credit for.

[@GoodPersonTestWebsite]

I love that "role reversal" we need more community like that ❤️

[@PleasantPrickles]

You’re so kind to your chickens. They have a wide variety of food to eat. They certainly are cute! 🌱❄️🐓

[@bethatz252]

I live in Minnesota & only keep 4-6 chickens. I have a couple of compost piles chickens love to dig in during the summer, but they usually stay in the coop during the cold winter months. If it's a nice day (above 20 degrees F) I let them out, but they refuse to walk in the snow. I have to lay a path of hay to the compost pile before they will venture out. I also put a half bale in the coop every few weeks during the winter so they can tear it apart to fight boredom. They remind me of kids playing in the loose hay. They make me happy.

[@HolyPineCone]

What a cute comment! "They make me happy". I can relate a whole lot to that. Good tip with the hay bale too.

[@tagladyify]

This is so wonderful! So happy for you guys and what a community you have built. Thanks for sharing 😄

[@Chantilly871]

I love the thoughtfulness, respect and helpful info that you share in each and every video you share. Thanks so much and your chickens are lucky! Mine adore fresh bones etc ;)

[@tiarianamanna973]

I really love this channel: the calm energy, the chicken tv and most of all the very thoughtful &detailed systems! Thank you so much 🤗😍😄

[@StillSwirling]

So happy to hear your channel has been growing & that your hens have a nice treat to munch on today. I also feed my chickens meat. They love it! It's been hard to find hay here as most of it has sold out already due to the droughts we've been having. What a wonderful blessing to have Steve and other elders in your life. They are definitely an under-appreciated resource of wisdom and so much more. I too enjoy your talks ☺

[@Junkinsally]

I’m glad I found your channel, as I love your voice and your approach to the natural life! I wholeheartedly agree with you about the wisdom of elders. We have a generation, perhaps two that is sooo removed from the farm life that knowledge is going to be lost unless folks like you take the time to learn from elders and pass that knowledge on. I would truly love to have one more day with my mom and my dad just to talk and ask questions. I kick myself for not paying more attention to stuff here on the farm when I was a kid!

[@edibleacres]

Very glad you found it too! Welcome!

[@wordswritteninred7171]

My favorite part, was when you gave respect to the older farmers! And all they bring to the table! THANK YOU! Their wisedome is quickly being lost!

[@chelseaapicella4412]

Just looking at all these plump, fluffy chickens makes me so happy. You have the healthiest hens I have ever seen! They look so happy. Thank you for all the info.

[@edibleacres]

So glad you think they are healthy. We hope that is true.

[@levisharvestllc4377]

Thanks, you have changed my world. The chickens are so happy

[@billhiggins3845]

Great vlog today Sean your little friends look happy and content ♥️👍

[@robertrembert4818]

Another nice one! Respect to old farmers / chicken TV, always delightful! Tip for chicken roasts: use 2x4 but the wide part, the 4 inch (3.5 really) as it allows the chickens toes to be flat and then their bodies can cover their entire feet during cold nights! Makes it easy for them to move along the roast being 3.5 inches wide... Also seems like they prefer to be as high as possible. Do you leave the xmas lights on in the coop? Thanks Sean! Hope your channel grows and grows!

[@edibleacres]

2nd person suggesting wider roosts. I need to consider that. The lights are pretty mild lumination and are on a timer to give a little morning light and extend the evening. Set to give 13-14 hours of total 'daylight' but it is so dim that I don't think it is stressful for them. Hopefully it helps with stimulating egg production.

[@tonykatieherres9991]

Finding this channel has been an absolute delight. I love your methods, your choice of words and your voice is so soothing. Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart ❤️

[@edibleacres]

We are so very glad you found us and hope you enjoy being part of our extended community, welcome!

[@champignon8249]

04:21 "Hay, it works" or "Hey, it works" Lol.

[@edibleacres]

Hay! I like it!

[@bbtruth2161]

The farm I am attempting to resurrect was my great uncle's, now mine. He made it out here till age 92, when he passed. He farmed cattle till 88 years. I am forever grateful. Will likely not be doing cattle, but converting to orchards and gardens. He left me a blessing and a huge mess. It has been a huge amount of work cleaning up and renovating the property and home. Picture Hoarders but way worse. I am learning to find hidden treasures in all of it.... a barn full of hay and very well aged manure is like gold to me. My chickens don't get this hay as it is very old, but makes incredible compost. Good work guys. Take care.

[@edibleacres]

Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Much appreciated.

[@heidimoore4981]

Thank you, as always your lovely voice is a pleasure to listen to and very informative. Thanks for sharing your lives with us!!

[@anaismorel3540]

Just have to say, I had to put on the close captioning (husband practicing his drumming) and at the end during ''chicken TV'' when the chickens made noises it was close captioned ''laughter'' and when turning the leaves in the compost the rustling sound was ''applause''...pretty funny :)

[@bananashowtime]

You come across so real and honest

[@edibleacres]

Hopefully I come across that way AND am actually that way!

[@jeffconnolly7818]

Try the mylar space blankets, the emergency rescue shiny ones. Not sure if this would work to keep the compost going at night long term but worth a shot. I have a tree service in rochester ny and sometimes we would leave the truck that was only half filled with chips at a job if it was a ruff spot to back in,but the chips would freeze over night and you would have to chop them out. I started covering them with the Mylar space blanket and the chips would be steaming when you took the blanket off the next day, the very bottom would freeze from wind blowing under the dump body but 90% would slide right out. They sell cheap ones for a dollar or so I ended up buying thicker reusable ones and simply connect them together they aren't very expensive, but the thermal capabilities of those things are insane.

[@edibleacres]

Great note here. I have emergency little ones in our vehicles and have given them as presents. The idea of this at a larger scale makes a ton of sense. Coming into this super cold snap I'll try to remember this. Maybe somewhere local has bigger/stronger versions.

[@jeffconnolly7818]

@@edibleacres I forgot to mention earlier how much I really appreciate your channel learning so much. We recently moved and have some land can't wait to get planting and creating outside once the inside is done, hopefully make some trips to purchase some nursery stock from you. I looked into bigger ones but couldn't find anything great so purchaded thicker ones online I believe ten by eight and they had grommets like normal tarps zip tied them together was the most cost effective for me and also being able to move where needed easily is wonderful. If any heat is being generated those will reflect back and should keep the piles from going rock solid. Thanks again for your channel

[@CarolReidCA]

Great idea where it's cold. Here in S. California, I've seen a few fires start in compost piles, so something to be aware can happen, especially when it's hot here.

[@angelaknowles8189]

i've only got 3 and boy do i love them,

[@robertpatton9856]

Enjoying your work. Learning from you is most pleasant. Thanks

[@edibleacres]

Thats nice to read Robert

[@elizabethsansom6447]

Ladies are happy. Nice to hear your story about your elderly farmer friend. Nice to hear you’re in the position now you can afford to buy the hay.Also nice that you’re able to work it off. There’s nothing wrong with a good hard work

[@mannurse7421]

Thank you for the paw paws and Chestnut hazelnut and river locust you sent even though they were grade b one year seedlings I direct planted and have had high success so far with tree tubes. But mostly thank you for your attitude that doesn't harbor animosity to the developing world or convention farming. You project a "do the best with what you can" attitude and I love it so much. Thanks friend!

[@mannurse7421]

If you ever find your self in need of help near in Southeast PA you have a friend in me! :)

[@elizabethmeyer9257]

Just started watching your videos last week. It's so nice to trust that you know your hay from your straw! :-) And thank you for respecting the old farmers. I sure miss all of them.

[@edibleacres]

We are lucky to have some really good ones still in orbit and I soak up what I can from them when I can!

[@ashanderson1555]

Glad the channel is growing!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Congratulations on all the new subscribers! This is definitely a great channel.🙏

[@nicholasnapier2684]

The reason why I subscribe to you because you're a like-minded person and you understand the need to do these things that you're doing... and the way you convey that is to the things you've actually tried out of era and or the things that work... which is called farming in my eyes....

[@HergerTheJoyous]

Well seasoned not old! Lol Congratulations on your new subs!

[@FinznFowl82]

Gotta love those old timers. Love your channel, very informative, I've learned a lot. Thanks a lot

[@robertmartinez988]

I love your channel brother. You have a great demeanor and very informative.

[@StringfieldRidgeFarm]

Great chicken coop and flock and I love that you gave them the meat. Thanks for sharing this!

[@mariannefroholdt9783]

I am amazed,one can hear How Happy the chicken are🥰

[@roannegrasso6035]

They are beautiful!

[@kimberlysmith258]

Im so glad I stumbled on your channel ty so much! Love chicken tv

[@judyheim6998]

The most underrated people in our country are farmers and teachers and where would we be without either.

[@craigcarpenter3403]

I keep a pile of wood chips under shelter and use it during winter to freshen up the run. It's also great to throw where my foot paths around the yard have melted and frozen into toboggan runs, instant traction.

[@edibleacres]

Chips are great to have around.

[@teevee3673]

I just found you on you tube . I love how your NOT pushing anything. Your raw real life content is what we need. We appreciate you brother. Much love and many blessings from philly pa. ❤

[@edibleacres]

Happy to have you with us now!

[@brendamontanye9877]

I had to laugh when I saw the "Once Again" buckets. Where do you get them for your chickens? I live pretty close to the factory in Nunda. We used to get "mystery butter" there which was produced when they were changing the machines from one type of butter to another. I loved that! In more recent years the machines are dedicated to one type. One time they were getting rid of (free) a mountain of outdated items, butters and boxes of nuts. I had pecans in my freezer for over a year while I used them up. Your chickens are definitely getting some great food, between the beef (we have grass fed cattle and I don't know why I haven't shared with the chickens. Oh, yes I do, it's because the LGD doesn't share) and the hay (we produce hay) I can see those are lucky "friends". My husband and I are 60 but relatively new farmers, and so far his job supports the farm. Maybe in retirement, who knows? Thanks for the elder comments. When my dad and mom come to visit us from CA, he can hardly wait to hop on a tractor and do some haying. He gave me a bull for my birthday a couple of years ago, from his mini ranch, and drove it himself across the country. He is in his mid-eighties. Though he was an accountant during his working career (and still does the books for a vet and a horse trainer and a Cal Tech Ag professor) he is my hero and mentor as I reach older age. My mom too, in her diligent pursuit of health and contentment.

[@edibleacres]

Sounds like a really lovely family and scene you have cultivating over there... Jealous of being near that factory, they make some lovely products. The chickens have a nice while to work on them since they are pretty locked up frozen so each peck only gets a little fleck :) Best of luck with what sounds like a very excellent way to enter into 'retirement' :) (huge constant labors of love!)

[@vintagecoachcollector]

This video was in my suggestion feed and glad I watched it! New subscriber here 👍 I just got five chickens and I'm learning.

[@mitchslade4668]

I love your channel very informative and well spoken

[@edibleacres]

So glad you feel that way Mitch!

[@barbaramcintyre3046]

I'm bringing in square bales too. I'm 64 now, living in Ireland and my husband has passed so I have to rely on the help of friends and neighbours but they're busy too. Our hay is always top quality and no sprays. We only have a small farm and we also do round silage bales. Trying to think of other crops to grow that are less labour intensive.

[@mycedarridge]

Hay! That's a great idea!! Snow free path and future compost!

[@hotartesian4163]

Been subscribed for a couple years and love to watch your videos. This is the first time I saw this one. Loved all of the content, especially the hay and meat parts! My hay fields are also done in small squares, as much as possible ( cuz I'm a girl!) so I can physically handle them. I usually wind up cutting the first crop late, so I get more seeds from the alfalfa and mix of grasses and herbs. The chickens get this hay tossed on top of the snow outdoors and they do the chicken spa thingy which includes lying around on it in various poses, trotting over to drink from drainage ditches with hot water flowing in them, pecking the bugs from the banks and eating greens sprouting along the edges. They have it pretty darn good. And I save money on processed feeds by supplementing them with the hay. Sixty chickens can put away about a bale a week. And those feathers really shine! It is nice to see your hens so happy. Chicken TV is fun.

[@JanColdwater]

Congrats to you on your new subscribers and congrats to your new subscribers because they are going to love your channel! 👍 Perfect idea, to put the nest boxes under the window. I hear they like to be in the more shaded areas when laying.

[@brittrucker7218]

We had respiratory problems years ago and were told by the vet it was because hay contains living organisms. Also make roosting bars same height so you dont get domination problems between chicken and droppings land in one area. Then can be collected for compost. Getting some great info from you too.

[@ruthannetalley4891]

So happy to come across your channel. I really enjoyed your video and look forward to more. Going to go purchase some bales of hay tomorrow. Learned alot. Thank you 🐓🐔🐓🐔

[@edibleacres]

We're happy to have you visit with us!

[@dotsouthard2980]

I can’t believe the amount of food scraps you can collect!! I can’t come up with a morsel from anywhere around my town unless I grow it myself. Amazing

[@edibleacres]

Sorry you have that limitation... Keep asking and somethingn will come to pass I'm sure.

[@RunninBird]

I'm so happy to see your channel grow! I think I found you on reddit or somewhere like that. I'm jealous of your meat stash ;)

[@mystyinsandiego]

I agree Hay is the best. It amends the ground too. Love your videos. We have spoiled backyard chickens. Yours look happy. 🤗

[@nicholasnapier2684]

I like that you went with a variety of different kinds of chickens in your group that's important the social difference there's a lot of hierarchy in there though and you mix certain breeds..

[@edibleacres]

Wasn't intentional, just getting 'new' random chickens over the years added up to a very diverse crew. Happy to have them, it is so beautiful to see such diversity.

[@amouramarie]

Awww, love the happy little chicken burbling! :D

[@jmo2104]

I bet those are some happy healthy chickens!

[@siamstation]

Beautiful pretty chooks. Blessings from Australia ❤️

[@nevernever7709]

I love the sound of happy chickens.

[@cleo1573]

Love all the information and beauty you put here on youtube, thank you! Is there an upside for hay istead of woodchips? I have a treeworker friend nearby who can deliver woodchips at my place, but no hay. I don't have chickens yet, but we are planting autumn olive and more to prepare a nice living space for them.

[@edibleacres]

Go for chips! Whatever you can get for free, and local will be the best resource, right?! We like hay for dry, fluffy insulative material for winter, but not a rule by any means.

[@frasersgirl4383]

Wonderful channel!! Love your videos!!

[@RangerRob]

Love your video, Thanks

[@Trek4Truth]

you sir. are a gentle soul. a friend of mine you would be. yes I am an old guy.

[@RussellBallestrini]

Hey friend, finally I have reason to binge watch all this chicken content, I now have a small flock of 6 Leghorn Chickens. About 8 weeks now and I'm training them to stay close to home but they are mostly free ranging at this point. As they grow older they will invariably look for more and more complex arrangements for food sources, yesterday I flipped a piece of 3 year old oak tree bark and called them over to feast on a huge colony of large red forest ants (not sure if native). Growing the insect population seems like a fun hobby as well as the soil food web. Keep sharing these words from 2 years ago are as relevant today as ever!

[@edibleacres]

We need to do some more chicken updates... Hitting a real stride in maintaining a very very robust red wiggler scene in there, and yeah, having material to cover areas and then flip to reveal soil life is always so worthwhile. Glad you found some old videos here to play through :)

[@worthmor]

I'm using deep mulch in my coop this year, should help in cold weather.

[@babyroot3479]

I'm supposed to be outside setting up our own little composting system..but no....Im just here binge watching your chicken videos.

[@spymaine89]

thank you

[@brianwhite9555]

Everyone sure looks comfortable and content! Love the soft sounds they make. Would they have an easier time picking meat off the bone if it was boiled first? Bone broth for the birds? Thanks for the video. Enjoyed the narrative.

[@edibleacres]

Probably easier if cooked, but it's in there because that was one huge set of bones that was super hard to break down. They'll work it over, then it will get buried in the compost and 'cook' there for a while and they'll end up picking it clean. On the other end, we'll let it dry in a high tunnel, then break it up and turn it into charcoal...

[@davidbass7593]

I have access to a good supply of pine straw which will rot in a seasons time and create good soil and is an excellent mulch to boot I use it on my garden and flower beds it works really well for us

[@edibleacres]

That is awesome.

[@JayBirdsDay]

Today I fed my chickens some beef heart trimmings. They enjoyed it very much.

[@giverny28]

We chose to hunt every year. I always give my hens the waste bones from our deer. Our family does not enjoy deer bone broth, but my girls will throughly benifit. Sometimes I will even boil the bones after they strip them, just to let them drink up the stock. I also give them the bones to clean up after doing our regular bone broth. In winter, I feel like this gives them so many nutrients they do not have access to because the bugs aren't available. I totally agree about the hay vs straw. In the hardest part of winter, I find it gets them out and moving as well as being warm under their feet.

[@edibleacres]

Sounds like some very thoughtful and considerate work happening over there!

[@upnorth1858]

For your new roosts, I would highly recommend laying the 2x4 with the 4 side up. The hens can keep their feet tucked under in the winter. I’m in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the hens are more comfortable this way on super cold days. The only problem is they can get a little dirtier but not anything a putty knife can’t clean up. Also, I added a droppings board under my roosts-Life changing!! So much easier to clean up. Just scrap the droppings into a bucket and you’re good to go. And the hens like to hang out under that area on inclement days and they stay WAY cleaner and therefore healthier.

[@edibleacres]

Thanks for sharing your notes here. We re did the roosts with 2x4 laying flat, so it's a wide place for their feet, they seem SO much more comfortable, especially the older birds.

[@LastHomesteadOnTheLeft]

Always learn something new

[@blancamateo9002]

First time / day watching this wonderful videos. I have 18 chickens, Florida. I don't have problems with cold weather. is the heat that kills us here plus mosquitoes. I have learned a lot today and I'm 72 years old grandma. Thanks.

[@carlagarrett3244]

Love the color mix. Mine are all browns.

[@maclagor]

Hi Sean. All of your videos incredibly helpful - thank you for continuing to make and contribute. I am a great admirer of your chicken compost system and would love to trial something similar but have one question that you don't seem to have addressed in any of the videos - how do you deal with vermin, rats or similar? Surely with all of the scraps around and especially with meat remains, this is something you have had to deal with? If I did anything similar, rats would be an issue very quickly as we have them near our property and the previous owners had chickens with feed - rats were a problem for them. I was at the Whole Systems Design applied PDC in 2013 and your talks and teachings there were equally inspiring, so thanks for all the work and long term inspiration.

[@edibleacres]

Nice to hear from you, glad the videos have felt useful! We see rats sometimes, but they haven't been an issue that we have observed as a problem. They a beautiful little creatures, and when they come once in a while to feed their children and hang out, I never see conflict with the chickens, so we just watch and try to learn if we need to interact. In fact, I've seen that where they were active there were some well textured tunnels through the low parts of the compost which I suspect help introduce fresh air lower in the piles. I suspect they are a benefit to our system, as I do as a default to any new being that shows up. Innocent/benevolent until proven otherwise... :)

[@maclagor]

@@edibleacres thankyou Sean. That makes sense and is an incredibly positive way to view that part of the system. Thanks

[@kroegermarkus1170]

Beautiful play with words :)

[@suesedersten3948]

I pick up bags of leaves from everywhere. Stack them on the northside of the coop to block the wind. Also the black garbage bags heat up in the day and actually provide heat for the chickens. I dump a bag or two in the coop for them to play in, which they seem to like. We love our chickens!

[@juanortizyepez7253]

Chicken paradise! Thank you for sharing!

[@patriciafisher1170]

Love your posts and love chickens. I live in Australia and we never see snow but in the summer we have to keep our chickens cool. I have them in a big pen u der some really large trees mainly native fruit trees like Native Tamarindo and Davidson Plum and Tuckeroo and a huge Ironbark tree I have a watering system to spray the leaves of the trees when it gets close to 40 deg C and the temperature is always at least 10 deg cooler in their pen Sussex hens don’t like the heat and we lost a few but the isabrowns and polish buffs love it and thrive. It seems the bigger the hen the more they don’t cope. One year I lay a layer of hay down just before a bushfire came roaring through. I turned on the sprinklers and luckily the fire brigade arrived and saved everything. Lesson learnt don’t put fresh hay down in the heat of summer. Lol.

[@edibleacres]

Wow, what a different situation you are in, amazing!

[@carolleenkelmann3829]

15°F = -9.5° C. That's cold! And those chickens are happy, happy, happy.

[@donnaeide569]

Beckys home stead, I used her nest and my chickens just love them and I get eggs every day what I should get for mine good luck for your hens

[@richiebeecoolstories3884]

Hey bud, have an idea, might work might not. Maybe if you took your extra food scraps in the buckets and put them in your new greenhouse and burned some candles during the overnight hours it might act like a fridge instead of a freezer. Fresh chicken food on tap. A good way to make the structure double duty in the winter. Really like your videos by the way.

[@edibleacres]

I appreciate that idea but would shy away from open flames in any of our structures when we go to bed. I wouldn't be able to sleep!

[@rickfarrell610]

Good stuff.

[@beckymay439]

They're so pretty! 😍

[@robynbrown4627]

Your videos are great! Subscribed

[@edibleacres]

So glad to have you as part of our community. Welcome!

[@debbiecurtis4146]

I'm a native, grew up on 96, and believe I know the Steve of which you speak! And so many of our local farmers are not with us any more, and that loss of knowledge is not a good thing. Thanks so much for your videos. I've wanted to move our chickens from the hay shed because I need that room for, well, more hay! And other equipment. I don't have a predator problem anymore, I suppose because my front five acres are fenced in with your favorite material, the horse fence in 2 x 4 rectangles that is my pasture. Within that, at night, they are protected in the hay shed, in their own area, which has a small yard. I've seen fox patrolling that outer edge eyeing them, but they can't get in. (Anymore!), Coyotes howl, but can't get in. They birds have hedgerow oaks and maples to hide in if they see a hawk. Thanks again!

[@edibleacres]

Neat that you know who I'm talking about :). Hope the chickens keep being safe and thrive in this world!

[@cheryldahl9192]

I have never seen anyone with christmas lights in their coop before...besides me! They work great :)

[@edibleacres]

We haven't plugged them in in a while

[@peterellis5626]

Thank you for the respect to the elders ;)

[@saintisidorehomestead]

Awesome as always, Sean, and thank you for taking such good care of your animals. It is really inspiring. Are you getting any eggs at all? I think I've been under the wrong assumption that when chickens are comfortable and warm they might lay better in the winter, yet our egg production typically drops to about 10% in the winter--no lights. This year we separated our pullets from our hens. The pullets are deliberately kept in a less comfortable area. They started laying in November and right now are laying about 4-5 eggs a week each. The older hens are laying at a rate of 1 egg every two weeks. So our assumption now is that young hens lay in the winter much more than older ones and that being warm and comfortable does not necessarily account for egg production. Again, this is all without artificial light. Any thoughts? Take care, Pedro.

[@edibleacres]

We are getting about 6-8 a day right now. Going up a little, and I think once I have proper nesting boxes we should be good. But we also have 64 birds! I'm not sure about the comfort=eggs... But in general I like the idea of working to make them comfortable either way!

[@nathangardenfawkes2910]

They look very content, well done mate :)

[@deecooper1567]

There is so much to learn from the older generations if people would only listen & ask👍. I noticed your hens have short combs & have read this is best for really cold weather. We have cold😶‍🌫️🥶 winters but not much snow per say. Altho summer is the opposite 🥵🔥, triple digits in teens. We’re building a coop & run by a big tree to help shade it & not sure on which chick 🐥 we will get. Was curious about the combs tho. Enjoy your down to earth ways. 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@tonymancini7641]

I’ve noticed some homesteaders erect nest boxes that can be accessed from a door on the outside of the coop as well as the inside for easier egg collection - maybe it can work for you too

[@edibleacres]

I hear you. The challenge is the coop is fully wrapped in hardware cloth and I don't want to cut into that.

[@santayanez5179]

I really really enjoy all your videos. I just discovered your videos and channel today. I have watched like 5 so far. I really enjoy the "Chicken TV". Thanks. Question: what breed are the light orange / medium orange chickens? Thanks.

[@edibleacres]

I wish we knew! We get them from various places... I want to say Red Star, but I'm not sure...

[@johnstonj92]

ill keep sharing love this channel ...i posted on permies seems to be a great place for people that just love this stuff 😃

[@edibleacres]

Thanks kindly for the help getting some of these ideas out.

[@drhoy15]

Great video as always. It’s a little hard to get perspective here. How wide and tall is the greenhouse for the chickens. I have 6 cattle panels that I bought when I was in Maine last Fall and want to use them for this type of thing. Amazing but the panels were $24 US which is about $30CAN. In Nova Scotia they are $80 CAN!!!!!!

[@edibleacres]

What a price difference, thats crazy. It always amazes me how little they actually cost really. I use 4 panels, 7.5' wide and 16' deep, maybe 6.5' tall in the middle. Pretty cramped to be honest, but functional enough.

[@drhoy15]

EdibleAcres much appreciated response. The price - an artificial line in the dirt and it’s almost 3 times the price!!!!!