Watch This BEFORE You Keep Chickens 🐔
Get 30% off your first Grubbly Farms order when you use code "EPICGARDENING30": glnk.io/2k9j/epicgardening The price of eggs is driving many folks to think about raising chickens of their own, but how do you actually get started? In this video, @jacquesinthegarden and I break down everything you need to know about raising hens, from coop size to chicken feed!
IN THIS VIDEO
→ Grubbly Farms: glnk.io/2k9j/epicgardening
→ CoopWorx Feed Silo: growepic.co/4aAL96P
→ CoopWorx Water Silo: growepic.co/3xiIdh3
SUPPORT EPIC GARDENING
→ Shop: growepic.co/shop
→ Seeds: growepic.co/botanicalinterests
LEARN MORE
→ All Our Channels: growepic.co/youtube
→ Blog: growepic.co/blog
→ Podcast: growepic.co/podcasts
→ Discord: growepic.co/discord
→ Instagram: growepic.co/insta
→ TikTok: growepic.co/tiktok
→ Pinterest: growepic.co/pinterest
→ Twitter: growepic.co/twitter
→ Facebook: growepic.co/facebook
→ FB Group: growepic.co/fbgroup
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
00:25 - Regulations
00:57 - Coop Options
01:29 - DIY Coop
03:10 - Coop Spacing
04:26 - Daily Tasks
05:03 - Weekly/Monthly Tasks
05:26 - Yearly Tasks
06:12 - Giving Treats
06:35 - Chicken Care
07:53 - Options For Raising
08:46 - Chicken Breeds
09:52 - Chicken Myths & Misconceptions
12:20 - Expenses & Keeping Basics
13:44 - Grublies
14:42 - Cost Of Feed & Fixed Costs
15:15 - Benefits
DISCLAIMER
Epic Gardening occasionally links to goods or services offered by vendors to help you find the best products to care for plants. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. More info on our process: www.epicgardening.com/disclai...
Thanks to Grubbly Farms for sponsoring this video - we've loved and used them for 2+ years now as our exclusive chicken feed: Get 30% off your first Grubbly Farms order when you use code "EPICGARDENING30": glnk.io/2k9j/epicgardening
😅
I love that you used what appear to be pruners to cut wire (I'd they're not, they sure look like pruners). Don't do that. They'll chip the blade, if they even cut the wire at all. You can get real wire cutters, and if you're on a budget, find some at harbor freight for $3-$5...
I have had chickens for a good 50 plus years. I'd be lost without them. They lay those amazing bum nuts, great workers in their compost bay and you can tell them your life's secrets and they won't repeat it. Grandkids love collecting those eggs too. Blessings from Australia 🌏🦘🐥🐤🐔🐓
Truly an amazing creature
Bum nuts!?!? 😂
Bum nuts is an Australian slang for chook eggs. 🤣😂🧡🐔🐓
@@siamstation I shall call them nothing else again
Hahaha... I call them butt nuggets.. husband always just shakes his head😂😂
It's rather ironic towards the end of the video you mentioned the psychological benefits to keeping chickens. After a rather nasty work accident messed me up both physically and mentally and the loss of our dogs due to old age I fell down a very dark and slippery slope. One of the things my psych suggested was getting chickens. We had previously discussed and considered it, but I can safely say was the best decision we could have made. They gave me purpose, a reason to get out of bed each day and spent countless hours with them chatting and an unbiased opinion for my woes.
All of my farm animals did the same for me after a disability caused by medications. My chickens have names by their groupings (I have Norma's and Betty's and Buffy's and a few odd ones named Lola, Sally, Mabel (x2) and a sad sad hen missing a toe to a rat trap. She's Chinese. Her name is Wan ("Wan Toe Missing"). She's, of course, my favorite. They all have personalities and I have only had to cull a couple of mean roosters (and they were REALLY mean or they'd still be breathing). I love my birds, horses, dogs and last remaining goat!. Living with animals, growing a garden and trying to self-sustain have brought me back to some semblance of health. Much love to you, Jason! There's life after tragedy. It's just....different.
@@doodlesthegoose7085 we have names ours after actresses ironically by colour. We have Black Betty (an actual song by an Aussie band called Spiderbait. She's our Australian Australorp. Julia, after Julia Roberts from Pretty Woman, although being a redhead possibly our first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard as she's the spokeswoman of the group. She's a cross between a Golden lace wyendot and Barnevelder, also Ezme an English Dorking. Ezme was a character in a long running Oz soap and was the neighbourhood busy body. Finally we have Lucille, a ginger but not sure of her breed as one of our neighbours found her at the local market with a rope around her neck and rescued her and we adopted her, but is named after Lucille Ball as has identical hair colour. All have incredibly sweet and beautiful nature and so unique in their own different ways and not a single day goes by when they make me laugh my ass off.
I'm so glad to read this Jason - they're truly awesome creatures that have benefits you really can't quantify in $
What a blessing for you. ❤
Thank you so much this story resonates with me deeply I am a foster kid struggling being independent in this crazy world growing up as a Oprhan is hard this gave me purpose and a reason to get out of bed something I really needed I love my chickens 😂 shout out Linda and Felicia
One crucial thing missed: chickens hate getting wet! That, and if your coop stinks, it may well be wet and you'll need to put down new bedding and find the leak. Moisture is something folks are going to have to be aware of when building/buying a coop just as much as anything else! This was a nice video for chickens, it was a good overview for those looking into looking after birds
i hadn’t thought about it, i live in a humid area prone to hurricanes
Tbh they don't mind getting wet outside, mine happily venture out into rain to hunt earthworms. They do have to have a place where they can dry off though.
agree. they can easily get sick if wet + unclean living area. my dad's chicken almost all died during the rainy season. a fancy breed too lol what a shame
So they're cats
@@cass6020 no, chickens are valuable resources
Can confirm that chickens have a huge impact on anxiety. Their little sweet sounds as they forage around and come to you for snacks and pets or just to hang out with you just touch a place in my soul I didn't know I had. Perhaps humanity is meant to be around chickens just as we are around dogs and cats :). More people should get chickens! But you don't need to get the super egg laying breeds! We keep bantams in our suburban garden and they keep us well stocked with cute little eggs! Lol.
here in Brooklyn there are literally no laws other than 6 square feet per chicken, so my 200 square feet backyard is now a farm, behind some skyscrapers... and all my neighbors hate me HAHA
I strive to be you someday hahahaha
I think it’s really adorable that you allowed your garden hermit to build his own coop out of trash.
They think you were joking about garden hermits!
They used to be rather common among 'our set'
Chicken content never gets old. I think I spent around 1.5k to build a coop and buy the pen and supplies. Obvs not going to be cheaper in the long run for eggs, but the chickens are the sweetest pets and garden helpers. Absolutely worth it for us. I especially adore our australorp and orpington.
Agreed. Pest 🪳🦟 control is needed for this time of year. Crickets, 🦗 Grasshoppers, hornworms and crane flies are a BIG DEAL. Chickens can help.
Thats too much
I just adored my Orpington, she had the funniest personality, but my friend was visiting and his dog found his way into their pen Thanksgiving night and got to two of our chickens, but she was a hero, she was screaming for help and because I heard her I ran out and saw the dog chasing another. I grabbed her and he already bit into her numerous times leaving a gaping hole and the other one too! Unfortunately he got one of her vital organs. She was still alive snd we brought them both to the emergency vet and she wouldn’t make it, this broke my heart, but the other one had surgery and stitched up and we were able to bring her home 2 days later and she is our sole survivor now, 3 yrs later. We’re getting another flock tomorrow and I can’t wait to get another Orpington, she was such a lovely bird and a great leader & protector of the flock. She definitely saved the other birds by screaming for us to hear her. I miss that lovely & chatty lady! ✨♥️✨🥰✨♥️✨
Me and my dad used some old pallets behind our barn and kinda just built a coop
@@gardengoddess1283hey how does ur orpington look like? I have just breed the most beautiful ones
I have to say, I added chickens to my life this July. I have not gotten any eggs, YET. But Everyday I love going to to see my nuggets that I have been hand raising. They rush to the door making all kinds of sweet noises. They are perfect listeners! Wish I did this sooner. Sometimes I sit on a chair and just hang out, so relaxing.
Bumblefoot is common when you have square roostingbars, you need round bars in the coop for them to roost on, with a diam of about 2,5 1/4 inch.
so is that 2.75" in total then?
Thank you for this guide, first one I see for chickens. I enjoy the conbination of Jacques and Kevin showing the similarities in 2 very different coops.
We've had two hens live past 10, another almost made it. While their egg-laying did slow down, the oldest had stopped completely around year 7, but started up for two years after that.
We keep old hens - ours are all adopted from people who were replacing old hens with younger birds or were strays caught by the humane society in a nearby city. Although some of my old girls aren't laying anymore, we still have plenty of eggs. I had a white leghorn that laid an egg almost every day for 10 years before she decided to retire. I think the slow down in production is over emphasized for backyard flocks. Most of us are giving away eggs during the spring and summer, so a little slow down is no reason to get rid of old friends.
@@beccafichtner5305 I love that you have a few from the humane society! We definitely treat surplus eggs like some folks do zucchini. Co-workers have been grateful for free eggs the way prices ballooned.
I consider my older bird who have stopped laying as having earned their retirement.
@@upnorthupdate919 Indeed! Around here, anything over five years is likely past being a pet and heading toward 'family' status.
@@elebenty5709 or food
I’m so glad I watched this video! I’ve been considering getting chickens for awhile now and has gotten discouraged from some other videos I watched. This video was very thorough and allowed me to feel more at ease about what is truly expected when caring for chickens. Thank again, Kev! 💚✨
One of the best chicken keeping videos I’ve ever seen! Great job!
this is the best video to watch to relax. You guys should put a livestream of your chickens up
I've had chickens just about as long as both of you and I've learned so much about keeping them from you. Have to agree they are totally worth it!!
Just love watching your videos man and you’re the reason I’ve started my garden. I am dying to get chickens I just don’t have the space or money yet. The inspiration is there though, keep on making videos!!
This has been the most informative chicken video I’ve seen! Thanks for posting!
Well good bye Jim! Jacque is a great addition. He’s smart, calm, teaches , he’s a very good addition
I put all my garden waste in the run(even stuff they won’t eat) and turn once or twice a week. They go nuts over the worms underneath. It’ll fully compost stuff in like 30 days and they definitely don’t go through as much feed.
Thank you for this video! The joy my chickens bring me is incredible. They are the greatest pets and the eggs are a total bonus.
This is so helpful to see both setups. Thank you, guys!!
I’m really enjoying my 7 week old Orpingtons and Barred Rock chicks. It took me a year to decide if I wanted the responsibility and the cost. You and Jacques really helped with that decision. You present such great info thru your Y- tube channels that I was able to prepare myself for the reality of owning chickens! Thanks for sharing!
Love all the accurate information, I free range and theres def a different element because now its one for all. Ive trained them to come to me when i come out they come running from all areas 😂.. I also use the word “inside” when it rains or danger nearby and they all take off back to the coop ❤ I love my chickens and glad i have them i currently have 32
how did you train them
@@Elias-xu7uw I use bird seed containing black oil sunflower seeds it’s a cardinal mix, I carry the bag and shake it, and when I get them where I want them. I toss some out almost like scratch, over and over eventually they see you and think “treats!!” They’ll come running even without being called
Great content and information. I'm so glad I stumbled on your channel. Keep up the great work.
Great info. I started keeping chickens a year ago. Love my four Barnevelder girls.
Elector PSP is the best solution to get rid of any pest in your coop. I tried everything on the book, and this is the best so far. Great video, btw!
Thank you so much for the informative video! Would love to see some follow-up videos on this topic in the future as well
This is so helpful to see both setups. Thank you, guys!!. This is so helpful to see both setups. Thank you, guys!!.
As for value, having a food source that isn't dependent on supply routes is good in times of strife, so chickens really are also peace of mind in terms of food. Yes, you have to feed them, but chickens will eat rocks and bugs so a little less feed will be fine XD
I just watched your entire Homestead channel during my stay at home vacation. When you were picking out breeds it peeked my interest. I really liked the Andalusian Blue, the Minorcan, and the Castilian Black. It's not even about the most eggs or how big the eggs are. They're beautiful breeds.
I don't have any of those...they look gorgeous!
@@epicgardening they are. As you can imagine they're all Spanish breeds. I'm not sure if you have selected the hens/chicks you said you were going to add, but there is also a Catalan del Prat Hen. If you can find it, you can add it to your flock as an homage to to your time in Barcelona.
@@epicgardening Never mind on the Catalan breed. They sound awful to deal with 😆 "They are good flyers and can’t tolerate confinement. They are also very good foragers if given free range facilities. They prefer roosting in high places. They are very hardy and tolerant of hot climates. Catalana chickens are not too friendly and tend to avoid human contact if possible."
Loved your video, very informative. I'll be sharing with my sister who has a chicken coop. I'm sure she can really use the info.
Herd immunity for bird flu is an option. Compost producers, they will make compost 10x faster than a pile if you give the garden waste.
Hi from Brisbane Australia. We’d be lost without our girls. They’re very much apart of our family which is why we’ve had them since I was a kid. We had bad flood & at the time the only place they were safe was on our back deck. Cleaning the poop was a daily drama but apart from that, well, they were safe from the flood, had food all day & got to know the rest of the pets & family so much better. Ever since, the girls have been very happy coming up to say hi & visiting us every morning & have found the old laundry baskets their safe place to lay eggs. They are safe, happy & loved dearly & of course their eggs are delicious. Thanks for the feed recommendations. 🐣
fabulous high quality video! The automated door is amazing! Thanks!
I just got a chicken coop and I placed it in a kennel cage, I'm so excited. Thanks for this video, I really needed to see it.
excellent content, pace, and editing.
Informative as always. Thank you!
Umm?? Are we just not gonna talk about the cobra hanging from the 2x4 from about 1:40 - 1:50? 😂 I'm from Florida and never approach a coop without my snake vision turned on, even coops on KZhead. 😅
My favorite are Isa Browns. Have been raising them for about 8 years. Super chill, friendly and lay all year and heavy layers. Short lifespans, oldest we've had was 4 yrs old. So new flock rotations vs hens that grow old and stop laying. They aren't meat birds strictly egg layers.
Thank you guys for taking the time to make and share this very informative video. I AM FROM vegas but currently living and working here in Guam. My super wife Julie and I are building a homebin the Philippines out in the country where we plan to have chickens, a few goats, and of course, our dogs and cats. I enjoyed watching your video and am learning from them. This will be a first go for us both when it comes to chickens and goats.
Excellent video. Very concise and informative. No wasted time. Thanks guys.
brief amd imformative. easy to follow, clear! good!
What a great video! Thank you for the discount code that I used on my Hometown Harvest order !
Great video,plain and simple. I got a lot of good ideas.
Great introduction to chicken-keeping guys! I live in England where we have a lot of problems with ai (Avian influenza) from migratory birds. For the last couple of years, my hens have had to live in a covered enclosure to protect them from ai. You might find they make a bit of noise on windy days too. They definitely don't like wind. It's a good idea to add chicken grit to your shopping list. They need that to help digest their food. Chickens also have a very amusing personality. They really do!
We always offered our chickens coarse calcium! It would break down over time as they used it like grit, and would keep their calcium levels up😉
Great and professional presentation Guys!
You really mentioned in detail about raising chickens and keeping good eggs.❤
Great quality guide, thanks y'all!
Thanks for the video! I definitely want to keep chickens one day and I love learning about the process in the meantime
Any time!
Great well rounded video!
Love your videos. Who does all the artwork? Beautiful❤️
Great video since we are only a year into having chickens. I'm going to see if they have this kind of feed here in Florida. Thanks !
You two are great. Thank you for an enjoyable, informative video. :)
Thanks guys....info is so helpful!
Good information, guys!! Thanks.
Thanks for so much great info! I keep toying with the idea, someday! (time, $$, space, etc).. I'd love streaming a live Epic Chicken Cam all day in the background while I'm at work, hint hint!!
This is a phenomenal video! Excellent structure just straight powerful tips and considerations absolutely top 1% of content on KZhead! Thank you so much excellent, wonderful, stellar!!
Nice coop you have out there sir, Kevin n jacques😊
Super educational video 🙌🏻♥ Thank you guys 🙋🏼♀💕
Undeniably, having chickens is incredibly rewarding, and I wholeheartedly agree that they are absolutely worth all effort and time invested.❤
Love it that’s my next step in the homestead. Can’t wait to make videos about chicken keeping 🐔 🐓 thanks for the video! Got the codes already
You're going to love that next step!
U dont have chickens you dont have a homestead lol
Great video! Love the breakdown.
This was an excellent, spot on chicken video!
Hi, I have kept chickens for fifty years and really like them. Before taking chickens on realise that responsibility for their care and safety is on the owners, foxes or other predators are just following nature, we should ensure the security of our birds, not blame predators for taking a free meal!
Stationary coops increase disease pressure. Either free range or have a mobile coop. Then you gotta do deep litter method and inoculate with bacteria via compost , fermented tea etc.
Great info! Thanks, Guys.❤
Great work there!😊
Dear Epic gardening, thank you for your amazing content, bestowing of wisdom, and quality of video documentation. 🙏 ❤
Our pleasure!
Great tips, thanks for sharing
Besides a source of calcium, like oyster shell, chickens should also have access to small stones, like gravel for their gizzards. It help to grind up the food.
Thank you for the advice
I have 3 chickens and one rooster😊! They have a nice mini barn for winter months. They cost me a LOT to just winterize for them!!
Thanks so much for this!
I had such a hard time ,when I moved and couldn't keep chickens, learning to eat store bought eggs. I mostly use them in baking and such or add a lot of salsa and sour cream if I fry them.
Great video guys!!!❤
I too, live in San Diego and we have a quarter of an acre and we’ve had 4 chickens for the last 4 yrs now. But we’re down to 1 and have decided to get a new flock of about 6 tomorrow. I learned that they are very social birds and you need more then 1 chicken, but our one has been doing fine because she has 3 dogs and 2 kitties to play with and socialize with, but we’re ready to get more snd we hope she’ll be accepting to the new flock. We’re getting older chicks, approx. 8-12 weeks old. Any suggestions or ideas please share with me. Thanks and I love your videos. 🐓🥚🐣🐥🍳🐔
Watching the chicken jump down on the ladder was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen 9:57
Great video ❤❤ ty both 😊
Not only do chickens give wonderful eggs, and entertainment, they also provide good manure for compost for the garden. I will sometimes use the used bedding for a mulch around some of my plants. Whenever I water the nutrients from the used bedding goes directly in the soil. I would also like to mention that ventilation in a coop is more important than keeping your birds warm. Without ventilation you'll end up with frostbitt and chickens. That's what happened to me. We added more ventilation to our coop and it solved the problem.
I LOVE keeping chickens. They watch through my kitchen window when I make breakfast in the morning, my son (a toddler) collects the eggs for me in the morning and is overjoyed every time. He carries them around the yard with him. They turn baby snakes in to eggs (score). I will never go without chickens again 😂❤
Definitely more chicken contents 💪👍 great guys!!
Thx guys.
Great! Great! Video, guys.❤ Thanks again,😅 I learned a lot🎉
I'm building my african bushveld chics a new coop. Thanks for the advice and pointers
Good Info, Thanks for sharing.
Just got my first baby chicks today. I’ve kept ducks for a few years and all I can think is the word dry. Chickens need to stay DRY. Thank you for the video! I also watch your gardening videos so this was a treat.
Very informational! I think another big think another big thing to consider is if you live in cold areas you need to be aware of freezing temps. Are you prepared to haul hot water multiple times a day? Should you run electricity to your coop to have a heated waterer? Or a daylight light?
I always recommend the water nipples. It is so much cleaner. Also my chickens can go over a week without tending.
ive always wanted to keep chickens when i "grow up" and move to a permanent place. it sounds like a lovely hobby with some fresh eggs as a bonus
Best lessons EVER!
Will you be at the Poultry and Farm Expo May 20 in Ramona, CA? Would be great to see you guys there.
I read somewhere that fermenting their food for a few days will help them digest it and their egg production will double!! Hope to have more updates on our channel, just getting into making KZhead videos we are definitely beginners! Great video!
I have been raising chickens for 25 years. Just today I bought some whole milk plain yogurt for them.
Excellent video guys. The good organic eggs are $5/dz here, and home grown are even better quality, so to me raising your own is way worth it to me. Where do you get your hemp bedding?
Excellent content mate. I really enjoyed this one. I must mention that electrical wiring at 11:29 😬
Wow best chicken video ever! Thanks to both of you
Our pleasure!
I love my hens, they are so fun to watch and bring me so much joy. Another benefit I really appreciate is not using disposable egg cartons. I can’t recycle the plastic ones where I live and so many from stores come in plastic cartons. As long as I have the space to keep chickens I’ll never go without owning some ❤
Great program
Kudos to people who mention humidity. Yes, chicken *hates* to get wet for prolonged time. In their natural habitat they usually sleep on branches to avoid predator, that's why excess humidity is a big no for them. That's why the coop usually have space below them for better air circulation and to stay away from the humid soil. Remember, good air circulation is a *requirement* , not an *optional* . That's why some commercialized pen are abhorred by many farmers. They skipped too many steps.
And while you need good air circulation, for colder climates you need to prevent drafts in the coop.
We have chickens but I am still watching. I love the automatic door.
It's a game-changer for me