Pete, Im absolutely filled with gratitude right now, my heart is straight up beating outside my chest. My father-in-law decided to retire from his dairy herd this week after 40 years, leaving us with 85 acres (60 cultivatable acres) to farm with! We were going to try and start with some broilers on part of the farm this year and was getting ready to shoot you an email to ask a few questions, you have answered basically all of them here! For a new and young farmer, this has literally made the world of difference for me in making our dream/goal come true. I've still got my town job and we have an old old farmhouse to fix up but you are absolutely inspiring and providing an amazing wealth of information. Thank you - from a farmer north of the border.

Inspiring! We’re just getting our operation going on an acre. We only had a couple hundred budget, but we’re already running the incubator and making sales!

Pete, I subscribe to several regenerative farming and permaculture channels, and I've got to thank you for your succinct delivery of information. A lot of channels seem to think that viewers want to watch a bunch of off-topic vlog-type fluff before getting to the meat of the video. I'm not that kind of viewer. I don't videos from KZfaqrs who think every little detail of their daily routine is soooo interesting that they don't cover the video title's topic until 5-9 minutes in. Your entire video was full of good, useful content and no fluff. Thanks!

Pete your videos are always top tier . I'm glad I found your channel , I really love the vids🙏🏼👍🏼

Hilarie seems like a sweet woman and she's right there with you holding it down. You are truly blessed.

I can't believe this is now my 3rd year of watching the broilers going out on pasture. Time really does fly!

Great stuff Brother! Your Bride is such a gift to you and the farm.

I have nothing to do with agriculture or livestock, but I could listen to you for hours, as you chatter along in your easy, straightforward style. It doesn't matter that I know precious little about cattle or chickens or pastures, your good-sense oratory holds lessons in practical thinking for many other areas of life. Thanks a million, Pete.

Another great video Pete! I always enjoy watching you and Hilarie work together.

Excellent tutorial on broiler chickens Mr. Pete! Yes sir we know Ms. Hilarie. She's the lady of few words with a big smile who's always the greatest asset of Just A Few Acres Farm. 😊

One of your best episodes yet, Pete! Practical information, well thought out rational on your feeding of those feathered monsters, wise update on your tractors, and obvious care taken when you transferred the squawkers from one location to another were highlights that I soaked up. Well done, indeed---both of you.

I love how generous you are with sharing your knowledge. You are awesome!

Pete, your analytical skills are amazing. We enjoy your channel and wish you many successes.

I am always eagerly awaiting your videos! They're more than interesting. You provide a ton of information and humor and a genuine example of love between a man and a woman that's real and not contrived. It's refreshing to see. Thank you both❤

Great video Pete. This will be our 3rd year running a similar setup. I watched your videos among others in the beginning to get started. Thank you for all that you do and good luck this season.

I raise and butchered around 50 broilers for years just for my family. I have that Joel Salatin book you mentioned. Valuable pre-internet info. I switched to hardware cloth 10 years ago and have not lost any birds to predators, usually a raccoon. I only have one box with wheels for moving. The garden hose over the pull rope slides and this movement helps to turn the box. Next time I'll try your tip to withhold feed for a couple of hours when starting in the brooder. Great video, thanks.

Confident but yet humble enough understand change is a constant

Good day Pete. Very informative, fun 🤩 video. Glad you keep some of your methods private from competition

It's funny, for our poultry fly control we use jars. Then my daughter tries using ordinary fly strips and it's fun to watch the chickens pick the flies right off the strips. My daughter is trying this as an FFA project/experiment. We'll see how this goes. Experimentation I think is key to most enterprises.

Pete... I wanted to tell you that you've been an inspiration to me over the past year or so. So much so that my wife and I recently purchased 11 acres of pasture and are starting a hay and lavender operation. Thank you!

Hillary looked like a BOSS filling that feed trough with the 5 gallon bucket!

I learned some stuff. The butchering is what has stopped me so far along with not knowing the regulations. Thank you for sharing.

There's a lot of work that goes into raising chickens the way you do. I tip my hat to you, having the drive to do this for that many years is impressive. My wife and I did raise some Cornish cross and our first time we only lost a few, but it sure was a lot of work. Thanks Pete, have a great weekend.

Pete you explain things for a non farmer can understaand, keep up the good work.

Watched your farm story and being frugal and the video strating a debt free farm. These videos helped me in something that's been on my mind and I just wanted to say thanks. Also I enjoy your positive attitude it's so refreshing to see some positive. I've been trying to keep myself surrounded by positive people. It helps me stay positive. Thanks again.

Thanks for that video Pete. I’m 15 and just bought 20 cornish X birds and plan to sell them. That video really helped

Can I start by telling you that you are one of the few KZfaqrs I watch. It was so refreshing being able to see a fellow 50plus 2nd career farmer on video to inspire my husband and I that it wasn't too late for us. It is wonderful seeing young families with small kids doing the homestead thing but it is quite another seeing someone my age doing it and doing it well. I learn something new each and every video on how to do it better/smarter. What I can't find in your videos though is your chicken processing set up! Our family has done meat birds over the last 3 years so we do not need another video showing how to butcher & clean a chicken. However, the set up that you find works best for you to minimize cramped hands and sore backs would be 100% welcomed. It is physically demanding to say the least. PS the pull bar on that chicken tractor to get the birds to the front - God Send! Those tricks of the trade is what this 55 yo retired ED nurse/city girl and 68 yo retired Resp Therapist from NY - turned farmers - need the most! Keep up the great videos!!

Pete a couple years ago I watched a video for a school assignment and I ended up jeep watching your videos I was always excited for a new video to come out wasn’t a big fan about the winter ones but it is what it is but you inspired me to want to be a small farmer one day and now I have my own Cornish cross broilers and some goats and we are looking to get cows you have inspired my journey and I am only 14 years old

As always a great video. Great to see you and Hilarie working together and supporting each other on the farm.

Pete, Wednesday I listened to the fieldwork podcast that had Gabe Ward as a guest and the topic was regenerative farming. The more I listened, the more I thought about your farm and how you use so many of the things they were talking about. It's good to see it in practice so much on your farm.

I love how genuine you seem! I run a skirt around my chicken tractors that I made with hardware cloth and 2×2's then I put landscaping blocks on them for weight. It stopped all predation. I have a very covered area where I raise my chickens and haven't had any issues!

Another wonderful, informative video! Your videos are a pleasure to watch!

PETE, HI , I came across this on YT, so I started looking, I grew up in JAMAICA, when it was BWI,, there were some family folks I grew up calling UNCLE&AUNT, there was a dairy farm,80 head, and lots of produce , he supplied a hospital with milk, and provisions , Auntie grew lots of flowers, which were sold at Uncles PRINTERY ,in ST ANNS BAY , then he brought back grass, about 6feet high, put into a mill, for those cows, there were lots of chickens, but most were for the home, I used to churn BUTTER, 1 GALLON CHURN, there was NO ELECTRICITY until the 1950s But I loved being there with the workers , those were the days, I LOVE your programme, explaining as you go, there were 249 acres,NOT ALL FLAT, HILLS TOO , STAY WELL,GOD BLESS 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I'm starting a 100 acre farm. I'm making10 12'x40' skiffs that are essential high tunnels. I took Joel's design and ran with it. I'm including wheels that connect to a pto driven pump to raise and lower them. With modern tech I don't get how people still think the natural way isn't feasible. Thank you for your videos!

Pete you are a great teacher. It is, I think, both your gift and your passion. Good work.

Good info Pete . Unfortunately I do not have a farm like you but I'm living farm life through you and Hillary. Thanks again.

I really enjoy the way you answer questions. Straight, to the point, honest and without apology for how you run your farm, but you also give the reason you do things the way you do. Thank you.

I love how helpful you are. Sharing your knowledge along with the neat money saving ideas you’ve learned throughout the years is so kind of you! I am learning so much and am looking to you to learn about meat chickens, housing, etc before I start. Thank you so much. May you and your family be blessed.

Another great video Pete! Sharing your knowledge along with the neat money saving ideas you’ve learned throughout the years is so kind of you! Your channel is so enjoyable You do such a great job 😀❣

Hello, new subscriber here. Watched your operation for over a year. As a young man, I left the farm as soon as I could but still can't get it out of my mind. The farm had a thousand stories - some hilarious, some poignant, some tragic. A true life experience.

This is my first year trying chickens, running two tractors. I'm looking forward to this whole process.

We do a set up like yours for raising the Cornish cross. When we process them we cut up the carcass into pieces then put them individually into shrink bags. Otherwise we were wasting too much meat when we kept them whole.

Hi Pete, im also an ex-architect transitioning into farming. 6 months in, in a harsh south texas environment, i have immense respect for all farmers. I have just had 60mh winds tear though my tractors and the light Salatin style, which I made 3ft high to adjust for our temperatures suffered in the winds. I also built a Sascovich tractor style but the size of Salatins. It weighs a ton but man, they had no wind damage to structure. Just had to replace the tarp. Love you guys. I love how your family works together. God bless you all!

Pete and Hillary alwys do a great job explaining things, even when he's out cutting the hay on his tractor. They are a great couple. ,

I love that the tractor looked like nothing but rust and rubber. But it fired right up. There is something to be said for the way things used to be built, and the importance of taking good care of your tools.

You and Hillary make my day and leave me smiling. I love the science behind your explanations.

You are so easy to listen to and watch and glean information from, thanks Mr. Pete 😃

I love your farm and family. You are a cheerful farmer. Makes me long for my father.

gotta love the "experts" telling you how to do it pete haha

Enjoyed the question answer with bird songs in the background today.🐦

Thank you Pet for explaining the housekeeping of your 🐥 chicks. I become more educated when you explaining the public about the daycare of you chickens 🐔

Our first batch of broilers was raised in a chicken tractor/mobile brooder from day one until butcher day, and they turned out great. That was at our old property. Since moving to our current/forever property each batch we've done has been in stationary brooders and then moved to open pasture with electric netting. Here are our takes on the two different methods: 1 - Having a mobile brooder gives the birds access to fresh grass and bugs from day one, and you don't have a brooder to clean. 2 - Keeping them on open pasture doesn't require the daily moves of a chicken tractor, but they poo does stay close to the feed area. 3 - As Pete mentioned in this video broilers aren't as likely to "go to bed" in the coop at night, so you might have to coax them in there every night. It takes us about a minute, because they all huddle inches from the door to the coop. Unless you have an automatic door you'd have to go out there to lock them up anyway, so this isn't a big deal to us. 4 - There is no discernible difference in flavor from chickens raised in an open pasture or moved daily in a tractor. It's somewhat easier to catch them on butcher day when they're confined to a tractor, but they are Cornish Cross are very easy to catch in an open field due to their slow movement. Red Rangers on the other hand... 5 - The most important things with either setup are predator protection, being able to easily give them feed and clean water, and what works best on your farm. We have very little flat land in North Georgia, so tractors just don't work without doing major (and very expensive) grading to eliminate uneven ground. We started our farm just a few years ago and have learned a lot in the process. The property we're on now is just shy of 25 acres and was nothing but trees when we bought it. In just two short years we've transformed that forest into a working farm with chickens and ducks (layers and meat birds), rabbits, pigs, and a huge garden where we grow flowers and produce. We're in the process of developing pasture for sheep we plan to get in Spring of 2023, so feel free to check out our channel and follow along as we continue to grow our farm!

Thanks Pete Very good information. Great job in explaining the importance of small farmers. We need more people like you in this country.

Atleast you are helping ppl and telling them the problems you ran into

Pete and especially Hillary (after all, every strong man has a more amazing woman striding forward beside him!), just wanted to say thanks for what you both do. I started watching the channel in 2019 while deployed with the Army and getting inspiration for my return home. We don’t have Dexter cattle but rather Maine-Anjou yet I enjoy seeing how y’all gentle and improve the quality of life for your herd and even more so, the life of the land. Now seeing y’all’s broilers and thinking “what is 7 weeks compared to the life cycle of a cow?” I may start down this venture thanks to your video here. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you and please keep it up!

I really enjoy hearing all the birds sing throughout your videos! Thanks for the awesome input!:-)

Staple gun is one of the best and most useful tools that i ever bought! Even and cheap one is a great help...

I've raised Cornish cross as well as other large breeds on pasture and every time I butchered the other breeds I've said these are good but. The Cornish have no buts. They are cheaper to raise ,easier to dress and always more tender.

Thank you so much for the video. You mentioned getting a power stapler. I just wanted to share that we purchased a pneumatic stapler off Amazon for about $30, that made attaching our wire very easy.

Seems you have it well organized & keeping things simple

Still love your channel. Keep up the channel with your wisdom and insight. Thanks

I seen another farmer build his out of PVC piping which may make it lighter when moving. I love all your explanations and by the way Hillary is beautiful and y'all's relationship is awesome

Pete thank you, I've learned so much about raising chickens, I got all the equipment I need to Bucher my chickens, so I'm giving it a go this spring, starting with 60 chick's, I'm only doing this for our family and other family members that are interested in buying for me, and your right farm raised chickens total taste great,no more store chickens , thanks Pete, your the man, canyon do video on how much to charge per pound, we'll keep on teaching, lot of us are learning, got to go ,building 2 boxes, God bless

This is best work and activities to engage yourself in this young age. Thank you guys you are good inspiration for many young ppls like you. Stay blessed

Environment makes a big difference in a lot of things. Thanks for the video Pete 👍

😊There are so many things I love Pete about your videos on the first as you are always smiling. I also love that you introduced your wife. My Mom and Dad worked their farm TOGETHER…& Yes, Well my father did most of the work outdoors in terms of the farm, anytime he needed help, )or they just wanted to be together & away from 12 children 😊, Mom was in the sealed or the barn with a animal issues w/ my Dad! Of course, w/ 12 children, She worked from morning till sunset doing laundry and three meals and tons of snacks and school lunches, And coffee runs send food daddy and any farm workers that might also be working on the farm that day; but cleaning house and canning and freezing of garden and orchard foods… The list is so long. So when I watch your videos I see the same thing. The other thing I love is how ingenuity you use and making do with what you have and creating a new style of a chicken tractor or as you sure on this video a Grain storage cart (Big & small)…Everything is so clever and I see you using what you have which is how my Dad did things. He just didn’t have the money to run into town and buy something new… he had a budget, he had bills he had mouths to feed and he just could not afford to do otherwise. I don’t know your financial situation it doesn’t matter. What I see is it you re-purpose and reuse and I’m doing ergonomical practices EVERY OPPORTUNITY YOU CAN… when I graduated from interior design in 2011, the “Green” movement was just taking a BIG FORCE. 11 years later it is still a big movement but many people have been using it all of their life and I believe, Pete, Re-purposed & reuse & restore has ALWAYS been YOUR LIFESTYLE… so many people could learn a lot from you!❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️ I love your creativity and I love your ingenuity and I love your resourcefulness❣️❣️Thank you for this video and taking time to answer peoples questions. I don’t think you’re just clever I think you’re very smart and have been very successful on your 20 years of chicken farming and I’m so glad people like to come and buy your FRESH chickens at the farm market, because the rest of us are truly missing out. I got cancer two weeks after I graduated from college the third time and nothing was more devastating to me as I had big dreams to start my life over and create a new world for myself after devastating news and a divorce. I needed that new start but the Lord new some thing else was in store and I would learn so many lessons from it meaning cancer. My first oncologist thought she was smarter than the rest of the world of oncologist and while you were going through chemo, you were supposed to tell her if you felt any tingling sensations called neuropathy and then she would quit. Only she did it. She would switch to a new chemo drug and then the next time you told her you felt the neuropathy climbing up your feet and hands and into your arms and legs, she twitch again. For me just went on nine months before they caught her and all of her patients were told she was being FIRED. Thankfully, God brought me to a wonderful oncologist who taught Eastern and Western medicine. Not just pills but nutrition and yoga breathing so that you could learn to be calm versus stressed… and much more. For a long time I had terrible mouth sores and cannot eat anything and I also cannot stand the smell of meat. It was a good four years before I eat meat but when I did all I wanted what is farm raised chickens and beef because that’s what I was used to eating. To this day it’s the only meat I eat. My body is so much healthier and stronger now because I’m not eating all the additives that were in the fruit and vegetables I only eat organic (& by the way- Oh that means it is planted in the dirt and no Harmful chemicals or fertilizers are used on the plants or in the soil)…That’s exactly how my parents planted our food many years ago. I’m alive 12 years despite my oncologist trying to kill me with three chemo drugs I am thankfully to the aide of my 2nd oncologist and several specialist.… And many prayers and eating great food fresh from the farm!! Thank you for people like Pete and his wife❣️❣️❣️❣️🌈

Fender washers and short screws would do great attaching the hardware cloth. Great setup!

Can’t say enough about how valuable your content has been for us! Thanks so much!

Wow this channel is incredible

You are not just chicken keeper!! you so wonderful moderator!! really good speaker!!

You're right about that. There is a world of difference between pastured CC and that saline, and who knows what else, injected chicken you get in the store.

You have me so excited to start my small farm!!! Have it, just waiting till warmer weather to move in!

Good video Pete good to see y'all again from Louisiana

Bought 4 of these from Hilarie, I while back they were amazing! )))

Lo felicito,son muy instructivas sus explicaciones.Todos los días veo sus videos como un libro y los repaso todo el tiempo.Gracias es usted muy amable.Saludos a su Señora…..👍🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷

I think you are a national treasure for sure. I bet your ansestors would be so proud

Great video. I really like the waterers that attach to a 5 gallon bucket. I will have to see where I can find some.

Thank you Pete. I built 2 tractors and received 100 Cornish cross 3 weeks ago. The brooder was a 10x10 tent in my garage. At 2 weeks we got them into the tractors. Have not lost 1 bird yet. I have been over feeding though and will try the 12 hour on/off you mentioned. Great video. Subscribed. Thanks again.

Thank you for sharing your experience raising broilers. I raised 50 broilers last year and will do the same this year. Your insights will help me be more successful this year. Thanks again.

The design of the trailer that you moved the chicks with is absolute genius!!!!

I really enjoy your videos, whenever I see a new one I watch it after I get off work to relax.

Pete, it just occurred to me as to the possibility of your children someday taking over the farm. Just wondering if anyone has shown any interest in doing so? It would be lovely if one of them wanted to keep the family farm business ongoing. I love your channel and look forward to each new episode. But! I and wife Barbara are now in our 80's so I don't know how many of the kids episodes , we could look forward to . God bless you and Hillary and the kids. And God bless little acre farm. Your friend in Alabama, Bob

Heros don't always wear a cape .luv u guys you inspire others .

Hi Pete, thanks! NY allows you to sell the exempt (1,000 bird limit) chicken off farm? Here in Oregon I can only sell whole birds (bagged ready to roast) from the farm. After that, I can set up an exempt facility and do up to 20,000 of my own birds that can be sold off farm but not to individuals. Currently we are having a state approved processor do it, it takes me eight hours to round up the chicks, go there, bring them back etc. and $500 in costs!! Next year, I think I’ll invest in a plucked/scalder and get going on my own thing.

I so love chickens and hope someday to be living in the country so I can raise my own. I also love knowing I have the perfect teacher to show me how when I'm ready to begin. :)

ALWAYS INFORMATIVE WE LOVE IT

Hello Pete it good to see you today see you soon

Best small farm channel out there ! (and i bet most guys watching are in love with Hillary, ha ha ha) All the best to you both!

Just wanted to leave a note on how much we enjoy your channel. As a collector of antique hit miss engines, I like all things farm and old farm machinery. I live in Florida, but if I’m ever in the area I will certainly hit your market. **Your cows look super! Keep up the good work!

Yup, agree with ya, Pete. You have a lovely assistant there in your wife. A man is blessed to have a good woman at his side. Chicken season is upon us. Yay!!!

Thanks Pete and Hilary!!!

Great video, well done!!! Thanks much

Hello Pete and Hillary all sounds good thanks some advice. Fox was here my place it's all open and managed to kill some birds but I did not have a wire on top so I learned. Have a great day.

Your personality is wonderful!!! Your information is spot on!!! Thank you!!!

Thanks for the videos. Just goin go to bed after watching this.

Great class ! Thanks for sharing your hard earned knowledge

First year we raised 5 chickens just a test run , lol plucked them all by hand ! Lots of fun but the next year i invested in a plucker , well worth the investment if your going to continue to raise chickens

We're getting ready to butcher our first batch of the year tomorrow!

Hello Hillary & Peter. Great video!! Be well.

Great videos