We Built the Ultimate Starter Garden and Smart Chicken Coop
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Date: 2025-05-31
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Comments and reviews: 20
sharonknorr1106
So that coop is not very secure as far as being anchored into the ground or protected from predators that can dig underneath; however, I am thinking they may be moving it after shooting this video, so that may actually be taken care of in the future. I can tell you right now, that a bear will pay no attention to that fence, and likely not deer either. We have both, as well as mountain lions, and have a six-foot chain link with three strands of outward facing barbed wire around part of our property. It does keep out the deer and elk and lions, but bears have climbed over it more than once, especially the smaller ones that are more agile. They will take the beehives apart in short order if they are not properly secured. She needs to contact (and maybe already has) the local beekeeping organization who will offer her a lot of practical information. I am happy to see this young family getting started in their suburban homesteading adventure. Jacques did a great job helping them get started.
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So that coop is not very secure as far as being anchored into the ground or protected from predators that can dig underneath; however, I am thinking they may be moving it after shooting this video, so that may actually be taken care of in the future. I can tell you right now, that a bear will pay no attention to that fence, and likely not deer either. We have both, as well as mountain lions, and have a six-foot chain link with three strands of outward facing barbed wire around part of our property. It does keep out the deer and elk and lions, but bears have climbed over it more than once, especially the smaller ones that are more agile. They will take the beehives apart in short order if they are not properly secured. She needs to contact (and maybe already has) the local beekeeping organization who will offer her a lot of practical information. I am happy to see this young family getting started in their suburban homesteading adventure. Jacques did a great job helping them get started.
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Culinaryreject
As a beekeeper, allow me to give you some pointers.
1) Bees are not a set it and forget it’ livestock. Just like everything else they have pests and diseases that you MUST keep an eye on, especially since the honey will be for human consumption.
2) The flower garden that’s (I’m guessing) 50-100 feet away from your hive zone will do 0% for your bees. They will attract pollinators, just not yours.
3) Being so far north you need to insulate your hives in winter and make sure that they have enough food
4) Do not over-harvest. They need enough bee bread/pollen/honey to survive the winter.
5) Know the warning signs of swarming. If they swarm you’ll loose half your hive, or more.
6) You will get stung. It’s part of the bee life.
7) Enjoy it
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As a beekeeper, allow me to give you some pointers.
1) Bees are not a set it and forget it’ livestock. Just like everything else they have pests and diseases that you MUST keep an eye on, especially since the honey will be for human consumption.
2) The flower garden that’s (I’m guessing) 50-100 feet away from your hive zone will do 0% for your bees. They will attract pollinators, just not yours.
3) Being so far north you need to insulate your hives in winter and make sure that they have enough food
4) Do not over-harvest. They need enough bee bread/pollen/honey to survive the winter.
5) Know the warning signs of swarming. If they swarm you’ll loose half your hive, or more.
6) You will get stung. It’s part of the bee life.
7) Enjoy it
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epic_gardening
Thank you for a sweet video but yikes, that coop will be drafty in winter cold and is not built to be bear proof or for the harsh winters and warm summers in the north. Need an electric poultry fence, covered run with hardware cloth on sides buried 12-15 into the ground around the coop and run perimeter, perhaps repurpose a small wooden shed with hardware cloth on the vent and window openings, etc. the run should be a minimum of 4’ outside per chicken, what you have is way too small. Recommend river sand in the run (not playground sand. Otherwise that coop/run combo is a coffin for those chicks.
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Thank you for a sweet video but yikes, that coop will be drafty in winter cold and is not built to be bear proof or for the harsh winters and warm summers in the north. Need an electric poultry fence, covered run with hardware cloth on sides buried 12-15 into the ground around the coop and run perimeter, perhaps repurpose a small wooden shed with hardware cloth on the vent and window openings, etc. the run should be a minimum of 4’ outside per chicken, what you have is way too small. Recommend river sand in the run (not playground sand. Otherwise that coop/run combo is a coffin for those chicks.
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davepetrakos475
Hey, thanks to Jaque and his host for getting a video out that pertains to '4 season' climate growers.
About 5 weeks ago, I sent my 4 week old chicks and ducklings outside for recess. A 2 foot high coil of chicken wire made a decent 12' round pen in side yard. They loved the sunshine and dealt well with any chilly gusts.
Living in a rural town afford me the ability to let them free range between both next door neighbors.
Everyday they explore a little further. My dog has been good at keeping them near and off the street (i am 2nd house from end of road)
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Hey, thanks to Jaque and his host for getting a video out that pertains to '4 season' climate growers.
About 5 weeks ago, I sent my 4 week old chicks and ducklings outside for recess. A 2 foot high coil of chicken wire made a decent 12' round pen in side yard. They loved the sunshine and dealt well with any chilly gusts.
Living in a rural town afford me the ability to let them free range between both next door neighbors.
Everyday they explore a little further. My dog has been good at keeping them near and off the street (i am 2nd house from end of road)
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kathyjohnson7740
As someone who has been there done that in northern minnesota. As pretty as it is, the coop will not protect aganst heat, cold (prepare for a heat lamp in a larger coop) or bears. Hardy chicken breeds are also good. If you already know bears come through your yard you will need electric fence around the bees. And a plan for keeping them over winter. And the deer are lol-ing about your garden fence. Do some research on deer fencing. Appreciate your enthusiasm, but yout making a lot of deadly, expensive mistakes. Please talk to people who have experience in duluth.
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As someone who has been there done that in northern minnesota. As pretty as it is, the coop will not protect aganst heat, cold (prepare for a heat lamp in a larger coop) or bears. Hardy chicken breeds are also good. If you already know bears come through your yard you will need electric fence around the bees. And a plan for keeping them over winter. And the deer are lol-ing about your garden fence. Do some research on deer fencing. Appreciate your enthusiasm, but yout making a lot of deadly, expensive mistakes. Please talk to people who have experience in duluth.
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Holly_hamigakiko
This coop looks like a kids toy in comparison to Jacques own coop. Especially with all the plastic - it looks like one of those plastic kitchen sets!
I love that he put so much thought and care into predator protection for his own coop that we just don't see in this one. I truly hope she adds some of that in. Small would not be a selling point for me when I had that much land! Truly hope the fluff babies survive and maybe Jacques can do courses on how to build a coop as good as his. Love the way he talks about his chickens being part of the family, too!
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This coop looks like a kids toy in comparison to Jacques own coop. Especially with all the plastic - it looks like one of those plastic kitchen sets!
I love that he put so much thought and care into predator protection for his own coop that we just don't see in this one. I truly hope she adds some of that in. Small would not be a selling point for me when I had that much land! Truly hope the fluff babies survive and maybe Jacques can do courses on how to build a coop as good as his. Love the way he talks about his chickens being part of the family, too!
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AnyKeyLady
Great video. I think the lady would benefit from a green stalk for her small enclosed space for strawberries. High enough, in case she wants to let her chickens in.
I like the chicken coop is it made from recycled plastic It looks great and compact but looks a little too small for 4 chickens, especially when you see the other space in her garden.
On a side note, heard about the plane crash there. Hope you and the crew are ok and sending thoughts and prayers to those affected. x
Ps. Have no idea who she is but wish her the best success in her career.
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Great video. I think the lady would benefit from a green stalk for her small enclosed space for strawberries. High enough, in case she wants to let her chickens in.
I like the chicken coop is it made from recycled plastic It looks great and compact but looks a little too small for 4 chickens, especially when you see the other space in her garden.
On a side note, heard about the plane crash there. Hope you and the crew are ok and sending thoughts and prayers to those affected. x
Ps. Have no idea who she is but wish her the best success in her career.
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ladawn603
Im not trying to be a poo( I've lived in Mid-Minnesota, in the woods for more than 30 yrs, but i wouldn't trust that coop to keep my plants safe from the deer, let alone wolves, bears, etcetera. Like someone else in the comments said, you need footers, grid wire buried 3-4' down, 4x 4 posts, two layers of different sizes of grid wire, a very sturdy roof, and a 2x 4 board to securely look a very well built door. That coop could blow over in the wind, I hope she's not close to those famous Lake Superior winds!
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Im not trying to be a poo( I've lived in Mid-Minnesota, in the woods for more than 30 yrs, but i wouldn't trust that coop to keep my plants safe from the deer, let alone wolves, bears, etcetera. Like someone else in the comments said, you need footers, grid wire buried 3-4' down, 4x 4 posts, two layers of different sizes of grid wire, a very sturdy roof, and a 2x 4 board to securely look a very well built door. That coop could blow over in the wind, I hope she's not close to those famous Lake Superior winds!
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JustAStump
Love seeing Jaques be able to ramble on about plant stuff and just continue to be asked more questions so he can keel talking! Definitely loved this!
On a different note. That coop seems like a massive downgrade in terms of safety from weather and predators. honestly looks like a toy compared to every coop I've seen online and in person.
I really don't understand the idea of trying to keep the coop and run tiny when they have the space.
This just kinda made me sad for those chickens.
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Love seeing Jaques be able to ramble on about plant stuff and just continue to be asked more questions so he can keel talking! Definitely loved this!
On a different note. That coop seems like a massive downgrade in terms of safety from weather and predators. honestly looks like a toy compared to every coop I've seen online and in person.
I really don't understand the idea of trying to keep the coop and run tiny when they have the space.
This just kinda made me sad for those chickens.
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dNLq
I love it how Americans start exploring now how avarage middle europeans lived and still live since many many years, everyone has his own big garden and some sort of production animals, its like for us time is going forward and we do it less and less and buy more and more stuff for groceries and yours going backwards, you starting to stop buying and you trying to produce and grow your own. Time is something special: )
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I love it how Americans start exploring now how avarage middle europeans lived and still live since many many years, everyone has his own big garden and some sort of production animals, its like for us time is going forward and we do it less and less and buy more and more stuff for groceries and yours going backwards, you starting to stop buying and you trying to produce and grow your own. Time is something special: )
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Kimberly-kg6eg
I am a MN gardener in my experience you will get like one or two bell peppers if you seed in June because it will frost in October and you need a few months for the peppers to get going. For things that need 34 months before they even start producing, I’d recommend either buying the plant or starting in a greenhouse or indoors. Otherwise you do all this work and only get a few weeks of fruit!
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I am a MN gardener in my experience you will get like one or two bell peppers if you seed in June because it will frost in October and you need a few months for the peppers to get going. For things that need 34 months before they even start producing, I’d recommend either buying the plant or starting in a greenhouse or indoors. Otherwise you do all this work and only get a few weeks of fruit!
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LeeHerrmann-v2s
I like the spirit of experimenting and trying. But concerned with experimenting with animals, versus plants. Maybe, the video didn’t explain all the protection, considerations for these chickens, but the set up seems not adequate. If plants fail, and mistakes are made, but if animals.
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I like the spirit of experimenting and trying. But concerned with experimenting with animals, versus plants. Maybe, the video didn’t explain all the protection, considerations for these chickens, but the set up seems not adequate. If plants fail, and mistakes are made, but if animals.
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sarahlowenberg2151
So happy, and very helpful, to finally see some northern climates represented in the content! I live in Iowa (zone 5b) so this info was helpful/much more related to my garden which I appreciate. Would love to continue seeing more northern latitude (zones 4-6) features in the future!
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So happy, and very helpful, to finally see some northern climates represented in the content! I live in Iowa (zone 5b) so this info was helpful/much more related to my garden which I appreciate. Would love to continue seeing more northern latitude (zones 4-6) features in the future!
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askor2000
The coop is fine for 4 birds. The run is useless. You will have mice with that type of netting. It's way too small - you have woods right there, run will be used most of the time. And no roof in a 4 season location I have a covered run in SD with our 2 weeks of rain total
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The coop is fine for 4 birds. The run is useless. You will have mice with that type of netting. It's way too small - you have woods right there, run will be used most of the time. And no roof in a 4 season location I have a covered run in SD with our 2 weeks of rain total
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Rm4OneMore
This video was fun and informative. Please have Jacques travel around the country to different growing zones, helping first and second year gardeners. Add a soft piano melody at the end of each episode and he can be the Bill Bixby of gardening.
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This video was fun and informative. Please have Jacques travel around the country to different growing zones, helping first and second year gardeners. Add a soft piano melody at the end of each episode and he can be the Bill Bixby of gardening.
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dhesyca4471
5: 13 I feel that fear outside of gardening, too. I have to remind myself that I AM going to mess something up, and it's okay! It's part of the learning process. I can't be perfect right out of the gate, or there's no skill development!
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5: 13 I feel that fear outside of gardening, too. I have to remind myself that I AM going to mess something up, and it's okay! It's part of the learning process. I can't be perfect right out of the gate, or there's no skill development!
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Sirah1981
7: 42 Perennial, who came up with that Can we veto that The Romans did, just like veto. Perennis is latin for lasting through the year or for several years. 11: 36 Hey, she pronounced sauna correctly! Makes my Finnish heart happy!
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7: 42 Perennial, who came up with that Can we veto that The Romans did, just like veto. Perennis is latin for lasting through the year or for several years. 11: 36 Hey, she pronounced sauna correctly! Makes my Finnish heart happy!
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ritagibson137
Congrats on your steps into self sufficiency! You and your children will be surprised how addicting it will become.
I’d love to see what your beekeeping setup looks like. Maybe shoot a Look at her mini farm now follow up
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Congrats on your steps into self sufficiency! You and your children will be surprised how addicting it will become.
I’d love to see what your beekeeping setup looks like. Maybe shoot a Look at her mini farm now follow up
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Chronicemmy12
I’m kinda sad that every video these days just feels like one overproduced long ad rather than authentic content. I miss when more of the video were just genuine gardening videos.
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I’m kinda sad that every video these days just feels like one overproduced long ad rather than authentic content. I miss when more of the video were just genuine gardening videos.
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TinMan445
I know you guys are helping someone. But it makes me sick to think 4 chickens will be in that tiny coop. I hope they get let out every day. My 5 chickens have more than 20x that space.
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I know you guys are helping someone. But it makes me sick to think 4 chickens will be in that tiny coop. I hope they get let out every day. My 5 chickens have more than 20x that space.
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