Chickens-lets start it

[thedreamers]

I'd put chicken wire over your existing fence, put field fencing all the way up, stake the bottom of chainlink every 2ft. for now you could mount milk crates to that back wall while you build a hut for winter. Or even cut a opening in the back wall to build a long box out of 12x1x6 with 12in divides. Use 2 sets of the solar led flood light kits to light up the outside at night, its a low light helps you n them to see at night but not enough to keep them up. Make the door way in the back wall.

[MustangGal]

yeah,,we were gonna hold off on the rooster till we get the hens figured out lol.
bugs..the back of the shed is pretty wore out its spider heaven and all the good that comes from a run down out building..bug zapper idea is pretty good thx.

It doesn't always work like that. Even if you purchase only pullets there is a better than decent chance you will get at least one rooster.

My birds stay in a 4 ft high fence. Well, all of them but one black sex link and she gets out every day. Roams around the area, but is always home at dinner time. She never strays very far and stays on our property. We have a portable metal shed for our coop with a painted wooden floor. If I had it to do over, I would put down some cheap vinyl, but we have had our birds for two years and thus far it has lasted quite well.

We have only lost three. Two to coons and one to heat.

[protus]

I'd put chicken wire over your existing fence, put field fencing all the way up, stake the bottom of chainlink every 2ft. for now you could mount milk crates to that back wall while you build a hut for winter. Or even cut a opening in the back wall to build a long box out of 12x1x6 with 12in divides. Use 2 sets of the solar led flood light kits to light up the outside at night, its a low light helps you n them to see at night but not enough to keep them up. Make the door way in the back wall.

we contemplated that route using the exsiting door inthe middle as our entry to the pen. i have to shore up the back wall. there is some rot where critters (mice/rats etc could possibly get in. it has field fence up to 4 ft high around it now.
the front is 16-18ft across. so id have build a frame then fence that.

the other plan was to build a 4x8 "box" have it off the ground on cinder blocks, cut a roof top door and place some nesting boxes/milk crates under that,,,install a roost bar on the opposite 8ft wall. cut two holes cover with small a/c vents (or mesh)for air flow and cut a door in the front. and secure the chain link gate by double meshing it and staking it in place.
if the birds hop the 4ft then they'll have a large yard with another 4ft fence...after that well...i guess they'll be free range snacks for the areas many unleashed mutts and stray cats ......
only problem is they already have a roof why build a second but im more concerned abiut their security at night vs cosdt ,,,i dunno..guess just paraniod old me lol

lighting- i have a photo controlled cfl light on the side of my homes carport/ultlity room. it gives enough light to see in the area of the pen.

right now ive got the numbers under 300$ to frame in the front,,wire mesh it all and build the "box" plus buy 50ls of feed,feeder and waterer....just a matter if i wanna mesh it up 8ft or stay at the existing 4ft.

i have no idea the cost for the birds,,ill be hitting the framer swap meet sat. to price them and some suplies(theres a chicken/fowl equipment boot there each time)

[Freebirde]

Our local Tractor Supply Store and Farmers Co-Op both have baby chickens and ducks right now. My brother get trimmings and old produce from the produce department of a local grocery to supplement the feed for his poultry. He cuts up the larger pieces and takes out anything they won't or shouldn't eat.

[protus]

just some pics updates-
got a ton of stuff done.....
pics-





last pic is detail ofthe outter pen wall.

gotta cut in the entry door,nest box door and ill cut one in for us to clean.
size is 4ft high by 4ft wide by 8 long with one 4ft end mesh and part of the roof for ventilation.

i may make a 15 gallon barrel into a gravity feed water trough for the pen/run since i have h20 right there just have to build a rack to hold it and make the trough ( 1 1/2 or 2 inch pvc cut in half/capped with a 1/2 drip from the barrel).

will have the litter in and chickens by months end.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Very nice, thats a tasma hall for chicken raising

[protus]

Very nice, thats a tasma hall for chicken raising

wife unit is calling it the poultry penthouse,,lol

put a 36 by 24 door on the side facing the green gate. installed a roost rack in as well. plan to make a hinged roof cover for the mesh side of the roof as well to better secure things.

[protus]

door. this is our entry way in. ill be cutting in a small door, prolly slide style near the other end fotr the birds to have acess to the pen/run. ill fence up to this door area then 7-8ft high with wire. this will give us a door to clean,gather eggs and then the main shed door for entry/exit into the pen.
we had to modify the house. this picture is not of a chicks rump lol. we used plastic netting to make a barrier 10 inches or so back from the wire. even though its welded wire with 1 inch poultry mesh, i didnt want to risk a coon reaching it and snagging one. when they get bigger/older we'll remove it.
so far its been fun,,just reading up on stuff so we dont have to wing it,,har har har lol.


so yall know the 1x3 strips on the door are for support and to beef it up for some locking latches down the road. the ply wood warped when it rained a few days ago and bowed out. i didnt want it to be easy for anything to peel the door open. even though i have wood off set on the insides to create a lip just for that i wanted to be extra sure. ive kinda over engineered this thing i think...screws ever 4-6 inches lol..my wife says i did great and to not sweat it but i want my chicks to be secure lol

[thedreamers]

It all looks good. I'm glad it's all coming together for you all.

[protus]

some updates-

birds grow fast lol.
got the bottom sides of the pen wired in and buried 10 inches beside the concrete blocks. its has 1 layer of weld wire and 1 layer of 1 inch poultry mesh.
this week we'll have the upper part done and the chicks will have free roam of the pen.
they are getting brave..and big.
i think one of my amaracanas is a rooster.
..

[thedreamers]

we took our extra roosters an put them in there own pen, and feed them extra portions to help fatten them up more cause at 6-8 months they go in freezer. a lot of people just want the hens for eggs but in my book roosters make dinner. older hens made good stew.

[MustangGal]

some updates-

birds grow fast lol.
got the bottom sides of the pen wired in and buried 10 inches beside the concrete blocks. its has 1 layer of weld wire and 1 layer of 1 inch poultry mesh.
this week we'll have the upper part done and the chicks will have free roam of the pen.
they are getting brave..and big.
i think one of my amaracanas is a rooster.
..
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The one in the first photo? I'm not an expert, we've only had chickens for two years, but that looks like a hen to me. However, it doesn't look like an Amaracana... maybe a Barred Rock. Definitely not a Dominique. Both Amaracana and Dominiques have rose or pea type combs.

[protus]

The one in the first photo? I'm not an expert, we've only had chickens for two years, but that looks like a hen to me. However, it doesn't look like an Amaracana... maybe a Barred Rock. Definitely not a Dominique. Both Amaracana and Dominiques have rose or pea type combs.

its a barred rock in the picture her lame is " lu lu" ,,sorry for the confusion. the rosster/he/she ill get a picture of. the comb is different than the "hens" more oval and centered past the eyes. the feathers on its neck also are growing different more "cape" like. it also makes a different noise than the rest. and is darker in color than the other ameracana hen. shes more brown/barred and he/she is more black /grey/barred. both have blue grey legs.

here is the he/she lol

[MustangGal]

That one might be a rooster. It looks alot like my Amaracana rooster, Vintage.
He started out black and white, like yours, so the man cub named him Vintage - like vintage black & white movies. lol