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Posted: 1/25/2017 3:29:54 PM EDT
[#1]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Cloth. Coons and such can reach into the wire. They won't get the whole chicken, but they can injure/kill the birds by just reaching in. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
1inch chicken wire sufficient for predator protection or should I go to hardware cloth? Coons and such can reach into the wire. They won't get the whole chicken, but they can injure/kill the birds by just reaching in. Cloth for sure. |
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Posted: 1/25/2017 4:54:29 PM EDT
[#2]
Chicken wire only stops the chickens; it offers little to no security from predators.
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Posted: 1/26/2017 1:19:58 AM EDT
[#3]
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Chicken wire only stops the chickens; it offers little to no security from predators. Well it stops all but the larger predators. Keeps out the non motivated, small attackers, just not the bears, or resourceful raccoons etc. I have personal experience with this. I had a bear rip my coop apart and kill more than half my flock this past summer. 
Still, if it requires running a max facility prison, is it really worth it? Free ranging chickens vs ones that are locked up? Freedom vs safety. I will take freedom over .gov control, and I know what my chickens prefer. To each is own. 
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Posted: 1/26/2017 11:15:46 AM EDT
[#4]
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Well it stops all but the larger predators. Keeps out the non motivated, small attackers, just not the bears, or resourceful raccoons etc. I have personal experience with this. I had a bear rip my coop apart and kill more than half my flock this past summer.
Still, if it requires running a max facility prison, is it really worth it? Free ranging chickens vs ones that are locked up? Freedom vs safety. I will take freedom over .gov control, and I know what my chickens prefer. To each is own. 
You can have the best of both. Since (at least around here) almost all predators are nocturnal, the coop area can be a max security fortress, but the girls can roam during the day. |
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Posted: 1/27/2017 12:54:10 AM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Cloth. Coons and such can reach into the wire. They won't get the whole chicken, but they can injure/kill the birds by just reaching in. AND....they will reach in, pull the head of hte chicken through chicken wire, then tear the head/neck off teh chicken trying to pull the whole bird through that hole in the wire. It is not pretty, what's left. 
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Posted: 1/27/2017 12:57:29 AM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You can have the best of both. Since (at least around here) almost all predators are nocturnal, the coop area can be a max security fortress, but the girls can roam during the day. Unfortunately some of our worst predators are dogs. NOT nocturnal. 
I've lost more chickens to dogs than I have to all the other predators combined. I love dogs, but I have deep dislike for people who let their dogs run the neighborhood causing trouble. Those same people usually get upset when their dogs die of lead poisoning, or limp home with bullets that need surgery to remove. Not that I would know anything about such occurrences. 
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Posted: 1/30/2017 3:11:15 PM EDT
[#7]
So, in case any of you were curious, I am abandoning the barred rock hen and freedom ranger rooster.
They take 5-6 months to come of size, which isn't all bad, but they are much less for meat than the purchased Freedom Ranger chicks I have been buying. Since it takes the same amount of time to butcher a very meaty bird as a skinnier bird, I'd rather spend the $2 and get the big chickens that are the size of a small turkey. The flavor is excellent (if you like the old fashioned strong poultry flavor) though. Even though the FRs aren't as flavorful as our own hybrid, they are still worlds better than what you buy in the store  .
I'm not done trying to find my own hybrid though. I'm going to be watching out for a white Cornish rooster, and see what I get from that combo. |
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Posted: 2/17/2017 4:28:36 PM EDT
[#8]
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Posted: 2/18/2017 8:44:44 PM EDT
[#9]
Now I'm just trying to find the right solar powered light for the box
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Posted: 2/18/2017 9:32:08 PM EDT
[#10]
Looks good, though I can't tell what kind of wire that is. Hardware cloth?
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Posted: 2/18/2017 11:14:20 PM EDT
[#11]
Cloth.
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Posted: 2/18/2017 11:15:13 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Looks good, though I can't tell what kind of wire that is. Hardware cloth? That was my question too. Great looking setup! 
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Posted: 2/18/2017 11:15:50 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Cloth. Excellent! How many birds? ETA: Whatcha gonna plant in the little garden box?
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Posted: 2/19/2017 9:25:44 AM EDT
[#14]
4 buffs/pullets at the moment. I think one might be a roo cause its a lil bigger then the others and the feet are yellow. If it turns out to be roo then it will go.
Then theres two birds from the gnome on top if you didn't notice. He is pointing towards the neighbors that complained to the HOA. We got these as therapy animals for my special needs son. So its covered on ADA/fair housing act in our case. So they and the HOA who don't like it but can't do shit about it.  Attached File |
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Posted: 2/19/2017 9:43:44 AM EDT
[#15]
Got a broody hen. This girl is determined. I coaxed her out with some cracked corn here and there to get her off those damn eggs, but she's right back in the box shortly after.
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Posted: 2/19/2017 11:13:37 AM EDT
[#16]
Forgot to say in the box i planted marigolds, oregano, sweet basil,cilantro and mint. On the side of the coop not in a box i put some sunflowers. We'll see what pops up.
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Posted: 2/19/2017 11:17:40 AM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Then theres two birds from the gnome on top if you didn't notice. Love the gnome!  Thankfully my neighbor love my hens and the extra eggs they get as well.
I can't see the two other sides of the coop but make sure you got plenty of ventilation, esp in the FL heat. You can't have enough windows or vents. |
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Posted: 2/19/2017 11:54:58 AM EDT
[#18]
Im going to be cutting in some windows and probably a skylight. Trying to figure out a solar panel, battery, controler situation now for lights.
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Posted: 2/19/2017 8:37:44 PM EDT
[#19]
Butchered the last 11 roosters today.
I decided to try the skinning method instead of plucking. Never. Again. First, unlike the YouTube video I was referencing, it not only doesn't save time (when I looked back at that video, I then noticed creative editing was done to make it look quick), but took for freaking ever. The meat dried out, and I discovered when I was done that the bare meat had been rollingin cchicken shit that was in the feathers. And yes. I know how to skin a critter. Done it many, many times.. The amount of time it took to skin one, I could have plucked and cleaned 2 birds. Nope, never again. |
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Posted: 2/19/2017 9:42:07 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
4 buffs/pullets at the moment. I think one might be a roo cause its a lil bigger then the others and the feet are yellow. If it turns out to be roo then it will go. Then theres two birds from the gnome on top if you didn't notice. He is pointing towards the neighbors that complained to the HOA. We got these as therapy animals for my special needs son. So its covered on ADA/fair housing act in our case. So they and the HOA who don't like it but can't do shit about it.https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/308010/20170216-171906-149621.JPG How did you manage to qualify your chickens as therapy animals? I'm very interested in this, because they are ABSOLUTELY therapy for me, but getting that through red tape...how do you do that? ETA: I'm not saying I want to do that where I am. I can have chickens, no issue. But I just didn't know that was possible. |
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Posted: 2/19/2017 10:19:56 PM EDT
[#21]
The fair housing act covers "reasonable accommodations". The only time breed or type of animal is referred them as dogs or mini horses (yes a mini horse) is in the public setting. Any animal can be your therapy animal at home. I can't take the chickens to the grocery store and say it's a service pet. Now if I had a mini horse I could, odd I know. But that's the law, fair housing act. Now do some people abuse claiming to have a disability or disorder when they really don't? I'm sure people do but I don't worry about those people. My bitch of a neighbor does but I don't.
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Posted: 2/20/2017 12:25:18 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The fair housing act covers "reasonable accommodations". The only time breed or type of animal is referred them as dogs or mini horses (yes a mini horse) is in the public setting. Any animal can be your therapy animal at home. I can't take the chickens to the grocery store and say it's a service pet. Now if I had a mini horse I could, odd I know. But that's the law, fair housing act. Now do some people abuse claiming to have a disability or disorder when they really don't? I'm sure people do but I don't worry about those people. My bitch of a neighbor does but I don't. That's really cool, and good to know. 
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Posted: 3/5/2017 7:21:50 PM EDT
[#23]
Egg production starting to kick in. We are at about 50% now, or about 10 eggs per day.
Washing for selling.  Attached File |
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Posted: 3/7/2017 3:46:56 PM EDT
[#24]
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Posted: 3/7/2017 8:53:42 PM EDT
[#25]
I need to get chickens this year.
Yes, I do. I miss my chickens. I've got a whole henhouse just sitting there, waiting for chickens. Do any of y'all order yours? And if so, what company? |
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Posted: 3/7/2017 8:54:57 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryYour rooster is beautiful! Is he mean? |
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Posted: 3/7/2017 9:17:12 PM EDT
[#27]
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I need to get chickens this year. Yes, I do. I miss my chickens. I've got a whole henhouse just sitting there, waiting for chickens. Do any of y'all order yours? And if so, what company? Yes, you do. We have never ordered ourselves. We have a local breeder with a lot of the unusual breeds, then our local feed store can order whatever "name brand" birds we want from whomever their big supplier is. The local breeder currently has a lot of rare and/or special quail. We may not do any of them this year but my parents bought some and are gonna hatch a few dozen. Looking forward to seeing how that goes. |
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Posted: 3/7/2017 9:30:31 PM EDT
[#28]
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Yes, you do. We have never ordered ourselves. We have a local breeder with a lot of the unusual breeds, then our local feed store can order whatever "name brand" birds we want from whomever their big supplier is. The local breeder currently has a lot of rare and/or special quail. We may not do any of them this year but my parents bought some and are gonna hatch a few dozen. Looking forward to seeing how that goes. Awww, darn. We may need to drive to Arkansas to get a few birds. Just sayin. |
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Posted: 3/7/2017 10:28:21 PM EDT
[#29]
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A few chicken pics, from this morning. Nice looking birds. Can't wait until it starts to dry out here and we get more sun...Spring is coming though
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Posted: 3/8/2017 10:50:39 AM EDT
[#30]
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Your rooster is beautiful! Is he mean? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
A few chicken pics, from this morning. Thanks.
No, he's really nice. Sometimes he'll come and sit with me, when I'm out there for a while.  Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 3/8/2017 1:33:53 PM EDT
[#31]
Awww, he's awesome!
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Posted: 3/10/2017 5:22:26 PM EDT
[#32]
My son sold his first 2 dozen eggs today
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He better keep up the sales, we are getting a dozen eggs a day, and I expect we will be at 2 dozen/day plus come peak season 
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Posted: 3/11/2017 2:22:27 AM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My son sold his first 2 dozen eggs today .
He better keep up the sales, we are getting a dozen eggs a day, and I expect we will be at 2 dozen/day plus come peak season We are getting anywhere from 6 to 9 a day from our 18 hens, most of which are very young. I anticipate about one dozen a day when summer sets in. Our road side stand sold eggs well last year but we will be hard pressed to push a dozen a day!
More for us and the family right?
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Posted: 3/11/2017 8:48:45 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My son sold his first 2 dozen eggs today .
He better keep up the sales, we are getting a dozen eggs a day, and I expect we will be at 2 dozen/day plus come peak season How are you selling? A sign out front? |
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Posted: 3/12/2017 12:18:29 AM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
How are you selling? A sign out front? |
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Posted: 3/14/2017 7:12:52 PM EDT
[#36]
What type of chickens would be good for Southern Alabama for egg production? I am about to get 20 acres close to Mobile. Very humid summers. It only got below freezing once this winter. It usually doesn't get below the 50's and even that is rare.
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Posted: 3/14/2017 9:31:27 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What type of chickens would be good for Southern Alabama for egg production? I am about to get 20 acres close to Mobile. Very humid summers. It only got below freezing once this winter. It usually doesn't get below the 50's and even that is rare. |
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Posted: 3/14/2017 11:42:04 PM EDT
[#38]
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Have to get on the sign actually. My wife does those Facebook local garage sale sites. Free effective advertising. Awesome. And the people come to your house for the eggs? |
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Posted: 3/14/2017 11:54:49 PM EDT
[#39]
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Depends how you plan to raise them. If it's a homestead and personal use thing, can't go wrong with rocks, Rhode island reds. Avoid the exotic breeds, get a tried and true breed. Agree with all of this, though I like Buff Orpingtons better than Rhode Island Reds because the Buffs are such good natured birds, with fun personalities yet are easygoing. RIR...not so much. The hens tend to be more dominant and and the RIR roosters tend to be beautiful but mean (that's ONLY MY experience. There may be exceptions, and that could be due to any number of things in the environment.) My choices for backyard chickens, though, are Barred Rocks, (Domineckers, the old timers call them) RIR and Buffs. Our favorite rooster ever was a White Leghorn who gave his life saving our small flock, so I can't leave that breed out. But the WL hens I've had never did last long in our environment.and a lot of them seemed to develop joint problems. Once again, maybe just a bad lot. I did not grow up with this breed so have not had as much experience with them. The real upside to the WL for me is that they lay gorgeous, large, WHITE eggs. Since I don't like brown eggs, that's a plus for me. YMMV of course.
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Posted: 3/15/2017 10:31:09 AM EDT
[#40]
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Awesome. And the people come to your house for the eggs? |
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Posted: 3/15/2017 1:20:38 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yup. By law in MN, I cannot bring the eggs anywhere. Since they are a "farm product", and I sell without state inspection and licence, customers MUST come here. Same as raw milk for MN. Interesting. Do you have a roadside stand? Do y'all not have farmer's markets then? Or do those farmers get the inspection and such? |
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Posted: 3/15/2017 1:49:42 PM EDT
[#42]
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Interesting. Do you have a roadside stand? Do y'all not have farmer's markets then? Or do those farmers get the inspection and such? Yes, we have farmer's markets all over. They have become a money making scheme for the organizers, nothing more. Depends on what they are doing, how they are doing it, etc. |
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Posted: 3/20/2017 10:54:45 PM EDT
[#43]
Well guys, I got a question for ya...Has anyone successfully be able to control where you chickens free range?? Im having neighbor issues... My birds love to roam, and eat bugs and drink from the ponds, but they also love my neighbors bushes and gardens
 They have miles to roam in 3 directions but always end up going in her yard at some point.. Would a fake owl? or other bird of prey discourage them from entering the area? I hate to keep them cooped up, and my egg production is cut in half, and feed cost goes up about 30% when they cant roam... Putting a fence in is the obvious answer but, but really isnt practical in my situation, and unless I surrounded my entire 3 acre yard, they would just go around. Someone needs to invent little shock collars for chickens that work like an invisable dog fence...
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Posted: 3/20/2017 11:26:01 PM EDT
[#44]
No, the owls won't work, and no, you won't keep your chickens out of your neighbor's yard if they've decided it's an interesting place to be, unless..
a-you fence them out b-you fence them out or c- you fence them out. Chickens are awesome, but they're also stubborn. If they're buggin your neighbors by being in their yards, you have to do something to keep them on your property. You could fence only your back yard. It will be dirt only, eventually, but that's an option. |
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Posted: 3/21/2017 12:38:18 AM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
No, the owls won't work, and no, you won't keep your chickens out of your neighbor's yard if they've decided it's an interesting place to be, unless.. a-you fence them out b-you fence them out or c- you fence them out. Chickens are awesome, but they're also stubborn. If they're buggin your neighbors by being in their yards, you have to do something to keep them on your property. You could fence only your back yard. It will be dirt only, eventually, but that's an option.
Fortunately for me its a 1/4 walk to my neighbors house. Regardless most of my lawn has become a sand trap in the past two years of having chickens. Now that we have 21 birds I am sure they are going to tear things up real nice this summer.
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Posted: 3/21/2017 10:59:09 AM EDT
[#46]
I'm going to attempt to use an electric fence to contain my chickens in their free range "ideal" area, see if its works. I will use standard electric wire, and have the strands about 4 inches apart from one another the first 2 feet, then about 8" apart up from there to about 4-5 feet. I'm basically trying to mimic electric chicken netting, but without the insane cost of the netting. I'm sure I'll get an escape every now and again, but I hope it mostly works.
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Posted: 3/22/2017 4:19:58 PM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Well guys, I got a question for ya...Has anyone successfully be able to control where you chickens free range?? Im having neighbor issues... My birds love to roam, and eat bugs and drink from the ponds, but they also love my neighbors bushes and gardens They have miles to roam in 3 directions but always end up going in her yard at some point.. Would a fake owl? or other bird of prey discourage them from entering the area? I hate to keep them cooped up, and my egg production is cut in half, and feed cost goes up about 30% when they cant roam... Putting a fence in is the obvious answer but, but really isnt practical in my situation, and unless I surrounded my entire 3 acre yard, they would just go around. Someone needs to invent little shock collars for chickens that work like an invisable dog fence... My crazy bitch neighbor thought she could control what was in MY YARD. Oh that silly hefer. |
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Posted: 3/22/2017 7:43:10 PM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'm going to attempt to use an electric fence to contain my chickens in their free range "ideal" area, see if its works. I will use standard electric wire, and have the strands about 4 inches apart from one another the first 2 feet, then about 8" apart up from there to about 4-5 feet. I'm basically trying to mimic electric chicken netting, but without the insane cost of the netting. I'm sure I'll get an escape every now and again, but I hope it mostly works. I just don't know, but it occurred to me. |
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Posted: 3/25/2017 6:11:42 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Is the neighbors issue they are eating the garden or that they are just steping onto her owned soil/yard in general? If its just the garden offer to fence her garden in for her like one of those English gardens. They may go for it. If its about them just being a PITA and the birds coming onto "their property" then you need to coop/fence your own space. My crazy bitch neighbor thought she could control what was in MY YARD. Oh that silly hefer.  winter fall and spring are not an issue, and she gets free fertilizer but once the plants come in, my birds get an eviction notice issued with a broom and garden hose...
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Posted: 3/27/2017 10:44:18 AM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Luckly the neighbor is my friends grandmother... And was my preschool teacher, so she knows me fairly well.. The issue is her gardens... Her flower gardens are her life in the summer, and my birds tend to eat her flowers... winter fall and spring are not an issue, and she gets free fertilizer but once the plants come in, my birds get an eviction notice issued with a broom and garden hose... |
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