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[#2]
Nice!
For the run, I used 1/4" square hardware cloth the first 4', then the less expensive 2x4" metal fencing the upper 4', bird/fish netting over the top of my run. You do not need to dig it deep, just bend it out like an "L" extending about 10-15" from the fence and put a few inches of dirt on top. Predators naturally go right up to the run wall and start to dig, so they immediately hit the metal fencing. Make sure your coop is vented at the top on at least 2 sides (allow circulation and gas to escape), maybe add some shed windows to reduce heat in summer months as those plastic sheds can turn into an oven. What are you doing for water? |
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[#3]
Quoted: Nice! For the run, I used 1/4" square hardware cloth the first 4', then the less expensive 2x4" metal fencing the upper 4', bird/fish netting over the top of my run. You do not need to dig it deep, just bend it out like an "L" extending about 10-15" from the fence and put a few inches of dirt on top. Predators naturally go right up to the run wall and start to dig, so they immediately hit the metal fencing. Make sure your coop is vented at the top on at least 2 sides (allow circulation and gas to escape), maybe add some shed windows to reduce heat in summer months as those plastic sheds can turn into an oven. What are you doing for water? View Quote The shed/coop will be under a tree. I plan to put a vent on each side near the top. I'll have PVC tubes that hold water in the run attached to the sides that'll have those red bowls with nipples. The coop will have buckets off the floor with bowl & nipples around the bottom portion of the bucket. The run will be half in the sun and half under a tree. |
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[#4]
I would just make sure you do everything to make sure that it’s Fort Knox level security from predators. Nothing is worse than losing chickens to raccoons, cats or basically literally anything else that wants to kill them.
I have a rooster, he does a really good job of watching during free range and if anything flys over he ushers everything under something or to the wood line. |
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[#5]
Nice Job OP, be sure to make that thing (run/coop) bomb proof and don't forget to close them up at night. You'll find there are more predators in your area than you think
Electricity in the run is an amazing thing in the winter, I ran pvc conduit with just (1) receptacle and (1) LED bulb (all water tight). The receptacle is for the heated water unit (awesome so you don't have to dump the ice and add water daily) and the bulb is great for getting home on those dark nights and feeding/watering. We feed and water every 3 days usually but keep an eye on it daily when getting eggs. Make sure you have a nesting box that you can get to from the outside, it makes your life alot easier. |
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[#8]
Cool post op. I've been thinking of getting some chickens also.
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[#10]
I think chickens and ducks are neat. So do the local coyotes, foxes, owls, eagles and other predators. I feel like I would be spending too much time protecting the chickens and/or ducks from predators to make them worth the effort.
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[#11]
Quoted: I think chickens and ducks are neat. So do the local coyotes, foxes, owls, eagles and other predators. I feel like I would be spending too much time protecting the chickens and/or ducks from predators to make them worth the effort. View Quote That’s where the commercial hatchery system internet conventional wisdom has failed chicken keepers. The solution is simple… free range those breeds that have retained their survival instincts. Somewhere between the mid 20th century and today its been forgotten that there’s many breeds of chickens still in existence that are sharper and faster than the predators. Good chickens (not the genetic trash that passes for chickens these days), a good free range dog, and some good foraging habitat is all you need to successfully free range. |
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[#13]
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[#16]
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[#20]
Nice work!!
I thought about using something like the small barn in the background of your coop pic. Add nesting boxes on the sides and build a door on the back for chickens to use. ETA : What are you going to do when those cold TN winters to prevent freezing. |
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[#21]
Quoted: Nice work!! I thought about using something like the small barn in the background of your coop pic. Add nesting boxes on the sides and build a door on the back for chickens to use. ETA : What are you going to do when those cold TN winters to prevent freezing. View Quote Western Tennessee here so not that cold and if so, not for long. Plus these are cold hardy birds. The coops will have heated water. I am probably going to add some radiant heat panels in the coops so they have it cozy in there. |
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[#23]
Quoted: Been wanting chickens for years and buying more eggs than ever so why not? Both breeds should put out 2-4 eggs per week so I should start to have plenty at the end of summer. Bought 10 female Blue Laced Golden Wyandotte Chickens this past weekend to get started. Just ordered 20 female Barred Rock Chickens that should be here within the next 3 weeks. Those were the original breed that I have been wanting. UPDATE**** ARRIVED..... pics below a couple posts. Building the 20w x 8ft tall x 20ft long Run soon for containment when not free ranging. The coop with purchased. Small cutout in the wall of the coop to allow 24/7 access to the run. I am using 1/2"x 1/2" hardware cloth attached by screw with washers for the run and not chicken wire. Will be using the hardware cloth to cover the top for protection from my local owls, hawks and kites. Also attaching and burying hardware cloth under all the sides so my local racoons, foxes and yotes can't tunnel under it along with concrete cinder block border. Hopefully that'll be enough till I find out something needs improving. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/40774/20220319_124526-2321017.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/40774/20220320_185024-2321018.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/40774/20220320_185147-2321019.jpg Mandatory chicken run Paint drawing. Will essentially be 4 runs screwed together without center hardware cloth divider. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/40774/run1-2321026.jpg View Quote Either you have a HUGE family, or you need to start finding places to sell those eggs (or give them away, which is what we do). We have five laying hens, and I have no room in my fridge, even giving away some each week. No way can I use that many eggs. Most laying hens give six eggs out of seven days (they skip a day or so each week) so you are going to be in egg heaven. ETA: That is gorgeous work, all of it. I would call that a chicken palace. They are going to LOVE it! Great job OP!!! (Paint that water tank with your farm name or something. Small town tank after all! ) |
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[#24]
I just hatched a bunch with my class. Giving them away on Friday.
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[#25]
Nice looking setup. I hope mine eventually looks as nice as yours.
How many nesting boxes do you have in each coop? Are there any roosting bars? |
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[#26]
Chris i know you already built your nesting boxes but if you ever wanna upgrade these are awesome, when they lay an egg they roll to the back and you no longer have to worry about
cleaning poopy eggs, i use them and highly recommend them https://bestnestbox.com/ |
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[#27]
Super nice OP, our chickens are jealous.
@SwampFrog Always been interested in the more hardy breed, can you enlighten us as to which are best? |
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[#28]
Quoted: Super nice OP, our chickens are jealous. @SwampFrog Always been interested in the more hardy breed, can you enlighten us as to which are best? View Quote They are good birds. Gentle. Fun to watch. Quiet. |
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[#29]
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[#30]
Right behind you OP, we just got 10 Barred Rock chickens a week ago. Wife and I settled on a location for the coop and run today, I’ve got a design on paper so I guess I better get busy.
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[#31]
There are few sights more serene and pastoral than chickens doing their thing in bright green grass.
Enjoy it. You just unleashed a fleet of autonomous rototillers. |
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[#32]
Quoted: Super nice OP, our chickens are jealous. @SwampFrog Always been interested in the more hardy breed, can you enlighten us as to which are best? View Quote My list: Bankivoid gamefowl and derivative mixes are at the top of the list for hardy free range chickens. They’re the missing link between junglefowl and domestic chickens. They’ll lay surprisingly well, about 100 eggs a hen per year. A flock of a dozen hens and a singular brood cock will feed your family no problem. The American gamefowl is the bankivoid most common in the US and that would be the one I would recommend. I raise a smaller bankivoid called the Florida Cracker gamefowl but I’m currently breeding larger Americans into them both to freshen up their genes and to add some size. I also raise oriental gamefowl. Oriental mixed are better than straight orientals at free range survival. They’re predator resistant but are not all that disease resistant. |
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[#35]
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