Well all, I am back and have a few pictures. Sorry I have been gone so long. I now have 100 5-6 week olds and 150 close to a week old.
I changed from the moveable tractor because honestly, I didn't feel any different from a commercial farm.
This is what I have done.
Notice that I am cheap. The shelter is an old hog/gpat/dog pen built with recycled materials. Nice tripod for the water bucket eh? Blocks keep it from blowing away in a storm.
I already moved the fence after only 2 weeks.
They love the high grass. No dogs or anything else has gotten in their area as of yet. I am loving this stuff. Electric fencing. $200.00 and move it myself in 20 minutes.
Redneck shade. Electric fence posts supporting an old tarp.
Other "improvements coming- I intend to build my own style hoop house. I have some 16' hog panels but am not planning to use them as I think 2 of them arched and stapled to 2x4's will be too heavy. Go ahead.... call me a pansy. Instead, I am going to use 2x4's or old tongue and groove flooring and some welded wire fencing stapled to it. THAT, I think I can drag around. Over that I will bungee cord tarps to keep out the weather and anchor them with concrete block.
I also need to build another pvc length with more nipples. Then, I plan to buy another fence to make it easier to herd them when necessary.
Plans are to keep the hoop structure in a corner so I can move the fence in the evening when they are roosted. I can possibly move the fence two, maybe even 3 times before having to move the hoop house, waterer and feeder.
Incidentally, the feeder is an old garage light fixture and a length of gutter. The gutter has no ends as I don't put the feed that close to the ends and besides, they CAN, meaning they are able to, pick it out of the grass. If they can pick bugs up, I am sure a grain is not a challenge.
