Hi everyone my name is Amy. I am in Denver. I just got my 1st chickens 2 months ago. Now that Denver is allowing backyard chickens. I have however been breeding/showing other pet bird species since 1983. Breeds such as Budgies, Cockatiels, finches etc.. So I love birds! I also breed pet fancy rats.
I built a coop of my own and 3 runs for the chickens, one run is around the chickens coop (and 8X8), its got a wire floor as I lock them up in the coop in the main run at night. And my German Shepherd protects the yard at night (thus the light weight chicken wire). And I have needed it as we have had foxes and skunks come by already (I am sure coons will stop by in the winter). But they couldnt get past the dog. The 2nd run is attached to the main one by a wood door which I lock at night. This goes straight to the organic garden (15X10). The 3rd run is on the other side of the yard for when I get new chickens to introduce them slowly (12X48). They also have full ranging access to my main back yard which is very large and full of Kentucky Blue Grass. So along with the main yard and the main coop and garden this is where they spend all their time. They are spoiled! The dog is locked in his own run while the chickens are out, because I dont want anything bad to happen. He is a dog, and I dont trust him fully when I am not out there with him. Hes a pup.
Here is the 8X8 main run with coop. And my chickens. All are 8 weeks except the bantam whos 6 months and laying.The white leghorn is wet as I just bathed her.... I have have the white leghorn (daisy), a light brown leghorn (ginger), a barred rock (peep peep), a buff orphington (sugar, the alfa), a black australorp (hershey) and a rhode island red (cinnamon) and the blue brassy back old english bantam (skittles). Skittles has been laying for me. And she prefers to stay in the main run, so when I let the babies out I close the door and giver her the layer food. I dont want the babies eating that yet. They are still on chick starter.
I got them all from a local farm in Hudson Colorado.
The main run. I plan to board it up during the winter like a little shed with the coop in it since we get deep snow here. The Shepherd can sleep in there to guard them and keep some warmth in. But it has a light inside the coop too.
Anyway theres my long winded intro. Thanks for letting me be a part of the community! Let me know what you think.
Again thanks!
Amy
