A Heritage of Perfection: Standard-bred Large Fowl

Thanks gjensen! I'll keep that in mind when we start building.

Much of it is where they are placed, roost area, the style of feeders and waterers, how often they are let out etc. There is a general recommendation out there concerning sf. etc. However, it does not hurt to consider whether or not there should be a minimum.

I built a row of fixed 5' x 5' pens for extra cockerels and for pairs during breeding season. They work, but I (they)would have been better off with a 5' x 6' minimum. 5' x 5' is a little small for trios.

With small pens, weather extremes can be multiplied. In a 4' x 4' pen with short side walls, in the sun, and a metal top . . . summer's extremes can be tough. Many do this, and their birds do survive. Their is a difference between surviving and thriving though.

With an added run like you mentioned, on the smaller side is fine. Still 4' is a bit narrow, and 4' is a bit short. 54" x 64" could possibly be an improvement.

Some here will have them as you considered. I am sure their birds are fine. I do not want to discourage. My suggestions are rooted in experience, and knowing that you have not started yet. I have not built the perfect pen yet, but I have learned much from each one that I have put together.
 
These are a few photos of my progress with my Columbian Wyandotte.
Three years ago, I brought in a White Wyandotte cock and two White hens from Larry Dye to breed to my CW for improved size, combs and leg color.
Using the White cock over my darkest CW hens for F1 chicks. The best pullets were bred to my best CW cock. The best cockerel was bred back to the best CW hens.
Used the same criteria for my darkest CW cock over the two White hens for F1 chicks to breed back to CW.
The culling process was severe, keeping only the few birds that met my goals.
This picture hangs by my incubators
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This year a cock from the F2 WW/ CW from the CW cock will be in the flock pen with a full sister and his 6 aunts along with a full CW cock. picture 4 is all nine in the flock pen.
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This hen is 14 months old and is in the flock pen the full sister to the cock. She is in some of the photos above but this is my favorite photo of her.
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These two cocks are being used in a pen of three hens separately. I have 30 eggs from the lightest cock in the two incubators. And the darker CW cock will now go in that pen. It was really windy when I took these pictures.
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Hi, new poultry fan here (Langshans), posting to subscribe and also to post this link. Just finished reading this thread and thinking that it might help a little for those who are trying to locate breeders. Since I was googling for Forrest Beauford and he has passed, not sure how many of these people are still around?


http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/Grand Masters 2015 for website.pdf

Also, many thanks for all the information in this thread! I learned a lot.
 

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