Investing More In American Dominiques

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We have been working up to this for some time. Plant community has been managed to provide better free-range habitat, a range of tools are in place for predator management, and now it is time for an actual barn. Currently all birds are in pens in field year round. Within 3 weeks I should have a barn capable of housing three flocks of American Dominiques, each with 25 hens. Photographs to made shortly will show current mess and progression to having a barn. At this point birds are difficult to see from house. Soon they will be visible directly and by using webcams. A lot of work ahead but will be fun. Even picked out a farm name for registration with county.

 

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This guy is going into brood pen with three hens. I have a battery of 10 broody hens that will be charged with collected hatching eggs.

 

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Additional images of what will be coming together later.

 

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At about 1600 I got home and started for barn to care for critters. Dogs were not present, but I could see their tracks left by running to barn where they then cut off down to woods just short of fence. When I got about 20' feet into fence area I came across Coyote tracks and though oh crap. I did not go more than another 20 feet and saw tracks crossing first set and a little farther saw even more. Coyote working the whole area. I slipped up by barn and could see where it came to within 10' of entrance. Coyote went just about every where but did come within 10' of any of the pens. Rabbit tracks where all over the place with some showing signs of running hard and turning close to where Coyote tracks did same. Then I checked fence perimeter and found 6 locations where the same animal crossed the fence often making you turns and going right back across without jumping. Fence clearly dead then. Then I walked about and found no less than four dead shorts, all in or in contact with barn. Temperature changes seem of have stretched things or broke a plastic insulator. Repairs quick and fence hot again. If Coyote braves dogs, then fence will spice up its day. In a bit I will go out and see if Dog tracks line out Coyote tracks that appear to be exiting path.

I do have too many rabbits.

 

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This should be a big year. Three old quality hens will be bred to the best cock I have ever had. Ideally, we will have at least 50 young birds upon which to start the selection process. By fall, the group should be whittled down to about a dozen pullets and half as many cockerels. Hens are of the age where they start dropping out because of age related infirmities.

First step is to isolate hens from general hen population and begin conditioning for production of hatching eggs. There will be some fermentation of feeds and application of sprouted grains. Base diet will be 2/3's layer pellets and 1/3 game bird starter laced with powdered paprika. Hens will get very little free-range time unless under direct supervision. Two of these gals are going to need babying to give eggs and survive production season.

 

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This a very poor picture of the cock side of this. He was to excited by boy to left playing with remote controlled toy. The guy when showing type has it down with a really nice tail. He is holding tail down a bit and pinched. He is very well muscled now and put on weight very well during his first 16 weeks. Color is a little on light side but consistent with his line. Not as light as appears in picture. He was darker in his youth.

Will try to make better pictures in coming days.

 

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Next phase is to get some sheep.

A worm-resistant goat herd at work is giving me ideas. I will be using sheep instead and English Shepherds instead of Akbash shown below. My herd will be even smaller than below as well with at most 12 head. My animals will be used to manage pasture for chickens where stockpiling will be used to carry animals through winter rather than using hay and grain. I may employ flash grazing as well in orchard and bramble patches.

 

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Following images are reference points to be used as construction progresses.

Views from following locations
1) Front porch of house.

2) Beginning new drive

3) Just before the fenn.

4) Current gate to winter cockyard

5) Going upgrade to bend

6) The bend

7) Location of barn from path

8) Location of barn from about 30 feet of front barn opening

9) House from front door of barn

 

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Some cool images taken while working on barn project.

Son and daughter messing on rock pile (2" gravel) to be used for culvert in fenn. Daughter looking at large female mantid.

Praying mantids (female Chinese and male Carolina) engaging in barnyard follies. Risk to benefit ratio not good for male as hybrids do not seem viable.

Two color morphs of female Chinese Mantids. Caroline Mantids have even more morphs.

Cockerel that likely will not get a shot as prestigious pen in the barn.

 

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Upgrade for fencing. Flasher indicating whether fence is hot from a distance.