Recent content by joerbaum

I have a 150 watt fluorescent (60 reg watts) in my 12x12 coop on a timer to get the light to 16 hours per day (its on four hours in the morning and four hours at night). The timer cost about 5 bucks, and I am getting 18-20 eggs per day from my 26 birds (6 months old). This is in a central...

robk - that diagram is correct; a 1.5 inch gap between the two wires.

So even with the welded wire, then a 1.5 inch gap, then chicken wire - they will still be able to reach through that and get at the chickens?

I'm trying to think of ways to cut costs - I have most of my coop and run done, but haven't put up the hardware cloth yet and want to see if I can get by without it. Anybody know how long a raccoon's arm is? I'm asking because... I have welded wire livestock fence (2x4) surrounding the entire...

I'm just finishing my coop and I need to order some chicks. I've got it sectioned out with separate runs - a little less than 1/3 for the layers and the rest for the meat chickens. I need some help choosing the breeds to order. I have been reading everything I can on raising chickens, but there...

My wife and I are just getting into raising chickens for eggs and meat (no showing) and I am about ready to order my initial round of chicks from the hatchery to start out. After reading all fo the suggestions on these message boards it appears obvious that if I want to get a good breeding stock...

Thanks for the info - I'll take the suggestions. There are a lot of basic facts I don't know - but I am looking forward to figuring it out.

I have read multiple books, postings and websites, and I still have some questions on the basics of coop and run design. Please help me out - I am becoming obsessed with chickens and I don't even have any yet! I am in central Illinois and looking to convert my unused 12x12 shed back near the...