I have been lurking around this website for over 2 years now, but decided to finally register now that I have experience (and I'm catching my second CHICKEN FEVER!). I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone that has contributed to the BYC forums. I have learned A LOThere just be reading, and my chickens are much better off for it.
I have 14 chickens from two "purchases" : 5 banty cochins (8 months) and 9 standard-sized hens (10 months). I am hoping to pick up about a dozen Golden Comet female chicks and a few Khaki Campbells this week from Tractor Supply Co, but I bet today (Easter) they will be sold out (bad timing on my part).
I live on a small farm and I have been slowly prepping the soil on the 9000 sq ft area that will eventually be the chicken run. For now, I have 3 tractors : 192 square feet of coop between 14 birds...though a rowdy rooster is seperated in a "lion's portion" of the smallest tractor
I just finished the last tractor this week and I am quite proud of it. Hopefully, I will be able to post up pictures this week, but I'm not much of a photographer so please bear (sp?) with me.
I have been fascinated with the Pentacon / Starplate buildings that someone posted here awhile back
REQUEST
I am looking for the best price on a large roll of 6' welded fence wire.
250' would be nice, but 150' will easily work.
14 gauge or thicker would be nice
2"x4" holes or gradient style would be great. I'm not fond about running heavy gauge 2' chicken wire around the entire base of the 2"x4", but it will likely be cheaper than buy 6' welded wire with 1x1 holes on bottom.
QUESTION:
What crop would be the most effective to grow in the LARGE chicken runs: clover, alfalfa, soy, millet, _____ ? I need something that will grow year-round and mature quick enough to endure the onslaughts of poultry.
I have 14 chickens from two "purchases" : 5 banty cochins (8 months) and 9 standard-sized hens (10 months). I am hoping to pick up about a dozen Golden Comet female chicks and a few Khaki Campbells this week from Tractor Supply Co, but I bet today (Easter) they will be sold out (bad timing on my part).
I live on a small farm and I have been slowly prepping the soil on the 9000 sq ft area that will eventually be the chicken run. For now, I have 3 tractors : 192 square feet of coop between 14 birds...though a rowdy rooster is seperated in a "lion's portion" of the smallest tractor

I just finished the last tractor this week and I am quite proud of it. Hopefully, I will be able to post up pictures this week, but I'm not much of a photographer so please bear (sp?) with me.
I have been fascinated with the Pentacon / Starplate buildings that someone posted here awhile back
REQUEST
I am looking for the best price on a large roll of 6' welded fence wire.
250' would be nice, but 150' will easily work.
14 gauge or thicker would be nice
2"x4" holes or gradient style would be great. I'm not fond about running heavy gauge 2' chicken wire around the entire base of the 2"x4", but it will likely be cheaper than buy 6' welded wire with 1x1 holes on bottom.
QUESTION:
What crop would be the most effective to grow in the LARGE chicken runs: clover, alfalfa, soy, millet, _____ ? I need something that will grow year-round and mature quick enough to endure the onslaughts of poultry.