comish83
Chirping
I plan on scaling up my operation later this year to 50 layers. I like the Millennium Feathernet that Polyface has, but I want something where I can keep the birds in a Northern Virginia winter as well. I plan on rotating 50 layers every week through one of 18 different 100' x 50' pasture paddocks and utilizing poultry netting (as I have been with current birds). Here are my requirements:
1. Houses 50 layers
2. Suitable for summer and winter
3. Minimizes daily work (cleaning up shavings, filling water and feed, nest boxes, etc.)
The only thing I could think of is to build something on running gear like what is shown below. I could have flaps on the side to "winterize" the coop I can keep open or closed. Not sure if an open air bottom would need like a piece of plywood that can slide out to clean in the winter so the birds are fully enclosed? I think I would want a 55 gallon rain barrel and a gutter setup to catch rainwater that runs into one of two hanging bell waters would seriously cut down on maintenance time. Some sort of food trough setup and storage would probably do that too?
Curious to see what folks have done, with the goal of minimizing daily upkeep.
1. Houses 50 layers
2. Suitable for summer and winter
3. Minimizes daily work (cleaning up shavings, filling water and feed, nest boxes, etc.)
The only thing I could think of is to build something on running gear like what is shown below. I could have flaps on the side to "winterize" the coop I can keep open or closed. Not sure if an open air bottom would need like a piece of plywood that can slide out to clean in the winter so the birds are fully enclosed? I think I would want a 55 gallon rain barrel and a gutter setup to catch rainwater that runs into one of two hanging bell waters would seriously cut down on maintenance time. Some sort of food trough setup and storage would probably do that too?
Curious to see what folks have done, with the goal of minimizing daily upkeep.