Am I on the right path?

[jspeese]

Sounds like you have a nice set-up. I live inland from you, in North Augusta SC, right across the Savannah River from Augusta GA. Can't emphasize enough about predator protection. Hawks, owls, etc. are in my opinion nothing but varmints from a poultry standpoint and can be the worst predators (it's hard to prevent an aerial attack). I'd rate dogs as the next worst. Deterrents may help, but I wouldn't rely on them 100%. I invest too much time, money, and care in raising my birds to have them killed by predators. You've got to keep in mind that even wild fowl are preyed upon, and that the survival instincts and features of wild fowl have been bred out of domestic poultry, making them even more vulnerable. I'm intrigued by Bielefelders, perhaps in part because I'm Pennsylvania Dutch and it's a German breed. From what I've read they sound like the perfect dual purpose homestead breed. The egg and meat qualities of Orpingtons plus the autosexing feature of the chicks. I'd love to hear how you make out with them.

 

[paintedChix]

Thank you so very much for your deep consideration of what I have planned. I will indeed be utilizing hardware cloth on both the coop and the "chick" pen fencing. I May I ask what they were, so that I can possibly avoid them? Again, thank you so very much!

This may have been answered by others, but I wanted to answer before I read the next 8 pages... Your set up looks to be beautiful!! WOW! Can't wait to see it as it comes to fruition.

I think I read into your plans sizes that aren't there. I thought you were separating the birds in their own areas - at least for egg laying/breeding & night time roosting. In that case, I can state that 10/1 is probably too large a group if shut in for any amount of time... Also you do need to account for space for feeders in that area IF they are going to be kept in there. I agree on nest boxes - probably only 2 per breed section and maybe 4 in the open area... Our Orpingtons and our Bielefelders lay in the plastic milk crates (set upright, no roofs, they can stand to lay). The Orpingtons also like the bucket nests, but the B's don't... I do have larger ones now for them, can't remember the sizes.

Hadn't posted this yet & read the 3rd page re: breeding. I kept my birds separate for 3 weeks - then hatched. I have several OBVIOUS mixes! Pure CLBs are not hatched out black, LOL. Also, some roos may not get along from different breeds - I have a problem w/ the CLB roos to Ameraucana roos & Marans to CLBs...

Feeder - The galvanized feeders & waterers we got in 2014 haven't survived to this year. They were kinda pricey for us - we had 4 of each & I'm down to 1 feeder and 1 water actually still in use. I'm currently really liking the 5 gallon bucket - gravity fed. Keeps 25# of feed at a time and only requires drilling out 4 holes near the base. You can attach the bottom pan to the bottom of the bucket to hang. I do have issues with our birds using it for a perch (sits on the ground) and w/ the base not attached to ours, I will occasionally have to right the buckets. I still don't see much feed waste, however. I have purchased the parts to build a bucket or trashcan feeder that will allow the birds to reach in - haven't gotten around to building those yet.

I no longer use feeders in our chicken tractors - instead putting the feed right on the ground. They then get what they want and scratch around, too. We currently have a pair of free ranging barnyard bantamXs that will clean up any feed left behind when we move the tractors. Our tractors are all shorter in height, so we only use open rubber tubs for water and currently are able to reach all from a hose. When we start tractoring in our pasture(s) w/o easy reach of hose, we will probably haul water in covered 5 gal buckets out to tractor(s) & leave the buckets near the tractors until need filling again, then haul with the truck or a Gorilla wagon (no Gator, golf cart or small tractor).

I have a variety of waterers. We do get some freezing weather - so during the "freeze" times, I now use large rubber feed tubs for water - that I can turn over and stomp on to empty ice. Dropping them doesn't cause them to break, they don't rust out like my galvanized metal ones have in less then 2 years, they don't crack or melt in the heat like several of the plastic ones have & the chickens usually can't/don't tip them over. Then during the spring, summer & fall I use another bucket w/ holes at the top. I fill,put the lid on, flip the bucket over into the tub & it only fills as high as the holes... Still have perching issues, so... going to make chicken wire caps for them. Another project haven't gotten to yet, though.

I know a lot of people have had good luck and really like the different options with the chicken nipples and chicken drink cups. I don't have any way to set this up easily, so haven't gone to that yet... Eventually? Would love to.

Covering for the top of the open run. I don't recommend chicken wire. It's a nightmare when it turns rusty and breaks when something gets on it (or even something lands on it during a hurricane - ask me how I know!!). It's a nightmare to replace while suspended in air. That was used on the top of a chicken run we had before we moved in. Ours is only 16x16 (approximately) and we are still working on it. Due to that run not being secure, we are currently not using it again... Taking forever to get it fixed around our schedules, other projects etc... and just plain avoiding a PITA project, LOL.

Grasses - consider cover crops like clover & buckwheat. Could even mix in alfalfa, sure there are others. I've heard from permaculture buffs that they can/do eat the large turnips (different types, drawing blanks as to what names are), sunchokes and the various other ground roots. Small/pruned trees - fig, elderberry, mulberry - even pruned for smaller size peaches that will then have droopy branches they can shelter under. Shrubs - blue berry, goose berry, currants, cranberries & then the thorny (possibly invasive types) - silver berry, sea berry and autumn olive. Again, there are many more out there.

Edited to add -

What do you think about me placing a 2 foot deep 12' x 12' compost pile in the big run? Good idea or no? Should I place it out by the paddocks instead?

YES

Scraps - you plan on a large enough flock, you could do the compost in place with one of a variety of systems. You could just gather kitchen scraps from family and neighbors or collect from some local restaurants/coffee shops. If going organic only, can contact an organic restaurant. A good You Tube vid for that is (I follow theirs and plan on ordering some plants this winter from their NY nursery that should grown here in our zone, too) - Chickens & compost.

As to what the chickens will and won't eat and when - we have had a lot of different breeds over the years. Some will eat treats, some don't. I do have some that are afraid of/don't appear to like the dried worms as well as the red wrigglers. Some will eat the hanging boredom busters, others don't. Over time, you'll learn which groups like what and when to utilize what. That's literally all part of the fun of having chickens!!

Here are 2 pics of my original set up for Bielefelders. The two separate 4x8 coops are now more secure with wire on outside of pallets, doors fully wired, HC for aprons. The run between the 2 small coops hasn't been done yet & they were free ranging during the day. I lost 20 birds in one day while I was at work in February (2 groups of Bielefelders - 8 hens & 2 roosters & a group of combined CLBs and Rhodebars that hadn't been separated yet - 1 rooster and can't remember how many pullets - some were lost in the next 2 days to shock/injuries). This 4x8' coop is too small for 3 full size hens & 1 roo Bielefelder, so have a pair (splash & blue) & a trio (lavender) Ameraucana (smaller chickens) in it now - shows a larger basket for nesting box and how I put it on top of the feeder. Worked great that way! Clean feed & plenty of eggs. I hadn't yet built a frame for the basket - just haystring to the pallet, loose enough that I could raise it up to get feed bucket out to open/fill. The old trash can lid works great as a free feeder pan when bricks are braced around for support. The B girls didn't seem to have any problem getting up to the nest to lay even w/o a perch bar. I had beautiful , clean and unbroken eggs. Once they started laying, they laid daily!

Before nesting box & litter - you can see how they perch on the bucket feeder.



Then this shows what was next before I lost a large group of birds. We think it was the coyote that got the larger group of birds again, but we aren't sure... Several of us have scented coyote traps set up, several of our neighbors have hunted the coyote & he/she sat just out of rifle range for 30 minutes straight staring at me while I stared back at it.... when I moved closer it "vamoosed"...

 

[paintedChix]

As usual, @aart 's advice is spot on. But the OP is the one against chemical pesticides. I agree, though, this coop needs some windows and extra ventilation. I have no idea how that fits in with hurricane protection, but I expect it's manageable.

again, posting before reading the rest of this fast filling thread! Hadn't realized that the actual coop you were building was going to be solid walls...

Just so that the original poster knows - our CP hoop coops that originally started as tractors at our previous property have survived four hurricanes and several different storm systems with copious amounts (11" the 1 time - in just hours - not during a hurricane) and wind.

The old pens that have now been hooped w/ CP and tarped roofs did lose the tarps during Florence (they weren't as heavy). Two of the three original hooped coops still have the same tarps from 2014 on them...

I LOVE the airflow that the CP hooped pens/coops have. Can/have used a brooder light hanging over a pen on the ground in one hooped coop.

 

[aart]

again, posting before reading

 

[paintedChix]

Yea, Aart, you LAFF....

You would think I've learned the lesson in that one. Obviously not!!! I did cover a couple of things originally asked about that I didn't see anyone else address and thought about deleting parts of the above posts, but, no won't do that.

OP - again, it's all a learning process. I've learned some building things from you that I had no idea/knowledge of (the building with "cool tubes") and the blocks which I LIKE (already forgot the acronym and will have to find it to tell my DH or he'll just think I've "lost it" - AGAIN) and didn't "catch" the first part(s) where you talked about how you were doing the wall of windows. Got it when you "re-explained" to someone else's post.

One major thing that I have learned over the last 8 years of having chickens - just because it works for someone else, doesn't mean it WILL OR WON"T work for you.

Enjoy your journey. I CAN'T WAIT to see what your "chicken mansion" looks like and how it works for you.

 

[lifein1840]

I am in preparation mode and require the advise and opinions of the experienced flock keeper. In the provided photo you will see my intentions and many questions answered.
My grandparent had chickens when I was small. However, the only consideration was for the eggs produced and the meat attained. Temperament most definitely was not a consideration, nor their comfort and safety. Predators would occasionally have a feast and storms would decimate their coops. I have no intention of being the same.
While most would consider my plans to be an unnecessary expense, I look at two things, first longevity of investment expense, minimal as a DIYer, AND if I am happier in a nice home, why wouldn't my charges be as well.
I look forward to your responses and input. Thank you all for you time!

 

[lifein1840]

I am in preparation mode and require the advise and opinions of the experienced flock keeper. In the provided photo you will see my intentions and many questions answered.
My grandparent had chickens when I was small. However, the only consideration was for the eggs produced and the meat attained. Temperament most definitely was not a consideration, nor their comfort and safety. Predators would occasionally have a feast and storms would decimate their coops. I have no intention of being the same.
While most would consider my plans to be an unnecessary expense, I look at two things, first longevity of investment expense, minimal as a DIYer, AND if I am happier in a nice home, why wouldn't my charges be as well.
I look forward to your responses and input. Thank you all for you time!

I can tell you that mint does not deter rodents. I had large bundles hanging in the coop to dry and found a mouse with a nest full of babies happily living in the mint. I have mint all around the run because I had believed the old advice also.

 

[Spiritsmeadow]

I'm on the eastern Colorado prairie and we have very intense weather. Last March we had a huge snow-bombogenesis and over my coop door a snow drift of 9 feet x 30 feet long. I have a lovely little coop which houses Black Australorps, White & Buff Orpingtons, Well-summers, and Cinnamon Queens. 20 hens and 1 huge rooster. they all roost and roam together, and I do have a nursery when I want to start new chicks, or if I have an injured or sick hen who needs to be in ICU. I don't believe in separating the breeds, what's the point? They'll free range together and unless you are concerned about cross-breeding, I wouldn't worry at all. And since folks in here are talking about Earth Changes and catastrophes, survival will be a big deal, no one will care if breeds intermarry! Personally, I've invested in 1000+ rounds for each of my guns, and I feel fine!

 

[Mary Chapman]

This is my predator proof chicken run. I put the chicken wire 2 ft on the ground and then 2 ft up the sides and cover the ground with dirt. It keeps the predators from digging under. I also have wood floors. Most materials were free and used. The green netting on the top was free. And the panels are old fiberglass garage doors.

 

[IronFeather]

Looks like a fabulous design and you'll have some very lucky chickens! I didn't notice feeders and waterers but I'm guessing you'll have them in various locations for easy access. Well planned.

PVC feeders, like an upside down candy cane, in the outside run. Goes through the fencing from outside. Pour feed in and cap. At night when birds are in..cap inside opening so mice don't get in. Water in buckets with auto-water cups. No feed or water in coop. Less mess.