Anyone have luck catching a feral chicken?? UPDATE: Rooster caught, no hen

[Parront]

I have a wood floor, but use straw. I never thought of tossing corn in to get them to mix it. I figured they'd dig around in it for the pellets they knock into it, but apparently not. I'll have to give that a try... after I clean everything out... again.

Instead of cleaning, just throw in some corn, throw new straw on top. They have radar for corn, they will tunnel down and mix everything to get the last kernel! Instant mixed compost.

 

[Parront]

Can y'all post some pics of your breeding pens? Rotating or otherwise.

Here is a breeding set-up from a breeder in Australia who breeds Marans. Very interesting reading. He also has a converted shipping container that looks like fort knox for chickens!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ing-to-the-sop.1122465/page-548#post-19026231

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Keep an eye out for someone getting rid of an old swingset. The A frame kind.
I've seen them converted to tractors cheap.

WE were just talking last night about turning PICs old swingset into a coop!! I swear, I put it out into the universe, the universe gives me more chickies.

People who abuse animals suck! You may not need the chickens, but they need you. You can rehome them if you need to??

Sesame won’t eat corn anymore. All she wants is worms!!! She enjoys the expensive things in life.

I have been redoing inside the coop and will be working until dark. I go to use the Ranger to go to the barn and shop to get supplies. Ranger is gone to the shop! I go to use the cordless drill, hubby loaded up charger and batteries on the hunting trailer that left yesterday! Everything I need is gone. The positive thing is, I have burned lots of calories walking!!!

I DID rehome them... into MY home!!!

One of the top uses is "white Lightning". It is good feed, you just have to add more protein and vitamins. Fermented feed is a huge topic on here, I am not qualified to comment on that since I never heard of that before I got on BYC. Some people clean it with a sifter/collander and make corn pone and eat it themselves! Some use it for their worms, then the worms go to the chickens.

I do fermented feed so might give fermenting the cracked corn a try!! Thanks!

Here is a breeding set-up from a breeder in Australia who breeds Marans. Very interesting reading. He also has a converted shipping container that looks like fort knox for chickens!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ing-to-the-sop.1122465/page-548#post-19026231

Thanks for even MORE to read... I never leave this site... never!!!!!

 

[Parront]

Thanks for even MORE to read... I never leave this site... never!!!!!

Happy to oblige! Another use for the old swing set: place to hang your rooster when you need to do some chicken subtraction!

 

[TexasSam]

Lol, I have three cochin pullets that ONLY want corn...and tomatoes. But I don't always give it to them I swear kikigirls! I am cold and heartless and only give them worms or cabbages for treats... except a couple times a week

I've been adding worms and cracked corn with a small amount of oyster shell in my feed

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Keep an eye out for someone getting rid of an old swingset. The A frame kind.
I've seen them converted to tractors cheap.

Any favs?

 

[staceyj]

Any favs?

Whatever someone puts out for the trash! Or look on Craigslist under free. At least once a month I see a free add for a swingset.
Then look on Pinterest.
Heck probably here too. It would be so simple with a pressure treated wood frame under it, some hard ware cloth, some wheel barrow handles and two little tires.
You'd be rollin' rollin' rollin'...

Probably should have done that here. These innocent looking girls have pretty much destroyed all the grass.

I'm thinking about creating a corral back in the trees and pine straw to restrict where they can go, then attempt to plant grass in the spring. Sod is way too expensive and they'd eat it anyway.
We struggle out back getting grass to grow on a good day.
The pine and magnolia trees make the sandy soil so darn acidic and I don't want to put fertilizer and stuff down because of the dog and chickens.

 

[Parront]

Whatever someone puts out for the trash! Or look on Craigslist under free. At least once a month I see a free add for a swingset.
Then look on Pinterest.
Heck probably here too. It would be so simple with a pressure treated wood frame under it, some hard ware cloth, some wheel barrow handles and two little tires.
You'd be rollin' rollin' rollin'...

Probably should have done that here. These innocent looking girls have pretty much destroyed all the grass.

I'm thinking about creating a corral back in the trees and pine straw to restrict where they can go, then attempt to plant grass in the spring. Sod is way too expensive and they'd eat it anyway.
We struggle out back getting grass to grow on a good day.
The pine and magnolia trees make the sandy soil so darn acidic and I don't want to put fertilizer and stuff down because of the dog and chickens.

Guess what? The chickens put down a lot of fertilizer! For free, and they scratch it in for you, too. No floor needed in swing-set tractor, just move it along after the fertilizer deposit is deep enough. Electric fence wire! that is your friend to keep out chicken killing varmits, like neighbors dog.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Whatever someone puts out for the trash! Or look on Craigslist under free. At least once a month I see a free add for a swingset.
Then look on Pinterest.
Heck probably here too. It would be so simple with a pressure treated wood frame under it, some hard ware cloth, some wheel barrow handles and two little tires.
You'd be rollin' rollin' rollin'...

Probably should have done that here. These innocent looking girls have pretty much destroyed all the grass.

I'm thinking about creating a corral back in the trees and pine straw to restrict where they can go, then attempt to plant grass in the spring. Sod is way too expensive and they'd eat it anyway.
We struggle out back getting grass to grow on a good day.
The pine and magnolia trees make the sandy soil so darn acidic and I don't want to put fertilizer and stuff down because of the dog and chickens.

I meant favorite swingset tractor blueprint... I have a swingset already.... not even remotely broken but PIC has outgrown it.

 

[Kiki]

I meant favorite swingset tractor blueprint... I have a swingset already.... not even remotely broken but PIC has outgrown it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/upcycled-swing-set-to-chicken-coop.72964/