Arkansas folks speak up.........

[Tala]

I did it while I was unemployed

but I also did a lot of trading and bartering at the scrap yard, and you might not have that luxury.

 

[verycherry]

I've been self employed for about 5 or 6 years now so that I could be with my 3 kids as much as possible, but I'm just not making ends meet anymore since the ex isn't doing his part, so I'm looking for a job. Just haven't found anything and am getting pretty discouraged.

I saw your page and like what you did with your coop. I did some similar things when building my coops....used tin etc... I used some welded wire from another part of the yard on one part of the fence. I have some 5 foot tall chain link fence I traded for recently, but no posts or gate yet, but it won't be enough. The exsisting 4 foot tall fence is huge. I may have to reduce the size A LOT!

By the way, do you remember how much that 6 foot gate cost?

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Yes. It was the only thing (besides nails and hardware stuff) that I had to buy new. It was a PRICY $55 but I figured it would be worth it in the long run.

 

[verycherry]

You're right about it being worth it in the long run. You never can be too safe, and $55 isn't really too bad considering the strength. I paid $45 I believe for my 4 foot high dog gate, so I don't think you paid too much at all. You might want to go around the bottom with hardware cloth though. I'd like to find a good used gate like that.

Here are some pics of the run and pens I built earlier in the year. I think it's pretty safe, probably safer than most. The run is 6 foot high welded wire and goes all the way behind my barn, and in most places is attached to the wood cattle run you see there, so it's really strong and secure.

I made a door at each end of the run out of 1x4's and welded wire, as well as the two doors for the pens, and one for the front of the coop.

I plan to cover it all too so nothing can climb over, but haven't gotten that done yet. I need to before winter that's for sure! There are going to be some hungry critters out there!

Any preditor that might climb over or manage to dig underneath during the night, will find this between him and the chickens. All this welded wire and hardware cloth you see here is concreted into the ground about a foot. The tin on the side is also in the ground about 8 inches, and I have some welded wire fencing slightly buried horizontally on the ground in front of that.

And any preditor trying to get in from the front, has to get through two doors (this door and the pen doors) to get to the chickens locked inside. The first door has a piece of plywood buried underneath to keep something from digging under. I also have dogs to warn me when something comes up in the yard, so hopefully I'd have enough time to do something before it could get past both doors. I'm mainly just worried about bobcats, but we don't see too many around here, and I think the dogs keep them from coming too close. Let's hope anyway!

I'd LOVE to be able to have another set up just like this one for the chickens on the other side of the coop, but that much wire and lumber really set me back, so I have to hold off for now, but it's next on my to-do list. Actually, their coop itself is very secure, but the run is what needs work, so the past few days I've had to leave those birds looked inside while I'm not home just in case that pitbull comes back.....and I just hate that. I'm still scrounging around for used materials to help cut costs as much as possible, but I doubt I'll find any used 6 foot welded wire, and that stuff is high! I was lucky to get that 5 foot tall chain link, but ufortunately theres not a lot of it.

And here I am giving everyone their goodnight hug, lol! I sure hope this set up is as safe as I think it is because I do love my babies! So far, knock on wood, it's worked well.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Well, actually I have two 4ft chainlink walk gates around the yard ---- Picked them up at the scrap yard for $2/each in perfecly usable condition. So yes, I think $55 was a LOT!!!! Darn thing isn't even square. I hung it up and the post and hinges are as plumb as I could get, but it doesn't hang right. I'm gonna hafta tweak it some more before it really works properly and I'm a bit annoyed about that. It doesn't look so bad that you notice it right off, but it doesn't hang/swing right either.

 

[urban dreamer]

Seems like everyone has building feaver? We have begun to build a more perminate chicken coop. We got a building permit and the base of the run done yesterday. Im taking this one slow because I want to get it done right. I could see my breath this morning so I am eager to get this going. Our new coop is going to be 8 wide x 8 long x 6 tall. Lots of room for the girls and me too. Im happy I will be able to stand in this one. I think they will really enjoy all that room and with the coop being off the ground this time, they will be dry.

Hot Springs was fun ya'll but now Im terribly sick. I think it was something I ate.

 

[Jarhead]

Hey Very Cherry guess what I found at walgreens. A Jelly Belly jello called very cherry. As soon as I saw it I chuckled

Why does everything remind me of chickens or chicken people? Are you going to the meetup, and do you still want that BR hen? She is still yours if you want her. She lays well, just about an egg a day even in the winter. She is also sweet and gentle and likes to be held.

urban dreamer - You actually went and got a building permit! Only thing I got one for was the add on to our house. I got to know one the inspector, he will even stop by when he sees me outside now just to say hi. He said they really only care if it is commercial or something for people use. So I don't even bother now, if I did I would be down there all the time since I am always building something

By the way when you get done with the coop don't forget we have a couple of girls for you. Lots to choose from right now, in the brooder we have EEs, Cochins, Cochin hybrids, Egyptian Fayoumis, and gold laced Polish. By the time you are done they should be a older and ready to go outside. There are 14, which is way too many for us to add to the flock, so we have extras

Sorry you are sick

 

[verycherry]

Jarhead, if I'm not mistaken, Jello used to have a flavor called Very Cherry years ago, when I was small. I don't eat jello often, so they may still call it that. You should try that Jelly Belly one, anything called Very Cherry has to be good, lol! If you know you guys are coming for sure, and can bring the hen, I'll make a point to come. I was thinking of backing out, since it's so far, but I would like to go and see everyone.

Are we going to be able to sell any chickens there? I read something about not getting them out of our cars....so I'm not sure if I should bring any to sell or not.

I have some EE pairs I need to sell....some are almost at point of lay! I really wanted to keep the females, but I think the only way I'm going to be able to sell the boys is if I let a girl go with each one. Should I bother bringing them?

 

[verycherry]

Well, actually I have two 4ft chainlink walk gates around the yard ---- Picked them up at the scrap yard for $2/each in perfecly usable condition. So yes, I think $55 was a LOT!!!! Darn thing isn't even square. I hung it up and the post and hinges are as plumb as I could get, but it doesn't hang right. I'm gonna hafta tweak it some more before it really works properly and I'm a bit annoyed about that. It doesn't look so bad that you notice it right off, but it doesn't hang/swing right either.

Whoa! That IS quite a difference! You got a steal at $2 a piece for those gates! I'm going to have to call around to see where the nearest scrap yard is, lol!

Sorry your gate isn't hanging right. Maybe they'll exchange it for another one.​

 

[Jarhead]

Yes we can swap birds in the parking lot of the store right outside the park, but they have to stay in the vehicle while inside the park.
Here is a link to the meetup with info:
http://www.meetup.com/ArkansasBackyardPoultry/messages/boards/thread/7765252/30