BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[cyborg]

The side walls are 10 foot X 6 foot chain link fence panels, sold by Tractor Supply for dog kennels. Wired to the top of those, I make 10 foot X 4 foot frames from 2 X 4's and cover them with 4 foot welded wire fencing. The roofs are 10 X 20 carports made by Shelter Logic, and also sold by Tractor Supply. I cover the inside of the walls with that 3 foot green plastic poultry netting to keep chicks inside, otherwise, they can go through the chain link like grease through a goose. I cover some sections of the outside walls with tarps for wind protection, and other areas with shade cloth for sun protection.
It might be a little overkill, but around here, I am plagued with bobcats, coyotes, hawks, and owls. Since I first went with this setup, I haven't lost a single chicken to predators.


That was a wicked wind & damage ...... hope you and your birds were ok .

Your set-up is beautiful !!!
What material are you using on the roofs of your areas ?
I love the white color / does it help with the heat ?
Center looks solid topped , but (?) lol .

 

[cyborg]

Hmmm.... something went screwy with that post, it was supposed to be a quote and answer @doubleleft.

Something I forgot to mention, the whole chicken palace is 30 feet X 40 feet, and the interior is divided into 4ea 10 X 15 pens, and 2ea 10 X 30 pens. Later today, will post some pics of the interior welded wire roof panels.

 

[Beer can]

New way to tag chickens? These 'tag' won't fall off, weird...
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/...s-shed-light-on-bird-flu-fight/?intcmp=hphz02

 

[cyborg]

New way to tag chickens? These 'tag' won't fall off, weird...
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/...s-shed-light-on-bird-flu-fight/?intcmp=hphz02

hmm... I raise my own chickens to avoid GMO's, this sounds like a couple steps backwards??

 

[hellbender]

New way to tag chickens? These 'tag' won't fall off, weird...
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/...s-shed-light-on-bird-flu-fight/?intcmp=hphz02

The first sentence stopped me dead in my tracks.. I don't want to eat anything that glows in the dark. I can get at Walmart anytime with all the irradiated food stuffs they got !

 

[Beer can]

hmm... I raise my own chickens to avoid GMO's, this sounds like a couple steps backwards??

I wasn't condoning it. 'They' think it is a step forward.
I think 'they' think it is a easy way out.
I believe the correct step would to breed for resistance, develop a vaccine maybe, biosecurity prevention research, eradicate it in the wild flocks, hitting it at it's source...
And the whole 'glow in the dark' part is just creepy...

 

[cyborg]

OK, here are some pics of the interior welded wire roofs ( predator protection). The white tarp roofs are for rain and sun protection.

The center and back sections are presently unprotected, that windstorm cost me! I need to replace the interior and exterior roofs as soon as finances allow.

This is Bigfoot, a year old Jersey Giant rooster....

and these are nesting boxes made from 18 gallon plastic storage boxes.....

 

[Our Roost]

Boy!, climate differences really have a major impact on how we manage and construct our chicken dwellings.

You talk wind storms and we talk snow and cold weather during the winter months. You build fences and we construct bomb shelters! Jokingly of course. Nice setup!

 

[cyborg]

Boy!, climate differences really have a major impact on how we manage and construct our chicken dwellings. You talk wind storms and we talk snow and cold weather during the winter months. You build fences and we construct bomb shelters! Jokingly of course. Nice setup!

Where I live (southeast Arizona), the major problem is heat (spring and early summer), monsoon microburst storms in late summer. One of these microbursts is responsible for the damage to the chicken palace. We might get snow once in a blue moon, and they let the kids out of school to see it. During the winter, it is cold enough, but too dry for snow.

 

[gjensen]

Just finished putting 270 odd bails of alfalfa in the barn. This is the most I've ever had to pay for it and I suspect there is no chance of the price going down any time soon. At least this is very high quality goods and the bales average 65 to 70 pounds. Couldn't have had a better day to get it delivered.

Chickens will be eating some chopped alfalfa this winter. It's got too much BANG for them this time of year, even if they would eat it.

Edit to correct spelling...getting older and dumber!!!

Finely ground leaf meal, free fed to the birds in the winter, is a good supplement. Separate from their main feed, they will not eat too much or too little.