Breeding Pens - Dumb Idea?

[Mosey2003]

So, I'm wanting to single mate two or three hens this year. I want to be able to mark their eggs, so obviously I need to keep each hen alone. I plan to breed them in my big barn stall where my male currently resides. Have an idea for how to do this and want to know if it sounds stupid or is worth the effort.

I was thinking I could get a bunch of 8 foot 2x2s and make 4x4 panels with chicken wire on them. Then zip tie them together to make three 4x4 pens. I'm thinking of making them individual panels so that I can easily store them when not in use, and they may have other uses eventually. Does this sound smart?

 

[Wezdin]

I dont see any flaws in this plan, just so the chickens wont fly out.

 

[ChickNanny13]

No such thing as a "dumb idea" ... Sound workable to me, depending on your financial situation, you could consider individual wire "dog" cages ... They then can be folded for storage and/or used as hospital cages in the future.

 

[Cyprus]

Sounds good to me, just make sure they can't fly out.

 

[Chickassan]

Sounds good to me, actually pretty similar to the brooder here. Panels are very handy. Zipties are kind of a pain, but they are cheap. Mine join with pins and hinges, but that was hubs doing my lazy butt would have ziptied.

 

[centrarchid]

I do similar with a 10 x 10 dog kennel which is a boot 4 times larger than it needs to be.

I have even been using a game camera to track when a given egg is laid.

 

[Mosey2003]

Excellent!

I always like to check, because often I have overlooked something or there is a better idea.

My friend actually has a giant wire dog crate that would work if I only wanted to do 2 hens, but I'd need another for 3. And I really want them big enough to accommodate the rooster being in there to service them too, so a crate would be small. I mean, I could put all three with him for a few days, then crate each one, but I kind of hate shuffling them around and making them unhappy, I need as many eggs from these girls as possible.

I can make enough panels to lay some on top too so no escaping.

 

[Mosey2003]

I figure it's just as economical as buying the puppy playpens or the like, since the 2x2s are ~$2 each and a 50' roll of wire is $19.99. $40 wouldn't get me even two little pens.

 

[ChickNanny13]

You're thinking like me

 

[centrarchid]

See below for images of one of my breeding pens.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-steps-in-hen-hatching.1233819/#post-19799495