Breeding Pens

[Goose and Fig]

Where we are- lumber is cheaper to come by than fencing. I built my LF coops kind of big, and during breeding/hatching season I rotate free-ranging. Once it gets really hot they are all out at the same time. It worked out well for me having just a few breeds & colors, but I need a re-do soon too.

If I would have known that I was going to get so into the birds, I would have built one huge barn and sectioned it all off inside. Easier to take care of, I think.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
That is kinda what I did.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=31282-breeder-barn-pens

 

[Megs]

WOW, amazing setup photos! im very jelouse!! hopefully come september i will be able to chime in with some nice pens of my own. I love my current 10X10 breeding pens but im adding more (of course

chickens are so addicting) for next years new breeders. i got some good ideas from this thread! im thinking ill have to invest extra $ in more roofing, id love the whole runs to be covered, it rains a lot in BC.

 

[cpartist]

Quote:
Are you kidding? These are wonderful! I absolutely love your set up! Thanks so much for sharing them with us! I would love to see more pictures of them.

Thanks Kathy

. It's designed to be low maintenance, but I'm still spending close to 2 hours a day out there

. I do have mixed ages in several pens, so I have several extra
feeders and waterers scattered around to make sure the little ones all get a chance to eat and drink. When everyone is older, and all the same size, I'll be able to rely on just the
auto waterers and large hanging feeders. I do spend a ridiculous amount of time on poo removal. I even scoop up clumps in the runs almost every day. I end up with a five gallon bucket
of shavings/poo a day...but I haven't had to buy fertilizer in a while.

Anyway, here are some more pics, since you asked

:

This shows the side opening to access the top coop and below it storage, and the back door for the bottom coop access. Four coops have storage, the other 2 have full 4' x 4' bottoms,
and these are great for the babies who spend more time in there under the heat lamp. Maybe you can see here by looking at the top framing how the doors are angled which is the key to
how this all fits together.

Here is a front coop view...nothing fancy here, we cobbled the ramps from scrap wood and didn't bother with treads as they mostly hop up and down from near the top anyway.
They have ventilation cutouts in the top, which we didn't bother to cover with wire inside the pen, but we need to, a few of the juvies on the left side insist on roosting there

.
Can't be good for their feet and kinda defeats the ventilation thing.

This is one of the end units, with two roosts and exterior nest boxes. You can sort of see the framing for the pull out floor which sits on 2"x4" tracks.
They are kind of heavy and awkward and I have to remove the hanging feeders below to pull out, so as I've said I don't pull them out every day, I use the side access doors.
I'm glad for them though, when I do a total cleanout. I can hose them down and let them dry in the sun before adding fresh shavings.

Here's a shot of an end unit with the bump out nests. Eggs are accessible though a bolted door cutout.
This shot was taken when my whole Ameraucana pen went broody...I know that black one is a Marans

.
She only lays a #5 color egg, so now she makes Olive Eggers. Yep, she was broody too.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Are you kidding? These are wonderful! I absolutely love your set up! Thanks so much for sharing them with us! I would love to see more pictures of them.

Thanks Kathy

. It's designed to be low maintenance, but I'm still spending close to 2 hours a day out there

.

Thanks for the pictures! I really like your set up. I know what you mean about spending 2 hours a day doing chores! I do that, too! I would like to have an automated watering system to cut down on the time, and I need to figure a better feeder system, as well. I am constantly feeding fresh feed and watering! OR..... I could cut down on the number of chickens I have!

 

[Megs]

Quote:
MADNESS! lol, never less chickens! But seriously, i could do with less as well, no auto waterers for me, im re-filling 1 gal waterers daily in 10 pens

maybe one day ill install the auto watering system i want.