Hi.
I'm still planning ...
I am thinking about "dog-proof" enclosing a large run maybe 30x40 that includes 10x 15 garden bed sections with smaller fences and a compost section, and then have a coop in one section with controlled gate access to the garden sections. And a larger horse/sheep pasture outside.
But I am confused about separation. It seems like on the one hand, geese and muscovies and ducks and chickens can all be pastured together. But do they need separate coops? Am I going to have to herd each kind into their own sleeping quarters (or only the ones whose eggs I want?)? And then do the babies need more separate areas?
My plan is two or three adult American Buff geese with goslings in the warm weather, and similar for the muscovies, then maybe six to ten chickens, Delaware or Jersey Giant. And someday, ducks too. Is a 10x15 section big enough for all that? Sooner or later they will get stuck in there for a few days for weather or something.
We have foxes, hawks and owls, and I found a big snakeskin. But very few mice! There are likely weasels, including least weasels, in the area. It's northern Virginia, so the climate is mild, but it does freeze for a few days occasionally. A three sided shelter would be fine for weather, with some extra shade.
Thanks for your insight!
I'm still planning ...
I am thinking about "dog-proof" enclosing a large run maybe 30x40 that includes 10x 15 garden bed sections with smaller fences and a compost section, and then have a coop in one section with controlled gate access to the garden sections. And a larger horse/sheep pasture outside.
But I am confused about separation. It seems like on the one hand, geese and muscovies and ducks and chickens can all be pastured together. But do they need separate coops? Am I going to have to herd each kind into their own sleeping quarters (or only the ones whose eggs I want?)? And then do the babies need more separate areas?
My plan is two or three adult American Buff geese with goslings in the warm weather, and similar for the muscovies, then maybe six to ten chickens, Delaware or Jersey Giant. And someday, ducks too. Is a 10x15 section big enough for all that? Sooner or later they will get stuck in there for a few days for weather or something.
We have foxes, hawks and owls, and I found a big snakeskin. But very few mice! There are likely weasels, including least weasels, in the area. It's northern Virginia, so the climate is mild, but it does freeze for a few days occasionally. A three sided shelter would be fine for weather, with some extra shade.
Thanks for your insight!
