Hi All!
So I am in chicken panic mode. Two weeks ago, my father-in-law shows up to my house (unannounced) with three Ameraucana and one Buff Orpington (from what I was told by a friend that raises chickens). All four are laying eggs!
We are in an area with a large coyote population, lots of snakes, hawks, some eagles, at least one Great Horned owl, and a lot of other predators. So, we are currently building out a new sheltered run for them using an old Shelterlogic "garage in a box" (10x10). The plan is walk through human doors in the ends with a small door for the chickens to go in a larger run/free range when we are home. We have 1/2" hardware cloth landscape stapled to the ground for 24" around the base of the run, and three feet up each side of the shelter. I set the base on four inch PVC piping to allow me to use it as a tractor (partly because any coop or covered run larger than 20 sqft requires building plans, a permit, and will be taxed in my area). Using PVC to prevent rot, and is pretty forgiving on the rocky ground here in southern Rhode Island.
In the run, I am setting up a solar light on a timer to increase egg production for winter. and setting up large waterers and feeders so I don't have to be refilling them twice a day like I am now.
While I feel I have the shelter under control, I have no idea what I am doing with anything else! I am told I have some pretty hardy birds, but what temperature would they need additional heating in the shelter (below 30 or 0)? What is a problematic temperature variation during the day (enclosed tents can get hot even in cold weather). Any ideas of how to keep them from getting bored? Any recommended references for medical information if they are sick?
Thanks!
Jay in Rhode Island
So I am in chicken panic mode. Two weeks ago, my father-in-law shows up to my house (unannounced) with three Ameraucana and one Buff Orpington (from what I was told by a friend that raises chickens). All four are laying eggs!
We are in an area with a large coyote population, lots of snakes, hawks, some eagles, at least one Great Horned owl, and a lot of other predators. So, we are currently building out a new sheltered run for them using an old Shelterlogic "garage in a box" (10x10). The plan is walk through human doors in the ends with a small door for the chickens to go in a larger run/free range when we are home. We have 1/2" hardware cloth landscape stapled to the ground for 24" around the base of the run, and three feet up each side of the shelter. I set the base on four inch PVC piping to allow me to use it as a tractor (partly because any coop or covered run larger than 20 sqft requires building plans, a permit, and will be taxed in my area). Using PVC to prevent rot, and is pretty forgiving on the rocky ground here in southern Rhode Island.
In the run, I am setting up a solar light on a timer to increase egg production for winter. and setting up large waterers and feeders so I don't have to be refilling them twice a day like I am now.
While I feel I have the shelter under control, I have no idea what I am doing with anything else! I am told I have some pretty hardy birds, but what temperature would they need additional heating in the shelter (below 30 or 0)? What is a problematic temperature variation during the day (enclosed tents can get hot even in cold weather). Any ideas of how to keep them from getting bored? Any recommended references for medical information if they are sick?
Thanks!
Jay in Rhode Island
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