Discussion on Breeding up Hatchery Quality Birds.

[CelticOaksFarm]

Here is a better picture

 

[Kevin565]

Do you have any issues with them in Winter? In summer the open concept works amazing in the extreme heat but I'm not sure how easily they would stay warm in cold temps. I think next year I'll be making a few raised pens for some of the smaller birds.

 

[Kevin565]

Love the set up! It's perfect for bantam sized birds.

Here is a better picture

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

We are in FL so never in snow or extreme cold. Same concept can be built with an enclosed back end and access door to block wind and cold with a solid floor. Many northern breeders/keepers of calls use this same pen but with a house in place of the open 3 sided shelter.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

We put all ducklings into these raised pens at 3 days old now that we don't have the call ducks in them. Each pen has a heat lamp for early hatchlings (February and March). A pile of hay in the back shelter and a lid over the pool until they get bigger. Then we place two paver bricks in the pools as steps out.

 

[Kevin565]

We are in FL so never in snow or extreme cold. Same concept can be built with an enclosed back end and access door to block wind and cold with a solid floor. Many northern breeders/keepers of calls use this same pen but with a house in place of the open 3 sided shelter.

That's defiantly a workable solution to it.

We put all ducklings into these raised pens at 3 days old now that we don't have the call ducks in them. Each pen has a heat lamp for early hatchlings (February and March). A pile of hay in the back shelter and a lid over the pool until they get bigger. Then we place two paver bricks in the pools as steps out.

That sounds like a excellent brooding alternative! Brooding is by far my least favorite aspect of raising birds. You haven't had any issues with bumblefoot from raising them on wire have you?

 

[aoxa]

Here is a better picture

That is one nice setup! Love the little pools you incorporated

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Kevin, no because we offer a spot to get off the wire. Rabbit cage pull out pans with bedding or hay works well in them. if you build a house in the rear just make a solid floor and make a rear door to open and collect eggs and clean out the bedding through.

Aoxa thanks, those are cement mixing pans found in two sizes at lowes and home depot. Those pictured are the smaller size. They lift up from below to be dumped, rinsed and refilled daily.

 

[Kevin565]

Kevin, no because we offer a spot to get off the wire. Rabbit cage pull out pans with bedding or hay works well in them. if you build a house in the rear just make a solid floor and make a rear door to open and collect eggs and clean out the bedding through.
Aoxa thanks, those are cement mixing pans found in two sizes at lowes and home depot. Those pictured are the smaller size. They lift up from below to be dumped, rinsed and refilled daily.

As long as there's no leg or foot issues I'll defiantly be trying to raise them on wire next year. The odor they produce is starting to get too much for me to brood indoors anymore.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

we don't keep any birds inside past 3 days. By three days issues would have shown up and they are eating fine and ready to go out. As I said as long as they have a spot to get off wire they are happy to lounge in the sun beams and snuggle up under the lamps at night.

Goslings go out to brooder pens in our feed house at day 3 and are out on grass all day in playpens we set up.

With the raised pens make clean out as easy as possible. Large swinging doors that a wheel barrow fits under so you can use a garden hoe to scrape the inside clean. Roll away and dump for compost. A good hose out, rebed and everyone is good. Lids over the pools act a great table for waters to sit on until they are big enough for pools to open full time. Simple plywood or other flat item that covers the opening is all you need.