Double Breeding Pen Help

ShannonsChimkens

Free Ranging
5 Years
Jan 4, 2020
2,222
14,308
556
Arlington Washington
Got a wild hair today... decided to use some scrap wood and fencing to put a breeding pen together. Then decided to make it two pens with a center divider. Wasn’t going to cover the whole thing but reminded myself we live in Western Washington. Luckily had some roofing material just hanging out in the carport. Nothing about this is fancy, more practical than anything. I will use material to cover the entire back, center or sides. Small tarp or something along those lines.

I’ve been outside for 7 hours and made some pretty decent progress. Was hoping to get it finished today, but ran into a brain block. How does one put a roost bar and nest box in this enclosure without adding too much more wood and weight? I have to be able to move it by hand due to it being too muddy for the tractor to drive through the chicken area.

The acre chicken area is fenced and surrounded by electric fencing. So no need for hardware cloth. Just need to keep the others out and them in. This wont be permanent living quarters either. Last time I separated a pair I felt bad that they didn’t get to free range with everyone lol

Any ideas? Maybe photos of your pen set up? Thank you!

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4’x4’ on each side. Will house 2 to 3 birds each.
 
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Have they been around any males?
You know it takes 3-4 weeks for sperm from 'un-chosen' males to clear out of the hens system.
oh wow, I thought it was only 2 weeks. glad I learned this now before breeding.
 
How does one put a roost bar and nest box in this enclosure without adding too much more wood and weight?

Roost bar straight across each section. Attach to the frame, or to the wire, depending on how strong the wire is. 2x2 lumber, 4 feet long, times two pens probaby won't add a lot of weight.

Nestbox can be a separate box that sits on the ground inside. Yes, you'll have to lift it out to move, but it does keep the pen itself lighter.

(Other solutions probably exist, but those are the first ones I can think of.)
 

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