I have never owned a chicken. There I said it.....
Your comments are greatly encouraged.
I am preparing an area totaling one acre into three irrigated pastures. I plan to have my fenced and stationary coop in the center of the three pastures. I am planning for approximately a dozen chickens and two goats. The intent is to rotate the chickens and goat through the pastures.
I plan to feed the chickens very little as I believe the quality of the eggs will be far superior if the chickens are truly free range. Here in coastal San Diego with a little irrigation the pastures will stay green year round. In addition to what they find on their own, they will get all the snails we harvest from the orchard and kitchen scraps. Texas Grass Fed Meats feeds their laying hens alfalfa pellets only when seasonal pressure limits the food supply and I plan to follow their practice.
Questions:
1) I am planning electric fence for the goats who will share the area. Will this harm the chickens or will they quickly understand the wires and stay away?
2) Is chicken wire for the first 24" with the electrified wire above up to 42" enough to keep the chickens in their pasture section with only the occasional escapee?
3) Is a dozen chickens too many for rotation on an acre? Perhaps fewer competing for food would make for happier healthier chickens.
Thanks again for your comments.
Your comments are greatly encouraged.

I am preparing an area totaling one acre into three irrigated pastures. I plan to have my fenced and stationary coop in the center of the three pastures. I am planning for approximately a dozen chickens and two goats. The intent is to rotate the chickens and goat through the pastures.
I plan to feed the chickens very little as I believe the quality of the eggs will be far superior if the chickens are truly free range. Here in coastal San Diego with a little irrigation the pastures will stay green year round. In addition to what they find on their own, they will get all the snails we harvest from the orchard and kitchen scraps. Texas Grass Fed Meats feeds their laying hens alfalfa pellets only when seasonal pressure limits the food supply and I plan to follow their practice.
Questions:
1) I am planning electric fence for the goats who will share the area. Will this harm the chickens or will they quickly understand the wires and stay away?
2) Is chicken wire for the first 24" with the electrified wire above up to 42" enough to keep the chickens in their pasture section with only the occasional escapee?
3) Is a dozen chickens too many for rotation on an acre? Perhaps fewer competing for food would make for happier healthier chickens.
Thanks again for your comments.