FLORIDA!!!!!ALWAYS SUNNY SIDE UP!!!

[itsjustjen]

kindof....but you are runnning a risk with coons and possums mostly. Do you have a dog crate? could they fit in the dog crate? That is my go to transitional coop for new chickens. If you had a LARGE dog crate you could fit a lot in there

I have a dog crate big enough for a saint bernard but my ESS chewed a hole in the welded wire.....still haven't figured out HOW lmao.

 

[crossgirl]

ArNo, no barn or stalls. Just a lean-to we put up to provide shade in our treeless pasture. Right now, as I said, I am mulling the idea over as there are several factors to condsider at the current moment. Heat being the main concern. I worry if I make a tradtional coop and run as I have had previous the chickens will overheat. Any inclosed space will heat up quickly at my house. I'd like to have a 3 sided, off the ground, covered nesting area for the chickens but that's as far asa "coop" as I'd prefer. I'd also like to add on a swinging "wall" that can be shut in the really cold winter months but open in the summer. As I said before, I have tons of scrap wood laying around and a small section of chicken wire from last year when we had birds in SC until we relocated here to FL. I am powertool handicap to put it kindly. The flies are becoming a real annoyance and I hope to try and bring their love of my back porch under control, hence why I'd love free range birds.

I'm still not sure what your current arrangement is. You have chickens on your porch. Are they confined in anything?

You can have free range birds but they will need somewhere safe, as in enclosed, to roost at night.. You may loose birds to day time predators but that is a risk you'll have to decide if you're willing to take for the sake of the birds being able to get out of the heat. Plenty of people have chickens roosting in trees, sans coop but it's not recommended. Again, you have to decide if it's worth the risk. It also makes egg collecting a chore when your birds are semi wild and has the potential for being a nuisance to any neighbors.

As for flies, try a fan blowing across the porch. And there are fly traps and bait. If your chickens are confined somehow, try changing the bedding daily, keep things dry, especially the feed.

 

[itsjustjen]

No, you misunderstand. I do not have chickens, I want chickens. I am trying to figure out how to keep them safe yet give them free rein of the yard and pasture to be my bug control.

 

[welasharon]

No, you misunderstand. I do not have chickens, I want chickens. I am trying to figure out how to keep them safe yet give them free rein of the yard and pasture to be my bug control.

If you want to keep them safe forget the chicken wire. It is useless. I built open air pens that are covered on top and have hardware cloth sides. I close them in at night and let them out in the morning. There are some breeds that do better than others at helping to keep themselves safer at free ranging. Don't get polish LOL they can't see very well!

 

[BaileysChickens]

In okeechobee. Breeding several types of purebred large fowl and bantam chickens.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

A dog kennel with a shade awning would be perfect for what you are describing. I'm using these as my run. There are 7 panels 10 x 10 x 6 ft tall. 2 of the panels have gaits. You don't have to build it that big. They are easy to unclamp and move as needed. Best of all except for the cover I put this together by myself. I'm 5 ft tall and 100 lbs. so if I can do it anybody can.



As far as breeds. I would suggest Brown Leghorn, good egg layer, or a Old English Game Bird. Both are very well adapted to free ranging and avoiding predators.

 

[BaileysChickens]

Fuzzy butts I was at your house the other day for the swap sold you some old English.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

In okeechobee. Breeding several types of purebred large fowl and bantam chickens.

from Lake Wales. Glad you found us.

 

[BaileysChickens]

Did more people show up to the swap fuzzy

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

Did more people show up to the swap fuzzy

No that was about it. It was just too hot. You should have stayed for the cook out it was awesome. The chicks are doing fine and get along great with the others. Thank you And