Hello from North Carolina :D

[Redyre Rotties]

Hello everyone, and I am so glad I have found this forum. I am a complete novice but am interested in some "back yard" chicken ranching.

Mainly for eggs.

I have an area that is chain link fenced, 4' on one side and 6' on the other, about 50 feet long and 8 feet wide. I was thinking of putting a covering across the top of this, and building some laying boxes and a shelter.

I will be exploring here to find out where I can buy layers in central NC. Now to get my HUSBAND to help me fix the enclosure for them.

A little about me, I'm 50, married, and a long time fancier, breeder, and exhibitor of Rottweilers. I live with my hubby and 3 dogs near Salisbury NC.

 

[NGT ANGL]

from Virginia!

 

[TaLani]

from Bryson City, NC!

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

Welcome from Rockwell

 

[Quack Shack]

Welcome from a neighboring county!

 

[ranchhand]

Well hiya and

from SC!

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida. Sounds like you've got a good start going there. Good luck, and so glad you joined us!

 

[Redyre Rotties]

Quote:
well, Mary, and others, you guys gotta help me out here.

Where would I get some laying hens? I would like to start with 10 or so, and I prefer not to start with little babies.

Any hints on where to go around here?

Second, is it possible to keep wings clipped so they don't fly over the fencing? Or must I top it?

Most things don't dare come near my fencing because of the dogs, but the dogs are not out through the night.

Thanks for the warm welcome from all you Carolinians.

 

[Quack Shack]

Hi there from Rowan Co. If you want some country laying girls, check the AM trade station or the Davidson Count Auction sales Wed AM. Gotta get there before 8 AM so you can see what is being offered and be ready to start bidding. I was fortunate that my first 7 standard laying girls were hand raised by a great guy in Reidsville. They lay regularly and I love them dearly.

I let my chicks free range during the day inside a fenced yard and then secure then inside their raised coops behind a fenced kennel formerly used for my dogs. I covered the top of the kennel with chicken wire and about 4 ft' around the inside from the bottom (keep my birds from hanging themselves). There's also a tarp over top of the kennel to keep out the rain and provide shade during the heat of the day. At night, the laying girls and the bantys all come back to the coop and wait for us to shut the gate and switch on the red light. The coops themselves were refurbed from surplus lumber, a dresser and wood fencing. The nesting boxes were cobbled from the dresser drawers spruced up with some custom mixed paint pint specials from Lowe's. You'll find all kinds of creative folks here who've used stuff that make you think, yeah, why didn't I think of that!

Not all my chickens can fly and when they do, they come back home again. I only clip my ducks' wings.

We've had some folks from our neck of the woods join recently and I'm thinking we may have the makings of a good swap come next Spring. You know you'll have to be adding to your flock by then. What are your thoughts?

 

[TaLani]

Redyre Rotties, have you tried the IWANNA paper or Craigslist??