Hi all! Been wandering around here for about a week now and haven't gotten around to introducing myself. My real name is Amy. I'm 31. Lost my job and am now back to living with my mother and grandmother. Grandma owns a 40 acre ranch we're trying to fix up after an uncle destroyed it and I've been informed (31 and they still treat me like I'm 15.
) that I may have some chickens. We tried this year and recently lost all but 2 of 18 chickens and 2 turkeys to a bear. My sole remaining hen is an Americana and I picked up a Black Tailed White Japanese bantam rooster for free at my local feed store. He's a little piece of snot most of the time and hates being handled. So I've named him Scrooge. We're going to be moving back into town for winter and I'm still working on convincing them to let me keep the two, since my town doesn't seem to have any regulations against having chickens. If I can't, they go to the stew pot, which I would rather not do, at least for the roo. He's so small, there's no meat on him. Not really worth killing him.
Next year when we come back up here, I'm getting a large mixed flock for meat and eggs. 6 RIR hens, 6 Speckled Sussex, 6 Jersey Giants, 6 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 6 Dark Brahmas, and 6 Silver Penciled Rocks. Oh, and 1 Pheonix rooster, which my mom wants for my sister's kids to raise and show at our Fair.
We've looked over the place and found a good spot for a coop and run. The coop will be only 8' x 6' but since they'll be out free-ranging during the day that shouldn't matter so much as long as there are enough perches and nesting boxes for everyone. The run will be huge, 23' x 25', and if I can train them right, I may even let them out of that to wander the property. The only thing that concerns me is that hardware cloth is hideously expensive for such a large run and I can't seem to find chicken wire in rolls 5' tall that are better than 20 guage. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I might find heavier gauge wire?
Next year when we come back up here, I'm getting a large mixed flock for meat and eggs. 6 RIR hens, 6 Speckled Sussex, 6 Jersey Giants, 6 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 6 Dark Brahmas, and 6 Silver Penciled Rocks. Oh, and 1 Pheonix rooster, which my mom wants for my sister's kids to raise and show at our Fair.
We've looked over the place and found a good spot for a coop and run. The coop will be only 8' x 6' but since they'll be out free-ranging during the day that shouldn't matter so much as long as there are enough perches and nesting boxes for everyone. The run will be huge, 23' x 25', and if I can train them right, I may even let them out of that to wander the property. The only thing that concerns me is that hardware cloth is hideously expensive for such a large run and I can't seem to find chicken wire in rolls 5' tall that are better than 20 guage. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I might find heavier gauge wire?
& 
from Alabama. Glad you joined us. In almost the same boat as you, I'm almost 29 and my mother still sees me as a 12 yr old. I don't suppose that'll ever change lol . Good luck with all of your plans 
