- May 11, 2014
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This is my first experience raising chickens. I ordered the chicks from a highly recommended hatchery. I researched breeds and spoke with locals about breeds that do well in my area. I purchased six Amercaunas and six Wellsummers. Colored eggs command a higher price in my neighborhood. I hired locals to mill the lumber and build the coop. I bought a 10' by 10' AKC dog Kennel and attached the two side pieces to the coop, giving me 145' of chicken run. I covered the entire kennel in 1/2 welded wire, including a welded wire apron around the bottom to discouraged predators from digging under. Although this is my first experience raising chickens, I'm no stranger to birds. I used to rehab injured or sick raptors for a rescue group. I attended many Zoonotic classes where I learned about diseases and parasites, how to treat them and prevent cross contamination. I had a microscope and would examine droppings for signs of Coccidia, quarantine and treat the infected bird. My background in microbiology was a huge help! I had a huge flight cage on my former property which I had to clean and disinfect! I was licensed by fish and game to do so. I also raised pigeons for 7 years at a later date. I've had cockatiels, finches and love birds in the past. It has been nine years since I've had any feathered friends under my care. It makes sense to me to raise chickens. They're less work then my previous experiences with birds and they give you tasty eggs! My chicks were hatched on April Fools day and I feel like a fool for spending so much money on my coop and chicken run! I plan on letting the chickens free range when they get a little older. I built an automatic door for my coop and the chickens have figured out that they need to be in the coop by dark or they get shut in the run which is fairly predator proof. I live in the woods, so the Eagles don't have a good landing spot when my chickens are ready to free range during daylight hours. I'll see how this free range stuff goes.
and Welcome To BYC! What a lovely coop/run set up! Good luck with your flock!
