ChickyChickyGirl
Chirping
- Jun 27, 2018
- 52
- 57
- 66
Hello Chicken Experts!
I’ve converted an old quasi-barn, with two cinder block stalls, into two predator proof coops.
#1 - 6’x8’
#2 - 20’x8’, I finished this last weekend. I’m proud of the nesting boxes I made, although the actual boxes need to be installed.
Here is the barn, with the existing 20’ x 50’ fenced dog run on the left.
Currently, the chickens are free ranging during the day in a fenced pasture, maybe .75 acres. Sometimes they wander outside the yard but I’m trying to cut back bc they poop on my deck begging for blueberries. However, I’ve lost some due to predators, so I’d like a better long term solution.
Option #1: get e-fences and build chicken tractors to move around sloped pasture.
Option #2: do something with the large dog run.
This is where I need help. What do I do for up to 20 chickens? Currently I have 6 one year olds, 4 three month olds and 11 baby chicks (males will be culled) in my bath tub.
Note that I travel for work monthly, so i need to be able to leave them for a few days alone. I have a neighbor who can check on them for longer trips.
Here are photos of the run.
Standing at the barn corner, looking downhill. It’s sloped, btw.
Looking at the bottom corner, looking across the run.
Standing st the back of the barn, looking down at area next to barn, then the run (and old shed, then house). I’d have to build a walkway from the barn coop to the run, or just build a new coop in the run next year so i can make a She-cave out of the barn. Let’s assume the cinder blocks won’t collapse any more.
I’d appreciate links to designs that might work. Thank you!!
I’ve converted an old quasi-barn, with two cinder block stalls, into two predator proof coops.
#1 - 6’x8’
#2 - 20’x8’, I finished this last weekend. I’m proud of the nesting boxes I made, although the actual boxes need to be installed.
Here is the barn, with the existing 20’ x 50’ fenced dog run on the left.
Currently, the chickens are free ranging during the day in a fenced pasture, maybe .75 acres. Sometimes they wander outside the yard but I’m trying to cut back bc they poop on my deck begging for blueberries. However, I’ve lost some due to predators, so I’d like a better long term solution.
Option #1: get e-fences and build chicken tractors to move around sloped pasture.
Option #2: do something with the large dog run.
This is where I need help. What do I do for up to 20 chickens? Currently I have 6 one year olds, 4 three month olds and 11 baby chicks (males will be culled) in my bath tub.
Note that I travel for work monthly, so i need to be able to leave them for a few days alone. I have a neighbor who can check on them for longer trips.
Here are photos of the run.
Standing at the barn corner, looking downhill. It’s sloped, btw.
Looking at the bottom corner, looking across the run.
Standing st the back of the barn, looking down at area next to barn, then the run (and old shed, then house). I’d have to build a walkway from the barn coop to the run, or just build a new coop in the run next year so i can make a She-cave out of the barn. Let’s assume the cinder blocks won’t collapse any more.
I’d appreciate links to designs that might work. Thank you!!
