Help me improve my flock?

[ShannonR]

2" x 4" welded wire not tough enough. The 2" x 4" livestock panels are tough enough to stop even determined goats, but much more work to cut and form into a pen. You could section off part of lot for pens were goats do not have access. We used to have hogs and horses near gamefowl area where two fences were employed; first kept livestock in their area, and second kept escaping livestock out of cock pen area.

The 2x4" livestock panels (hog panels?) Are pretty cost prohibitive for me at the moment. I need to catch and sell some animals before I do that. I could probably use the cheaper cattle panels and cover the holes in them with smaller fencing though... think that would work?

 

[centrarchid]

The 2x4" livestock panels (hog panels?) Are pretty cost prohibitive for me at the moment. I need to catch and sell some animals before I do that. I could probably use the cheaper cattle panels and cover the holes in them with smaller fencing though... think that would work?

For short-term, yes.

 

[Frog Bog]

A better description needed. Show pictures of how you confine your birds with items like roost and cover from elements.

Mine, when confined singly, are housed in 4' x 5' pens that are ate least 4 feet tall. Roost is a little over 3 feet above ground.
Pens are at least 4 feet apart unless some sort of partition is between them. I am one that like to move pens frequently so as to keep birds on grass and manage worm burden without as much use of de-wormers.

Tie-cords best reserved for situations where you have exceptional exclusion of predators or put them out only during day while predator exclusion is monitored.

It was advice for temporary housing. Did you not read that a Fire destroyed her infrastructure? Something fast and cheap until she can get her pens rebuilt.

 

[ShannonR]

It was advice for temporary housing. Did you not read that a Fire destroyed her infrastructure? Something fast and cheap until she can get her pens rebuilt.

No, it's okay... I don't mind at all. I could take pictures of what I've got, but every pen except the old pig kennel (which should hold chickens in it) needs some definite work. Some of the pens, the wire is still there but it is weakened by fire. Which would work temporarily, except.... goats. The stupid evil things.

The old pig kennel is about 6' by 20'. Covered in metal roofing with a dog house in it. No roost bars or nest box, but I could rig something up. It isn't near the water lines though, so would have to haul water up to it.

 

[centrarchid]

No, it's okay... I don't mind at all. I could take pictures of what I've got, but every pen except the old pig kennel (which should hold chickens in it) needs some definite work. Some of the pens, the wire is still there but it is weakened by fire. Which would work temporarily, except.... goats. The stupid evil things.

The old pig kennel is about 6' by 20'. Covered in metal roofing with a dog house in it. No roost bars or nest box, but I could rig something up. It isn't near the water lines though, so would have to haul water up to it.

Keeping gamefowl may require resources or budget you do not currently have, especially in light of the goats.

 

[ShannonR]

Keeping gamefowl may require resources or budget you do not currently have, especially in light of the goats.

Well, to be fair I started out with 5 hens and one rooster. Which were penned up when I got them. They reproduce faster than rabbits, though. And, they seem totally fine doing their own thing, have plenty of places to nest and shelter, all of that fun stuff. My original post was related to drastically reducing the numbers, and who to keep or not to keep. I'm really not looking to keep 15 separate pens full of these birds.

 

[centrarchid]

Hens and young can be real easy to keep as you have experienced, especially where the climate is mild. You are also seeing where the male side is more demanding and can get messy if you do not have the resources. You got basics in first couple of posts on easier selection criteria. I am penning last of my young stags now and also must get picky owing to limited resources needed for penning.

My first round involved just general health which knocks off maybe 25%. Then with this particular lot, color as I need certain types for what they will be used for in coming years. That knocks this round about 1/2 what I started with. Then I get real picky about what I think are good signs of vitality that are more than about weight. In the end only about one in ten hatched will get a pen for winter. Pullets getting culled pretty hard too, but a lot of those are going out to parties wanting eggs / broodies next spring.

 

[ShannonR]

Thank you, that's pretty helpful to me. What should I be looking for as far as retaining pullets for next year? My first priority of course is to get rid of a bunch of these stags, only have one chicken left in my freezer, time to replenish anyway. I do have one goat who has an appointment with my freezer as well.

 

[centrarchid]

Thank you, that's pretty helpful to me. What should I be looking for as far as retaining pullets for next year? My first priority of course is to get rid of a bunch of these stags, only have one chicken left in my freezer, time to replenish anyway. I do have one goat who has an appointment with my freezer as well.

It all depends on what you want the games for. If for show, then I would be looking at SOP for direction on color types that are recognized and select pullets in part based on that. Otherwise, just keep what you like.