How Do You............(question about multiple breeds) & BANTAMS

[snowydiamonds]

I've got panels of chain link fence since I've got dogs so I'm going to begin setting up the fencing for chicken runs and the panels are very easy to reconfigure to any shape of size whenever I want (except in the dead of winter when they get buried).

I've currently got two separate 6 steps by 9 steps (size 8 womens winter boots) and tall enough for me to walk inside and raise my arms in the air (the men are going to love this description!). Another small barn has to be moved to my property any time now that is twice that size and was going to be the goose housing but they seem to have buried 6 eggs to hide from me and forgotten about them becuz they are only tending to one egg which I'll know in a week if its hatched.

I'm taking the small barn and dividing down the middle for the RIR's on one side and the BO's on the other, separate runs. The geese will be housed in something smaller since there's only the two of them.

The coop the geese are in will be for the Blue lace Wyandotte banties I'm getting the end of the month and if I am still 4th in line for Jason's white Wyandotte banty eggs, they'll get the coop the RIR's are currently in, I'll just replace the nesting boxes w/smaller ones I've got prepared.

I've got a fair bit of outside painting to do so it all looks nice, too. I'll take pics as I start and till its finished. Am supposed to begin at noon, in one hour if the man who's dog I've watched all winter shows up. If he doesn't, I'm starting anyway and planning on doing most if not all by myself.

I started last night after work by getting a free big wooden box and taking it apart w/two hammers to reuse the wood and that's what I plan to use for chick tractors but only for summer use, not winter, as I begin moving the coops and fencing.

I also got a freebie box that is perfect for a lettuce box and my lettuce starters are ready for it so that's part of the plan, to also frame a green house on the deck, the south side of my son's house. He'll be coming home to major farming and construction at his house the end of the month!

(Take a look at the coop pages and everyone's personal pages for their coop pics and set ups)

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Wow...THANKS so much for all of the info!

I'd love to see pics of how your set up turns out!

 

[tnkinhunting]

I keep my pairs in wire rabbit cages with wooden floors and pine shavings - these are bantams and they have plenty of room - they have a nest - and roost and you can stack them one atop the other - this allows you to have many breeds and if you show, keep them separate and usually nice and clean. I have these pairs in a stall with florescent lighting - at the present time I have 9 pair and 5 cages with young chicks about 5-7 weeks old. So that's 14 cages - 2' x 2' x 18" (some taller)in a 12' x 12' stall. I have seen them stacked 4 cages high and 6 wide.

It is labor intensive, opening each cage and watering and feeding and cleaning and gathering eggs unless you let them set. But there is no doubt about purity.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Cool....unfortunately, I don't have a good place to put those cages & our winter temps get well below zero...but I may be able to get several small coops within one larger coop & do some small runs....

I have bantam sultans & that's it right now...but I'm thinking about doing some other kinds....

 

[yotetrapper]

Here's what I am planning. I have at this point 4 breeds I'm wanting pure eggs from, but this is only figured out for 2 breeds, so I got more figuring to do. I have a largish coop, probably about 10x12. Currently, it's one large coop and run. I'm thinking I'll split it down the middle. On one side, I'll put my 12 or so Americaunas with their roo. On the other side will be a mixed pen.

I also have a box I'm using as a super dooper brooder. 4x4x4 with a wood bottom 1/3 and the top 2/3s is wire. To this, I'll add on a nest box. Into this will go my gold laced cochin banties.

Now, the marans and silver laced cochin standards I've not figured out yet lol.

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

I didn't feel like reading all the way through so I might be repeating but heres my idea: just keep all your females together and all your cocks in seperate areas (if they aren't agressive you can keep some together). The you put the cock and the hen you want to breed together (in a different area) and wait. This way you can choose which rooster you want to breed to what hen.

 

[antiquebuff]

I have Bantam Cochins , Silkies, Top Hats, Sultans, Buff Japanese, Frizzles red and black. We are building houses and runs for each. It is taking a while , but we can mix a few until they are around 6 months old . We also, want to offer pure eggs for sale so we must keep them apart and we decided this would be the easy way. Plus we enjoy the building. We started with one house on the ground and the others are off the ground, nesting boxes to the outside and with a sand pit underneath and the runs connect to the next house. Each house is set back a little from the other and all runs connect. We learn every time we build one and it get easier as we go. The wire is our most expensive item because we use the tiny hard wire cloth al over because we have so many predators.
I hope this infor helps a little! Good Luck

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
Do you have any pics?

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
LOL Let me know what you come up with...I just can't decide on which breeds I want...there are too many options! Unforunately, hubby's put a limit on them...I only get 15 birds. I'm hoping to get him to change that to 15 chickens and 5 ducks? LOL

 

[antiquebuff]

Heather, I will try to get some photos this afternoon and post tonite if I can.