Infrastructure & cedar sourcing

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Chickens will not get rid of the moles. A terrier would, but then of course you'd have bigger holes in your yard.

 

[Melky]

Hi yall! In Independence, KY & planning for a flock sometime later this year or next. Trying to get infrastructure in place first -- greenhouse, garden with raised beds, temporary or permanent netting to protect garden (probably poultry netting so it can be dual purpose later on when we do have chickens), compost system, and then a mobile coop. On about 1/4 acre, with half of that backyard (in a suburb though we back up to deep woods). I already have a three-bin compost system built but need to line it with hardware cloth to keep out the raccoons! Got a nice drop of woodchips two weeks back & moving that to the backyard at this point. Next step -- raised bed construction, filling with local compost (I don't have any of my own yet)/coconut coir or peat, & then determining how to protect the garden area from wildlife. Plan to have a mobile chicken coop that I can move around the rest of the backyard & into the garden space once winter comes back around. As for raised bed & coop construction, really wanna use cedar. Having a difficult time finding cedar locally milled (figured that would be more cost effective option for cedar?). Anyone in the NKY/Cincinnati area have tips on where to look for cedar? Also, would having chickens get the moles out of my yard? Thanks!

Not unless you have on in your yard to chop down. Cedar is not recommended also for chickens. Just pine or other wood. Never use cedar chips in run either. Just FYI! I love it, I’m in Edgewood Ky. Hello Neighbor! Welcome to BYC! I use grow cloth over my gardens white from gardeners supply under hoops and cheaper. It allows sun and rain through. Just another thought. Love that your so close.

 

[Melky]

Need 19g 1/2 inch hardware cloth for screening to predator proof and 2 ft apron below coop and run to prevent digging predators. I also put predator lights like nightguard on my coop facing the woods. They are solar and chase off predators. I also have a papitese dog that chases off wild things that comes into the yard. She has chased off 1 raccoon so far that was brave to come on my deck away from the predator lights! What breed of chicks will you get?

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to activity here on BYC.

 

[rjohns39]

Welcome to actively posting here

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Welcome to our eggcelent flock here at BYC. I would recommend pine over cedar as cedar is toxic to chickens.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Hello! Welcome to BYC!!


Here's a thread on composting with chickens: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hot-composting-with-chicken-bedding-and-garden-waste.900637/#post-13703708


Or search 'gardening with chickens' in the forums and you can find all sorts of great info.

Feel free to check out the other links below for some interesting reading. Good luck to you!​

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Welcome to BYC

 

[Miss Lydia]

Welcome to BYC!!

 

[HuffleClaw]

Welcome!