I've been studying....

[2DogsFarm]

Since I am getting THIS CLOSE to having my own hens I've been reading this forum & the Managing Your Flock one obsessively.

So far my Cliffnotes say I can:

*feed my hens when I feed my horses: early in the morning and again when I get home from work.
They'll get appropriate feed - starter or layer - for their age & if they are laying

*leave them out in the (fenced & roofed w/netting) yard for the day with access to food, grit & water <they will be able to go into the coop for shelter from weather if they want
OR
*let them out when I get home from work until dark, then tuck them in for the night

*use the same pine shavings I use in the horses' stalls for bedding/litter in the coop & nestboxes

*setup roosts at 18" angled to 2' - I stripped the bark from some branches about 2" in diameter for these. Would 2X4s on their wide sides be better?
Poop board is a piece of plywood lined with linoleum placed underneath and extending about 4" from either side of the roosts.
Can I line this with a garbage bag for easier cleanup?

*make 2 nestboxes for 4 hens from old fruit crates, set about 1' off the ground with access by ramps (2X4). I setup one crate on end between the 2 for privacy so they can't peck at each other

Anything you pros would want to add or change?
Do I get a B+?

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I think you get an A!!!

Good Job!! The garbage bag idea would work with a staple gun but might not hold up as well, but worth a shot!

 

[2DogsFarm]

Thanks, sam

I like to think I read for comprehension, but sometimes things get scrambled (no pun intended) in my brain.

 

[tdgill]

do they need access boards for nests 1' off the ground? won't they just hop up? ohhhh you mean not like a ramp, but the perches in front of nests?

 

[2DogsFarm]

Quote:
Actually I did mean ramps - I just leaned some 2X4s up so they form shallow ramps to the boxes.

I was thinking of getting young pullets - 2-3mos - and wasn't sure they'd be able to hop that high.

From reading more on here I'm thinking I may need to add some grit to the ramps - like the paint they sell for stairs with sand in it.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

some times one needs to see the chickens in action
they are generally determined to get in the nests
some people have the nests high and the hens fly up to a landing board and go in the nests

are you having some one raise the pullets for you?

it is a pleasure to raise chicks to adults and they really become an obsession then
hopefully your ideas will work great for you and yours

 

[2DogsFarm]

Glenda -
I work 4 days a week and am alone on my farmette.
So I just didn't feel up to raising peeps and also thought it would be more fair to the chicks to get a good start before they came to live with me.

I'm going to go to a livestock auction Monday and see if there are any laying hens available and will also go to a Swap near me in June.
Another thought was to see if a 4H kid had hens to sell, but our Fair isn't until August and I didn't want to wait that long to buy.

 

[tdgill]

I was just thinking you could save space with a perch instead of a ramp.... I think mine were jumping up to a perch of 1' very early. And some people don't even have nest boxes accessible till they are 6mos or so, or egg laying age i mean.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

hopefully you can check the birds to see they don't have any signs of sickness
much sussess to your efforts enjoy the chickens

 

[tdgill]

the 4H kids I've talked to are very knowledgeable and take good care of their chickens ensuring their health and well being. Good advice from previous poster on being careful to get healthy birds at auction and or swap. There's alot of info on here about sickly starter pullets etc.

I was thinking the same as you, but ended up getting chicks instead and really am glad I did. Just for the fact that they are so much to enjoy. I kept them in my bedroom in a large aquarium right on my nightstand. Better than TV! They are soooooo lovable its amazing. My hardest part was having three different batches going at the same time. But all in all everyone here makes it very easy and enjoyable!