Kentucky people

[shelleyd2008]

Mojo Chick'n :

Well, I figured out how to save the waterfowl, here. We're going to build a pen. It's gonna cost me a good $200 bucks (maybe $250) but it'll be huge, and it'll save them from the dogs, at least.

Finished dimensions will be aproximately 40' x 25' . That'll give me room for a nice big pool/water tank in it. The "pool" I'm looking at is an 8' diameter water trough (round). Also not cheap, but heavy duty, so it'll last longer than a kiddie pool. Plus it has a drain, so I can clean it easier.

I have no idea when we'll get to start on the pen, or how long it'll take us. For now I'm just not letting Toby out when the ducks are out without me or Bruce being out there, too. Once we get started on the pen it hadn't ought to take us more than three or four days, it'll be getting going on it that'll determine when it gets done.

Considering the cost of the pen, they may have to make due with the kiddie pool this year, then I can get them the other pool next spring.

However, I looked at other options (mainly a dog kennel) and it'd cost me $250 for a 10x10 dog pen - which isn't very nice looking, and is much smaller than what we can build. Too small, I'm thinking for ducks and geese (I can get some after the pen is built, hopefully).

meri

A dog chain would only cost you $5

Even a crate to leave him in inside would only be about $70​

 

[Bluedog420]

I just got back from Croney00's house and I bought some really nice standard cochin's from her...A pair of splash...2 black hen's and 1 buff hen...The wife just love's them...and I do to...was going after bantam cochin's I thought...lol...So now I will be raising giant cochin's also...and I picked up 46 chick's...golden comet's...white leghorn's and some mixed...It is chick season

 

[shelleyd2008]

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Ah yes!! And we know who has a lot of old pallets laying around, don't we?

Too bad we can't remember where he lives!!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Problem is, everything is a slope around here, so it'd have to withstand a slight slope - we plan to dig it out to make it reasonably level, but it won't be perfectly level.

Thanks for the advice, though.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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A dog chain would only cost you $5

Even a crate to leave him in inside would only be about $70

Yeah, but I don't want to have to tie my dog up. 1) it's a real pain to go out (drag him out) to the chain to put him on it. 2) he'll be tangled every other time I go out.

It's easier (not cheaper) and safer just to pen the ducks.

meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Yeah, but all of our pallets around here get burned for firewood

Hubby likes to build, and considering the area it's going in, I'd better make it nice to look at, too - part of it will be right in the top yard by the driveway. Hubby is a maniac about curb appeal. The back part I can do less pretty, but the top yard part will have to look nice or it'll drive him insane.

Thankfully, my costs are being cut because nearly one long wall is going to be the back of the lower chicken coop (24 foot there) plus half of the top/middle is going to be the shed hubby keeps his junk in. The top yard portion will be aproximately 15x15 with a gate, the lower half will be the biggest part, and that will mostly be behind the coop and the shed - mostly out of sight.

I have two dog houses for them to use (if they choose) for shelter, I may have to add in another, or build a lean-to off the back of the coop for them to get under.

I'm also considering putting a strand of electric wire around the outside of the fencing, to keep the coons from climbing it. I have the hotwire fence right there (for the donkeys), just need to take off it to go around the duck fence.

The biggest pain is gonna be going out there and cleaning out the prickers (wild blackberries) - they are pretty thick through there.

meri

 

[Andora]

Wild blackberries hurt so bad if you reach into a bush and get hooked! But their berries are delicious. I want some of your bushes Meri, lol. Too bad you're kind of far from me. I would just have to plant two then wait a few years for a prickly berry patch to form...

Do you all know if any feed stores in the central KY area get chicks in for spring or easter? I'm not sure I can do an Ideal order right now, but I want to put a few pullet chicks in my daughter's Easter basket so badly! (Plus...picking from a ton of cute chicks at a feed store sounds like a great way to feed my addiction...)

 

[Andora]

What breeds do you have Bluedog? Though if I get chicks now they will not be a surprise for Easter!

I want to get my daughter something tame and hardy, like EE's or a cochin. Our two EE pullets are the ones she carries around the most from our flock. They're so sweet. I wish there were Silkie pullet chicks somewhere, but I think most silkies are straight run and I don't want to get a roo that she'll get attached to then not get to keep it and love on it...

 

[FrChuckW]

When I first moved here I took a bunch of pallets , knocked them apart and made a garden fence out of them by nailing the slats closer together on the 2 x 4 braces. I also used them to make raised beds for the gardens, and frame work and siding for my first pigeon loft. Other than nails, wire, and some other hardware it didn't cost me anything except for some time. Now that I have seen some other ideas to use them, I'm going pallet it hunting again.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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The TSC in Campbellesville said they are expanding their chick days this year (last year they ran out in one day, I believe) so you might try TSC in your area.

eta - I have TONS of blackberry canes in the woods, in the pastures, everywhere!!! I'd love to give you some

I did get rid of some of them, last summer I fenced off a big part of the pasture that had some in it, and the donkeys cleared them all out - it is clean of berry canes, totally, so that is where I built the lower coop. Now I need to pasture off some more blackberry canes so they can clear me some more pasture to use

meri