Lighthouse Keeper Starting out with Chickens! Maybe!

[Pork Pie]

Hi Andrew and welcome to BYC.

Here are some helpful links:

• Great go-to resource - Articles
• Insightful feedback on how members manage their flocks - Topic of the Week back-catalogue

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[DiYMama540]

What an awesome job to have! Recently watched The Lighthouse...hoping you're not going through that!!
Hope you're able to get a coop going! Chickens would be a wonderful addition to keep you company!

 

[N F C]

Chickens would be a wonderful addition both for eggs and company (they have a lot of personality). Hope all the details can be worked out and you're set up soon.

Best wishes to you!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUN-omenal Flock!
I hope you enjoy BYC as much as we do!

 

[ValerieJ]

I just took a look at your lighthouse blog and had the best time, although it wasn't easy as half my screen was covered with a note about joining facebook. No thank you. I particularly loved your journey in bread making and thought you might like to visit a thread where folks are talking about just that thing a lot. Any Home Bakers Here? has many bread recipes, and other baking delights too, and generally good conversations.

 

[A Matter of Light]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! We're glad you're here!

I think you can get some great advice if you post your question about the coop in a forum we have just for that purpose, the Coop & Run Design Forum. My advice is to build the largest one you can, given the difficulty of getting materials onto the island.

I think all prefabs come as a kit, but I don't recommend them. They do not hold up for very long. And what are the weather challenges you face? A big wet, wind off the ocean will probably knock one of those over if it's not well anchored.

That was a concern of mine while looking at them online. I am pretty handy at woodwork, so I think I would go the plans route. And yes, we can get some challenging winds.... not to mention helicopter backwash! I will try the forum for coop plans.

Thanks!

 

[A Matter of Light]

Hello Andrew, and welcome to BYC!

Wow! That is one small island, can you get water Taxi services out there or maybe a supply barge? Drop ship to Denman and slowly bring it over from there? Our friend on Prevost gets a supply barge twice a year for things like fuel, feed, and for shipping her livestock, as well as any large items.

What do you have for predators on island? Especially thinking of birds of prey, raccoons, and mink etc? That would all effect your keeping arrangement, and Coop set up. For lumber... you could always get things precut smaller for flying in, depending on the size/frequency of the helicopter. Get lots of 4’ long pieces and sister them up to build a reasonable sized little coop? I’m also thinking about your wind exposure and maybe anchoring it down firmly.

Greetings from Saturna Island, just a little South Kristen (and I whine about B.C. Ferries. )

The predators to be concerned with are Bald Eagles and Otters. I know I will need to reinforce the fencing, as the Otters can easily get through ordinary chicken wire. Also, although the island is perfect for free-range, I mean... where would they go!... they wouldn't last long with the eagles around. So... a closed run is important.

 

[A Matter of Light]

Hello, Andrew, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Can you get a small shed kit delivered?

I was thinking of this route, but I think the weather challenges make that a difficult option. Not sure any kit would hold up to the wind and weather. I think I will lurk a bit over at the coop plans thread.

 

[A Matter of Light]

Hello Andrew, and welcome to BYC!

Wow! That is one small island, can you get water Taxi services out there or maybe a supply barge? Drop ship to Denman and slowly bring it over from there? Our friend on Prevost gets a supply barge twice a year for things like fuel, feed, and for shipping her livestock, as well as any large items.

What do you have for predators on island? Especially thinking of birds of prey, raccoons, and mink etc? That would all effect your keeping arrangement, and Coop set up. For lumber... you could always get things precut smaller for flying in, depending on the size/frequency of the helicopter. Get lots of 4’ long pieces and sister them up to build a reasonable sized little coop? I’m also thinking about your wind exposure and maybe anchoring it down firmly.

Greetings from Saturna Island, just a little South Kristen (and I whine about B.C. Ferries. )

Hello Saturna! My father-in-law lives on Mayne. I'm not a fan of ferries either!!!

Yup... predators. Otters and Eagles. I will need to to a closed run. I can get a water taxi, but that thing is $150 a trip!

Will ruminate on it a bit more!

Thanks