In case y'all are looking for these breeds, this is the lady in Dry Creek. I've met her once for something else, and she's super nice. I haven't visited her place, but the pictures of her pens look very clean, and her stock birds are gorgeous. She's on fb.
Just got through talking with the camp director (husband) and the second coop is a no-go, unless we need to be inspected in order to serve our eggs (because we don't want our backyard to be inspected). So now I'm brainstorming "mobile" options, like that poultry fencing, or a nice sturdy tractor. I just need to get the birds out of the backyard, if I'm ever hoping to have grass or plants or anything that's not pinecones and dirt.
We are still planning to have a garden, and a fledgling chicken program using only our own birds, this year. We'll use tractors or secondary fencing to give the kids opportunities to see and handle the birds.
Life, work, and marriage are always about compromise.
you can build grow out pens...for the wheat or grass and then place the tractor over it...basically you take the 2x4 with the tall end up....and make say a 4'x4' box place hardware cloth over it sprinkle down the grass or wheat....and it will take a month or so to grow and then the birds wont be able to kill the area...so you can make several of these and just move from one spot to the next...about the same size as your tractor would be on the bottom...I don't know if I explained this good but it would look some thing like this
works great the whole year I didn't cut it and it never died....may work out for your situation
edited to add....excuse the hen for it was a bad year for them...they got to much attention...
you can build grow out pens...for the wheat or grass and then place the tractor over it...basically you take the 2x4 with the tall end up....and make say a 4'x4' box place hardware cloth over it sprinkle down the grass or wheat....and it will take a month or so to grow and then the birds wont be able to kill the area...so you can make several of these and just move from one spot to the next...about the same size as your tractor would be on the bottom...I don't know if I explained this good but it would look some thing like this works great the whole year I didn't cut it and it never died....may work out for your situation edited to add....excuse the hen for it was a bad year for them...they got to much attention...
Thanks birdman! That's awesome. I may try to divide my yard into three different "pastures" and also let them out in the front, when I'll be out there too.
This is how I "fortified" some day lilies. I have some salvaged chicken wire I'll put up later.
no problem...it worked really well other then alfalfa ....everything else will grow great in these types of setups....the alfalfa was just to small and took awhile to grow...just didn't seem to work....wheat....in seed form is really cheap...like 22 percent in protein and grows super thick when put thick in seeds...that's whats growing in the pic.....they will leave it be and actually sit on it and then when they want to eat it they go to town....and as you see there is an apple tree right there...next thing you know there in my apple tree....
place the unit down....sprinkle seeds in and then place over with dirt....and water daily....simple as that...within the month you will see a big green patch coming up
Well if it turns out to be a roo let me know maybe we can work something out. I think I have one Black roo time will tell plus my first stab at feather sexing.I need to get on the ball with more coops or tractors. I starting to thing of a bachlor coop for roos and putting them in tractors or coops for breeding.I still trying to decide. Any way if you have a roo that could add genetic diversity to my flock which is a new import. I should have all colors but it looks like one blue. I think they are the best color. Pam
there is a local breeder of silver seabrights, and he is super nice. Quackleberry is the name, he is on fb quite a bit and I think he had his own page. Has really pretty ones, I've seen them and he often is at shows too.
Look what is going into the incubator tonight! I'm so excited! I've got FBCM, Birchen Marans, wheaton and black Marans! They are from April Howington's birds at Texas Marans. I've been waiting for these for awhile. I saw her at the LSU show and was very impressed with her Marans. She is always winning and her eggs are very dark. So excited to be hatching these!
I have some salvaged chicken wire I'll put up later.
