While we are talking about "mating shacks" I'd like to post what my DH came up with when I asked him to build me some pens
for selective mating. I thought what he came up with was excellent in terms of low maintenance and simple construction.
I'm all about selective and compensation breeding and see the value of identifying exactly which hen paired with which roo throws what.
My philosophy has been instead of throwing a whole bunch of birds together, hatching hundreds, just to get a few that are quality;
is to work on a smaller scale, working with only those that have no defects or serious faults and pair them to improve.
I think especially with Marans, this is one way to breed toward the standard in a cost effective way.
This "condo unit" is 5 pens that are 4' x 8' each built of 1/2" hardware cloth. We spent about 100. per pen (500. total), for materials, not including
running irrigation and auto waterers. The vinyl siding covering the back of the wire was left over from a job (DH is a builder/remodeler).
2" x 4" roosts run along the back. I'll likely just put rubbermaid tubs filled with shavings in for nests. Metal roof, sloping to the back. Large enough doors that I can
easily get inside, if need be. Chicken wire between each unit, each sharing a lil giant auto waterer, and I'll hang 3 lb feeders in each.
These may not work for those in colder areas, but here in FL we may have to remove some of the siding in the summer for air flow.
Additional siding could be added to the front for more weather protection.
My aim is to use these to house pairs, trios, or even quads for a limited time and to identify and mark each egg before incubating,
and to bag those eggs and band at birth; so I know who is throwing what.
We've run electric so I can also use them to brood chicks, or they will make great broody pens...
Just throwing this as an idea for "love shacks".
Excuse the ongoing construction:
for selective mating. I thought what he came up with was excellent in terms of low maintenance and simple construction.
I'm all about selective and compensation breeding and see the value of identifying exactly which hen paired with which roo throws what.
My philosophy has been instead of throwing a whole bunch of birds together, hatching hundreds, just to get a few that are quality;
is to work on a smaller scale, working with only those that have no defects or serious faults and pair them to improve.
I think especially with Marans, this is one way to breed toward the standard in a cost effective way.
This "condo unit" is 5 pens that are 4' x 8' each built of 1/2" hardware cloth. We spent about 100. per pen (500. total), for materials, not including
running irrigation and auto waterers. The vinyl siding covering the back of the wire was left over from a job (DH is a builder/remodeler).
2" x 4" roosts run along the back. I'll likely just put rubbermaid tubs filled with shavings in for nests. Metal roof, sloping to the back. Large enough doors that I can
easily get inside, if need be. Chicken wire between each unit, each sharing a lil giant auto waterer, and I'll hang 3 lb feeders in each.
These may not work for those in colder areas, but here in FL we may have to remove some of the siding in the summer for air flow.
Additional siding could be added to the front for more weather protection.
My aim is to use these to house pairs, trios, or even quads for a limited time and to identify and mark each egg before incubating,
and to bag those eggs and band at birth; so I know who is throwing what.
We've run electric so I can also use them to brood chicks, or they will make great broody pens...
Just throwing this as an idea for "love shacks".
Excuse the ongoing construction:
