MJ's little flock

[BY Bob]

OK. This is exactly what I am doing. There are two ‘uncovered runs’ (meaning no roof) and I can close them off in turn. The idea is to sow pasture seeds and let them grow and then let the chickens in to destroy it all. I can alternate. I will share in the next ‘Chicken Palace tour’.

I need to see that. Very cool idea.

 

[RoyalChick]

I need to see that. Very cool idea.

Chicken Palace plan
I hope you weren’t just being polite. Here is the plan for the Chicken Palace.
Covered run #2 has an open run on each side. I can close off access to each of these open runs so I can sow pasture and let it grow. They aren’t open to predators - they will have hardware cloth over them - but open for rain to water the pasture. I plan to alternate sides so that while they are destroying the pasture on one side, the other side is growing.
I will probably switch sides every 3 weeks (depends how fast the pasture seeds grow).

This is how i hoped it would look.

And this is what it looks like now (not quite finished but I am sowing pasture seeds this weekend).

And here are the ladies enjoying their new day roost in covered run #2 (I salvaged some fancy old porch brackets).

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh I am sorry MJ, I hope you don’t mind me posting all that in your thread.

 

[BY Bob]

Chicken Palace plan
I hope you weren’t just being polite. Here is the plan for the Chicken Palace.
Covered run #2 has an open run on each side. I can close off access to each of these open runs so I can sow pasture and let it grow. They aren’t open to predators - they will have hardware cloth over them - but open for rain to water the pasture. I plan to alternate sides so that while they are destroying the pasture on one side, the other side is growing.
I will probably switch sides every 3 weeks (depends how fast the pasture seeds grow).

View attachment 2084018
This is how i hoped it would look.
View attachment 2084022
And this is what it looks like now (not quite finished but I am sowing pasture seeds this weekend).
View attachment 2084025View attachment 2084026
And here are the ladies enjoying their new day roost in covered run #2 (I salvaged some fancy old porch brackets).
View attachment 2084027

That is really well thought out. It should work great. This is more than a chicken palace. This is a chicken castle!

 

[MaryJanet]

Oh I am sorry MJ, I hope you don’t mind me posting all that in your thread.

No, I like it! I like the side runs. Very clever. You've got me thinking of a T-shaped floorplan.

 

[BY Bob]

No, I like it! I like the side runs. Very clever. You've got me thinking of a T-shaped floorplan.

I think that T shape might be pretty smart. I really like that design.

 

[MaryJanet]

Ok here is the current versionod Cluckerston Hall.

Not remotely to scale only for conveying broad concepts.

Floor plan

Roosting box with covered run on both sides. LHS is a "look but don't touch" run for new pullets. RHS is covered section of long run.

Roosting bars.

Ramp with pulley system.

Front view.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

Love the designs.

 

[RoyalChick]

Ok here is the current versionod Cluckerston Hall.

Not remotely to scale only for conveying broad concepts.

Floor plan
View attachment 2084242

Roosting box with covered run on both sides. LHS is a "look but don't touch" run for new pullets. RHS is covered section of long run.
View attachment 2084243

Roosting bars.
View attachment 2084253

Ramp with pulley system.
View attachment 2084254

Front view.
View attachment 2084255

Love it. So exciting all the designing!
A Couple of thoughts from my own journey with the Chicken Palace.
Storage: my garage, kitchen, living room seem to be taken over by chicken stuff. How can chickens have so much stuff??!! Food, bedding (even though I mainly use leaves from the woods), egg boxes, first aid kit. It takes up space and I am beyond excited that I built the servants quarters in the palace for all that.
I love ‘look but don’t touch’. I had a similar idea originally but decided that most of the time I would want the space for the runs. So that is why I have so many doors. I can isolate the sections of run for that purpose. But most of the time it is all connected.
Hope that helps. It will be great. Have fun with it!

 

[BY Bob]

Ok here is the current versionod Cluckerston Hall.

Not remotely to scale only for conveying broad concepts.

Floor plan
View attachment 2084242

Roosting box with covered run on both sides. LHS is a "look but don't touch" run for new pullets. RHS is covered section of long run.
View attachment 2084243

Roosting bars.
View attachment 2084253

Ramp with pulley system.
View attachment 2084254

Front view.
View attachment 2084255

This looks great. How will you segregate the roosting area while integrating? Are you planning a removable wire wall or similar?