- Nov 30, 2008
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I am considering building a chicken coop and run, or possibly two, on a piece of land that we are not using. This will be used for meat birds, purebred birds, or ? The fencing will need totally replaced and it needs to have vegetation planted in it, although there is some grass and weeds in it now. We can get water and electric to it, so that's not a problem. Here's a video: Potential New Chicken Run (I'm still learning how to use this camera, so it's not the perfect video, but it will give you an idea!
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The measurements are roughly 260' by 115', the shorter ends are east/west, the longer ends are north/south. There is a lot of drop in elevation, especially towards the north end. The plan is to put a coop in the middle on the west side up by the hay lot yard, and have one feed out to the north and the other to the south. I would plant some deciduous trees on the south side of the coop to keep it cooler in the summer, but still let light in during the winter. I would like to plant some other vegetation in the coop area, but haven't decided yet how I want to do it. I am reading Jessi Bloom's excellent book on free range chicken gardening, but I don't know if I want to go that far with that piece of land. Would be nice if it was a bit more sufficient, but as we live in the arid western section of CO, I have to be wise with our irrigation usage. I'm not sure what type of fencing material would be best for this either, as there will be livestock on two sides of the runs. Predators include coyotes, hawks, eagles, skunks, neighbors dogs, possibly coons and I've seen a fox every now and then.
I am considering using the south run for compost making, as there is a driveway type spot where material could be brought in easily enough.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Tammy
The measurements are roughly 260' by 115', the shorter ends are east/west, the longer ends are north/south. There is a lot of drop in elevation, especially towards the north end. The plan is to put a coop in the middle on the west side up by the hay lot yard, and have one feed out to the north and the other to the south. I would plant some deciduous trees on the south side of the coop to keep it cooler in the summer, but still let light in during the winter. I would like to plant some other vegetation in the coop area, but haven't decided yet how I want to do it. I am reading Jessi Bloom's excellent book on free range chicken gardening, but I don't know if I want to go that far with that piece of land. Would be nice if it was a bit more sufficient, but as we live in the arid western section of CO, I have to be wise with our irrigation usage. I'm not sure what type of fencing material would be best for this either, as there will be livestock on two sides of the runs. Predators include coyotes, hawks, eagles, skunks, neighbors dogs, possibly coons and I've seen a fox every now and then.
I am considering using the south run for compost making, as there is a driveway type spot where material could be brought in easily enough.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Tammy
