Welcome to all the new folks!!
I'm looking forward to spring. Can't wait! When the cockerels that we are growing out for someone get picked up next month, I will begin sorting out the first breeding groups.
Like CSB, I must have chicken houses big enough to walk into! My exceptions are two small raised coops in my breeding isolation pens. Those just house up to a half-dozen or so birds, for specific breedings. And they are raised, with the entire front hinged for easy clean-out.
This is one of ours, in progress. (It's long been finished, but I couldn't find more recent pics) It's 8 x 20 feet, divided into two 8 x 10 sides. Each side opens into it's own pasture section. I have two of these, and another that is 16 x 20, divided. The Juvenile Detention Center is 8 x 20 divided into an 8 x 8 and an 8 x 12. The 8 x 8 has the brooders in it, and from there chicks go onto the floor. Then the move to the larger Grow-out side, which opens into the "moat" around the garden. There is also a pophole that opens out into the pasture, which we open when they are older. Then I have the two smaller breeding pens, with the raised coops in 8 x 12 six-foot high dog kennels. That is IT!
Doing it this way makes SURE (!??!) to limit the breeds I can run. A maximum of six breeds, but in actuality, one of the larger sections is the basic layer pen. I can have an assortment of pretties there, and any from the breeding groups that don't meet standards can still lay an egg so can move in there, too. So five breeds, really. I'll be keeping the Golden Cuckoo Marans, the Welsummers, American Buff Orpingtons, and if I can ever find them, Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas. Plus lots of EEs and OEs in the layer pen. I'll have one pen this year that will be empty, as I'm selling off my BBS English Orps. As beautiful as they are, they are just not for me.
Have a great day!!
I'm looking forward to spring. Can't wait! When the cockerels that we are growing out for someone get picked up next month, I will begin sorting out the first breeding groups.
Like CSB, I must have chicken houses big enough to walk into! My exceptions are two small raised coops in my breeding isolation pens. Those just house up to a half-dozen or so birds, for specific breedings. And they are raised, with the entire front hinged for easy clean-out.
This is one of ours, in progress. (It's long been finished, but I couldn't find more recent pics) It's 8 x 20 feet, divided into two 8 x 10 sides. Each side opens into it's own pasture section. I have two of these, and another that is 16 x 20, divided. The Juvenile Detention Center is 8 x 20 divided into an 8 x 8 and an 8 x 12. The 8 x 8 has the brooders in it, and from there chicks go onto the floor. Then the move to the larger Grow-out side, which opens into the "moat" around the garden. There is also a pophole that opens out into the pasture, which we open when they are older. Then I have the two smaller breeding pens, with the raised coops in 8 x 12 six-foot high dog kennels. That is IT!
Doing it this way makes SURE (!??!) to limit the breeds I can run. A maximum of six breeds, but in actuality, one of the larger sections is the basic layer pen. I can have an assortment of pretties there, and any from the breeding groups that don't meet standards can still lay an egg so can move in there, too. So five breeds, really. I'll be keeping the Golden Cuckoo Marans, the Welsummers, American Buff Orpingtons, and if I can ever find them, Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas. Plus lots of EEs and OEs in the layer pen. I'll have one pen this year that will be empty, as I'm selling off my BBS English Orps. As beautiful as they are, they are just not for me.
Have a great day!!
