North Carolina

[NewHomesteader2010]

Lisa - I can't wait to see what you end up with, especially since we have almost the same list!!

It's OFFICIAL everyone...my husband began the deconstruction on the old chicken coop (see photo) and just told me this morning that he is intending on building me a 10'x20' chicken coop (indoor) and over 400 sq ft for a run!! WOOOOO HOOOOO!! We plan on recycling the chicken wire and a few of the 2x4's but the rest is rotted and going to be thrown into the compost!! I did tell him that I wanted a full size door so when I am pregnant I don't have to stoop to get in (haha). We are also moving the coop onto a concrete pad that is out of the woods and is in the yard. There is some nice tree overhang to provide some shelter and so this is what we're working with!! Suggestions are always welcome!!
Some questions: WHEN we get a roo, does he need to have a "special" place away from the girls so he's not fertilizing the eggs? If/when we get the hatching fever and have a roo fertilize some eggs and a hen goes broody (SUPER EXCITED to use these "new" terms) will she need to be separated from the group? I must say, I am disappointed that my husband has to go away for a week on business and the coop will be in deconstruction mode still (I have been forbidden to use his power tools

) So...any suggestions from you all??

BHep - I am SO going to start "stalking" you at these auctions once I find myself in a position where I can go!! Just be prepared for my list of questions...haha.

I forgot who posted it already (new momma syndrome, I'll claim that...haha) THANK YOU SO MUCH for the upstream on the hatching!! HOW EGGciting!!

I'm addicted to seeing the little ones....there's a cutie in the back and another trying to pop through...SOOOOO CUTE!!

OOHH...I just saw another one hatch...super cool!! By the way...what does EE stand for??

 

[Greenskeeper]

Easter egg. They have green/0live colored eggs. These are all mixed between a leghorn roo and an arcauna hen.

 

[asher]

Just checking in to see if anyone will be bringing any Wyandottes for sale to the show in Morganton this next weekend.

 

[suburbanchickymama]

My husband has been hard at work today, too! The chainsaw has been going all afternoon cutting down all the little scraggly trees where the future run will go. Hopefully next weekend we can roll the big heavy coop to its new home and get to work fixin it up! Here's a before pic of the future run area and my free old coop!

The coop is 6'x6' and 8' tall and I'll guess the run will be about 12'x20' maybe (haven't measured) - sound good? I'm planning on putting in lots of hardware cloth windows in the coop with outside shutter type deals for the winter and obviously replacing the roof and giving it a good paint job inside and out. Oh, and closing up the little chicken door on the front and fixing up the one that is on the side. Sound good?

Suggestions please!!!!!

 

[Junkmanme]

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
Is that a dog or a bear? Bear-you are going to need more than just hardware cloth

 

[Greenskeeper]

Looks like a winner! If that is a bear, ya better get an electric fence too! If it's your dog we need a better photo! Lol

..... Wait is that a pet Bear!?

 

[abChicken]

A free old coop-hot dog

I hope u explain the bear

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Question.

I live down in the western piedmont(west of Charlotte).I have a half acre yard. Half of that is fenced in for my deaf dogs. The rest of is it fairly much gardens-veggies, some flowers, and fruit trees.

The very back corner is where the coop is and their nothing but dirt run.

What do you think of a tractor as a perm coop situation. I'm looking at either an A-frame or a mini hoop coop. Both would be made out of sheep panels (similar to cattle panels but smaller holes) heavy duty no sag material. They will be a min. 4 ft x8ft 4ft high with a roosting area and feeding area on one end and external nest boxes. No more than 4 chickens per. There will be an 18 in skirt around the bottom of the tractor to keep predators out.

While I do have hawks, raccoon, and other critters, I've not lost one of my birds to them while free-ranging on fresh grass, in the woods, or in the gardens in winter(or when they could hop the fence!) I have lost them to feral cats and neighbors dogs.

The tractor would be moved at least weekly to keep the birds on the freshes spots available(drought provided) I am also hoping to have them between the garden beds to help with bugs.

In case of really cold weather (I believe in open air coops but all that snow this year has been crazy) I can attach 16 mil pastic to the sides to keep the snow out or tin panels to cut the wind.

So Whatcha think?

 

[Greenskeeper]

Only problem I found with making a tractor, is weight! By the time I have my sturdy touch, I need a small tractor just to pull it! My neighbors as a child had one that was an old hay wagon, with. Coop on top! Bottom sides panels folded up for moveing, but it took a tractor or truck to really move it! But it was neat! My hill just won't let me have one around for long!