Pics of your Breeding Pens PLEASE!!

[lilcrow]

Do people really show their mutts? Well, now that you mention it, I've seen where people are working on "projects" and took them to shows. As far as I know, in the eyes of the judges the projects birds are mutts no matter how lovely they are. Maybe there is a category for just that thing. I've had my own and currently have some mutts that belong to a friend that I hatched out for her, but I'm not a big fan of mutts in general. I'm not totally against them, I just don't want them for myself. I guess I figure that I can't afford them. I'm too short on space and money. I haven't started to show yet, but I'm determined to find out how to begin. The National is in November here in Ohio and I'm going to it so that I can observe, talk, ask questions and watch. I'm actually a bit excited about it.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

My $30ish breeding pens.
And a how-to.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

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Baby goat.

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

Year of the Rooster wrote:



Baby goat.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

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[shelleyd2008]

If you are wanting breeding pens for ducks, the run area of the pen will need to be pretty big. They need quite a bit more room than chickens do, from my understanding.

 

[Bleenie]

I'm not even sure when the fair or shows are here. i need to ask that friend of mine, lol.

Yes, it's a baby goat

We had like 46 ducks before, various breeds but all too young to breed or lay when we had them so they were all together. we had like a 1/4acre fenced just for the ducks but they were out and 'free ranging' and on the creek most of the day too.

the size of the run wont be an issue, we've got a big empty, extra field that i have in mind for the ducks. I'm just not sure about houses and what all to have in each pen. really, i'm just kinda stumped as to just how to set it up. I would like to have a pond in each but need to figure out a way for cleaning and all that.

Same with the chickens...I've got the room and dont mind building a new coop but not sure how to set it up to accommodate the babies and all that.

I've had hens that hatched chicks before but the set up seemed, not good enough.

 

[lilcrow]

I'm just wondering, can you use that "earth" stuff, (starts with a d) to aid in cleaning and breaking down the pooh in the runs? I've been wanting to try it if I can find it, to add to my "compost" pile. It got me to thinking that it might work in the runs to freshen the surface and eat the poop. Has anyone used it in their pens or runs, or do you know what I mean?
I believe the instruction say it is harmless to the chickens. It also aids in bug control. It sounds like great stuff, but it's also kind of expensive.

 

[wegotchickens]

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I'm not done with my breeding pens yet. We bought a repo shed and are converting it... We gotta make our space look nice to the neighbors!

We use diatomaceous earth. It is expensive, but a little goes a long way and it makes a REAL difference for us with flies and other bugs.
We put some in the nest boxes with the shavings, and sprinkle some under the roost, on the roost, and around where their feed spills out. During the spring it made an IMMEDIATE dent in the flies. We sprinkle it about once a month when we give the current coops a good raking. Our runs are sand, so also help drainage and dry out of 'stuff'.
We only had a small case of mites over the winter (and only on 2 sickly egg-bound hens), and adding DE to the roost wiped those out (wish the egg-bound thing had been as easy).

I love DE!

 

[lilcrow]

Thanks for the testimonial. Any suggestions on where to purchase it locally. Is there a chain store that carries it? I've seen it on the Internet, but then I'd have to pay shipping.
Thanks again.