Red Rangers

[NorthwoodsChick]

Hi. I’m planning for Rangers
over CX to raise on pasture in a 8x12 hoop coop next Spring. 15-20 birds is all I need. I have a few questions as I make plans.

I have 160’ electric netting that will give 1600 sf.
Part of the pasture will have red pine trees for shade.
-Do they tend to roost?
-Will that be enough space to keep the birds happily foraging?
-Will 15-20 Rangers be ok in a 8x12 coop?
- what’s your experience with Ranger poop burden and how often I need to move the coop? Flies really got bad with the Cx.
-Will they go in at dusk on their own like normal chickens?
I have an auto door that I can install to let them in/ out.
-What are some thoughts on using it for meat birds?

I got the Predators covered : Coyote, fox, bobcat, bear, and weasel. I go to work at 5 AM so can’t open up coops that early- will probably need the auto door so the rangers aren’t confined until 4 pm.

Aerial predators: a few hawk, occasional eagle, lots vulture, raven-
My plan is to use trees as mentioned above, and also stake up a shade cloth canopy and have pallet lean to’s for some cover- for what it’s worth.

Thx in advance— my hope is that Rangers are less work than CX- I had to move the coop 1-2x a day and it’s very heavy.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

B

 

[iwltfum]

A lot of questions. I'll dive into a few. 15-20 red rangers will be fine in a 8x12 coop especially if you let them out for the day. You will probably still need to move the coop at least once a day as they get older if you want optimal cleanliness they might roost if you offer them low roosting bars but some might not. I just don't bother.

As far as the 160' netting being enough space, sure it's plenty of space if you move it around. With your set up I would probably move the coop daily and move the netting every three or four days (this would be really only as they get older than 4 or so weeks before then, the moves can move more spread out. If you see flattened manure around, I take that as a sign it's time to move them. (Technically you could set up any length fence in a way that has a very small internal area by creating a very long narrow space or a space with a lot of inside corners. While it seems obvious, it's important to note that a 160' fence could theoretically have an internal area of less than 1sqft.. so probably best to stick with squarish or circular patterns)

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

A lot of questions. I'll dive into a few. 15-20 red rangers will be fine in a 8x12 coop especially if you let them out for the day. You will probably still need to move the coop at least once a day as they get older if you want optimal cleanliness they might roost if you offer them low roosting bars but some might not. I just don't bother.

As far as the 160' netting being enough space, sure it's plenty of space if you move it around. With your set up I would probably move the coop daily and move the netting every three or four days (this would be really only as they get older than 4 or so weeks before then, the moves can move more spread out. If you see flattened manure around, I take that as a sign it's time to move them. (Technically you could set up any length fence in a way that has a very small internal area by creating a very long narrow space or a space with a lot of inside corners. While it seems obvious, it's important to note that a 160' fence could theoretically have an internal area of less than 1sqft.. so probably best to stick with squarish or circular patterns)

Thank you!!