San Diego Chicken meetup and Chat thread

[Aumlet]

My ugly, stupid, unfriendly polish/silkie mutt chick has turned out to be a boy, and a mean one. Plus he shows no roosterly qualities (looking after the ladies etc). What a sad, strange creature.

Working up the nerve to dispatch him, as he's not a rooster worth rehoming.


On another note, is anyone interested in a blue olive egger that is coming near laying age? I forget her precise age but she's almost full grown and she's a nice bird. Skittish but not mean. I just have more chickens than I need, and she's not one of the ones I have a relationship with. I originally got her from phage for $5, and I'd be happy to sell her for what I paid.

 

[RHRanch]

I was wondering if anyone going to the meetup might have some serama hens/pullets for sale? I am looking for some for one of my projects. Would prefer black, blue, splash, mottles, lavender, chocolate, barred, but will take other varieties if I must.

 

[MissusC]

Ok, I need some help thinking outside the box and I am hoping you all can help. We live on a typical suburban lot (total 5,000 SF) in Mira Mesa and we built our coop on the back of the house (pretty much right up against our house). The girls have a coop/run (run under the coop) that they are in from night until 10ish am and the rest of the day they free roam our backyard. They have absolutely destroyed my backyard, grass, vegetables, strawberries, herb garden, water feature etc....all decimated. So I would like to somehow keep them in the back of the yard (make an enclosed chicken yard area) but I have no idea how to do this. There are a couple mitigating factors:

1. Cost: We can't afford too much in the way of materials (labor is freeee: thanks hubby!).
2. Accessibility: unfortunately, the only way into the yard would be through the proposed chicken yard area, so it can't be anything that is hard to move/take down etc.

Here is a picture of the back area and an aerial (thanks google). I don't have any better pictures of the back, but can get some if it will help anyone with thoughts. Any ideas?






Thanks so much!

edit: I know I am posting this in our local group and not the coop section, but I though I would ask my local peeps first, since I kinda know you all.

 

[perchie.girl]

Ok, I need some help thinking outside the box and I am hoping you all can help. We live on a typical suburban lot (total 5,000 SF) in Mira Mesa and we built our coop on the back of the house (pretty much right up against our house). The girls have a coop/run (run under the coop) that they are in from night until 10ish am and the rest of the day they free roam our backyard. They have absolutely destroyed my backyard, grass, vegetables, strawberries, herb garden, water feature etc....all decimated. So I would like to somehow keep them in the back of the yard (make an enclosed chicken yard area) but I have no idea how to do this. There are a couple mitigating factors:

1. Cost: We can't afford too much in the way of materials (labor is freeee: thanks hubby!).
2. Accessibility: unfortunately, the only way into the yard would be through the proposed chicken yard area, so it can't be anything that is hard to move/take down etc.

Here is a picture of the back area and an aerial (thanks google). I don't have any better pictures of the back, but can get some if it will help anyone with thoughts. Any ideas?






Thanks so much!

edit: I know I am posting this in our local group and not the coop section, but I though I would ask my local peeps first, since I kinda know you all.

How many chickens do you have? for instance for a run you should have about ten square feet per chicken. So if you have four chickens they would need forty squre feet. A six by twelve enclosure would give them 72 square feet. You could do that with six dog kennel panels. Or if you form them into a C shape using the wall of the house as one wall you could get away with four dog kennel panels.

The other way to do is would be to set T posts in the same configureation. But make gates so you can go "Through" to the otherside.....

Also another thing to think of is using the space between your house and the fence between you and your neighbors. Then all you would have to do is gate off each end if there isnt one already in place then do a chicken tunnel from the coop to the run and that could follow the house but wouuld only need to be tall enough to accomodate the chickens. Then they would provide a benefit in that you would never have to weed the side yard ever..... LOL. That one would leave all of your backyard free except the chicken house. Id put a net over the run though because you couldnt see if predators were casing the joint.

Lots of options. I think using the space between houses would be the most economical.

deb

 

[MissusC]

How many chickens do you have? for instance for a run you should have about ten square feet per chicken. So if you have four chickens they would need forty squre feet. A six by twelve enclosure would give them 72 square feet. You could do that with six dog kennel panels. Or if you form them into a C shape using the wall of the house as one wall you could get away with four dog kennel panels.

The other way to do is would be to set T posts in the same configureation. But make gates so you can go "Through" to the otherside.....

Also another thing to think of is using the space between your house and the fence between you and your neighbors. Then all you would have to do is gate off each end if there isnt one already in place then do a chicken tunnel from the coop to the run and that could follow the house but wouuld only need to be tall enough to accomodate the chickens. Then they would provide a benefit in that you would never have to weed the side yard ever..... LOL. That one would leave all of your backyard free except the chicken house. Id put a net over the run though because you couldnt see if predators were casing the joint.

Lots of options. I think using the space between houses would be the most economical.

deb

Deb,
Thanks for the reply.

We have 7 LF and one bantam. We can't use the space between the houses for a couple reasons 1. It's poured concrete and 2. it's the only way into the backyard. Also that side of the house has no sunlight at anytime of the day. And my girls seem to love the sun and dust bathing.

I looked at kennel panels and they were too expensive. I have been trolling craigslist for them, but so far nada. I will have to look up T posts, never heard of them.
Thanks!

 

[perchie.girl]

Deb,
Thanks for the reply.

We have 7 LF and one bantam. We can't use the space between the houses for a couple reasons 1. It's poured concrete and 2. it's the only way into the backyard. Also that side of the house has no sunlight at anytime of the day. And my girls seem to love the sun and dust bathing.

I looked at kennel panels and they were too expensive. I have been trolling craigslist for them, but so far nada. I will have to look up T posts, never heard of them.
Thanks!

Ah about the concrete.... T Posts are pounded into the ground. I suggest you get a Tpost pounding tool they are handy to have Not Too expensive but a BIG time saver. But they can be pounded in with a Sledge hammer.
They have hooks or bumps on them to keep wire from slipping down and can be used unsupported for about a hundred feet. They run about five to seven bucks a piece. No concrete or digging.... either.

Tposts and driver.



They come in different heights so you drive the post in past the wedged shaped anchors. so measure down from the top.to above the anchors and that lets you know which one to buy for the fence height you want to put up. You can make a smple gate out of wire covered PVC.

deb

 

[All-American-Chick]

If your refering to the ramona meet up i bet you will find many that you like there.

I was wondering if anyone going to the meetup might have some serama hens/pullets for sale? I am looking for some for one of my projects. Would prefer black, blue, splash, mottles, lavender, chocolate, barred, but will take other varieties if I must.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I was wondering if anyone going to the meetup might have some serama hens/pullets for sale?  I am looking for some for one of my projects. Would prefer black, blue, splash, mottles, lavender, chocolate, barred, but will take other varieties if I must. 

Melinda Marr just posted on FB's California Poultry People that she has some for sale and will bring them to the next meet up (Serama Show) in Ramona if anyone's interested. You'll have to find her on FB. I don't think she's on BYC.

 

[Aumlet]

Anyone interested in 2 black copper marans, laying, about 1 1/2 years old?

My girls are getting too noisy and I need to thin the flock. I love the eggs from the marans, and they are pretty, but they're the youngest of the LF (aside from 2 up and coming olive eggers, one of whom I'd like to rehome). Honestly, I'd send all 3 off to a good home for free. The marans hatched together and are buddies so they should stick together.

 

[aaajjss1]

stealing it 

chick filet!