First chickens already present and living in cages on N edge of area where top soil disturbed for house construction. We actually moved in during February after image taken. House still had not flooring or dry wall at time so we slept on floor. Chicken pen was then moved to directly below the bed room window. Most chickens still with my brother. Essentially no predator control other than pens and me running out with wiffle-ball bat in underwear. Scary times.
We are up to 25 pens in three locations. Most covered with blue or brown tarps. We where having serious wind problems. All juvenile chickens free-ranged a roughly 6 acre area. Fox issues caused me to acquire first dog to be used as poultry guardian. We had first baby in oven at this time as well. Wife wanted chickens further from house.
A roughly 1 acre area (square near center of image) was fenced in during 2012 with hotwire after dogs from trailor court began making routine incursions that a 1 year pup could not repel. Immediately we started having problems with lightening taking out fence chargers. We were likely raising eyebrows with warranty people. During this gap (2012) we had a major drought where only about 40 birds were raised. Second dog (Lucy) acquired to help with foxes. First dog had major issue with fox using fences along property boundary against him. Second dog shut that down and dogs actually caught first fox and began keeping the foxes out.
Now up to about 50 pens with all but 10 lined up in a row like an armada in the poultry yard. During course of a season pens would be moved over a given spot twice. American Dominiques not taking outdoors all the time so barn constructed late this year. Tarps on pens were a major issue when winds faster than 35 miles per hour were coming from SSW. Same winds caused damage to house. Valley we live in funnels winds to cause damage.
Barn in place. Pens invisible when tarps replaced by wood pieces intended to blow off during storms. i can see pens by looking for black water bowls. Another irregularly shaped poultry yard has been delineated and fenced off to SSE of first. Golden stripe is part of area mowed previous fall. In time all mobile pens will be moved to southern yard during summer and norther yard during winter. Third dog required for that to work, plus a little sheep and goat action. Letting stand of oaks get a little taller to provide real shade in areas large enough for me to walk through easily.
We are up to 25 pens in three locations. Most covered with blue or brown tarps. We where having serious wind problems. All juvenile chickens free-ranged a roughly 6 acre area. Fox issues caused me to acquire first dog to be used as poultry guardian. We had first baby in oven at this time as well. Wife wanted chickens further from house.
A roughly 1 acre area (square near center of image) was fenced in during 2012 with hotwire after dogs from trailor court began making routine incursions that a 1 year pup could not repel. Immediately we started having problems with lightening taking out fence chargers. We were likely raising eyebrows with warranty people. During this gap (2012) we had a major drought where only about 40 birds were raised. Second dog (Lucy) acquired to help with foxes. First dog had major issue with fox using fences along property boundary against him. Second dog shut that down and dogs actually caught first fox and began keeping the foxes out.
Now up to about 50 pens with all but 10 lined up in a row like an armada in the poultry yard. During course of a season pens would be moved over a given spot twice. American Dominiques not taking outdoors all the time so barn constructed late this year. Tarps on pens were a major issue when winds faster than 35 miles per hour were coming from SSW. Same winds caused damage to house. Valley we live in funnels winds to cause damage.
Barn in place. Pens invisible when tarps replaced by wood pieces intended to blow off during storms. i can see pens by looking for black water bowls. Another irregularly shaped poultry yard has been delineated and fenced off to SSE of first. Golden stripe is part of area mowed previous fall. In time all mobile pens will be moved to southern yard during summer and norther yard during winter. Third dog required for that to work, plus a little sheep and goat action. Letting stand of oaks get a little taller to provide real shade in areas large enough for me to walk through easily.
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