Setup suggestions for 15 red broilers needed

[MarinR]

So I decided at kind of the last minute that I would try my hand at raising a few meat birds this year. So in about a week I will be receiving 15 red broilers from Murray McMurray. I know the outdoor setup doesn't need to be elaborate.... I am most concerned with how to keep them safe at night. If they will have a good amount of space to spread out and forage during the day (most likely within a pen/netting of some sort) what is the minimum amount of space I could get away with just for locking them up at night? I am looking for suggestions that are both simple and safe.
Thanks!

 

[CoopDeViIIe]

They will all huddle together at night to sleep, so you don't need much space at all. Mine are in a tractor, and it has a 4'x4' covered section, and they all huddle together under that at night. They don't need a roost or anything, just a covered area.

 

[V-NH]

I have my broilers in an 8'x8' pen that is covered with a tarp. I move it every couple of days, but I wouldn't call it a tractor. I made it in about one hour out of 2x3s, some left over drywall screws, poultry netting and staples. My take on meat birds is that the less money you can spend on their dwelling, the better.

 

[MarinR]

I have my broilers in an 8'x8' pen that is covered with a tarp.  I move it every couple of days, but I wouldn't call it a tractor.  I made it in about one hour out of 2x3s, some left over drywall screws, poultry netting and staples.  My take on meat birds is that the less money you can spend on their dwelling, the better.

I agree. I don't want to go overboard on another coop. But I do want to protect my investment. I'm most concerned about predators at night if I don't have them locked inside some kind of "building." That has not been a problem for you?

 

[V-NH]

I live in predator central, but I haven't had any problems. The run that my layers are in is 8 feet high and extremely solid with a huge shed for a coop. I don't close them in at night. My ducks are in a run made out of T posts and poultry netting with a dog house to sleep in. Likewise, my Cornish X are in the makeshift pen that I described above. I have never lost a single chicken or duck to predators. In fact, the only loss I have ever had was because a layer fell behind a milk crate and got smooshed by the other chickens when they sat on it.

If you're really determined to provide a house for your meat chickens but you don't want to spend a lot on it, you have a few cheap options.

Option #1... go to craigslist and get a free dog house. People give them away constantly so it shouldn't be difficult for you to find them. It likely won't have a door, but you can put one on with a tiny scrap of plywood and a couple of $2 hinges. They won't fit well in it when they are full grown, but it would provide housing for them while they are most vulnerable.

Estimated cost: Under $10

Option #2... go to the hardware store, buy 2x4s and a couple sheets of plywood. Make a box and cut out a space for a door. Apply $2 hinges as explained above. Bam, you've got a functional house that can be as big as you want it to be.

Estimated cost: $60+

This assume you aren't looking for anything stylish.

 

[V-NH]

Oh, we're both from NH! Where abouts are you located?

 

[coloradoalice]

We used an old little tykes cabin as shelter for our 25 meaties but we didn't need a door on it as we don't have a predator problem because of our guardian dog. It was an excellent shelter though, I got it for $20 used and it kept them dry and sheltered from wind when needed. We had that placed inside a trampoline frame we got for free, we fenced as their yard and that was it. If we had needed a roof cover I thought about buying bird netting or some such but the meaties were too heavy to jump to the top of the trampoline frame and like I said we don't have predator problems so we just left it open. It worked really well.

 

[coloradoalice]

I should add, we've thought if we do meaties again we will pull the trampoline frame in half and use it as a hoop house instead, so that they do have a fenced roof and so that we can walk in and out through a door instead of crawling over the top of the frame to feed and clean and water. You can find used trampoline frames on Craigslist fairly often and I think that making them into a hoop house is a fairly simple process. Then stick a dog house or little tykes house inside and you are good to go!

 

[MarinR]

I live in predator central, but I haven't had any problems.  The run that my layers are in is 8 feet high and extremely solid with a huge shed for a coop.  I don't close them in at night.  My ducks are in a run made out of T posts and poultry netting with a dog house to sleep in.  Likewise, my Cornish X are in the makeshift pen that I described above.  I have never lost a single chicken or duck to predators.  In fact, the only loss I have ever had was because a layer fell behind a milk crate and got smooshed by the other chickens when they sat on it.

If you're really determined to provide a house for your meat chickens but you don't want to spend a lot on it, you have a few cheap options.

Option #1... go to craigslist and get a free dog house.  People give them away constantly so it shouldn't be difficult for you to find them.  It likely won't have a door, but you can put one on with a tiny scrap of plywood and a couple of $2 hinges.  They won't fit well in it when they are full grown, but it would provide housing for them while they are most vulnerable.

Estimated cost: Under $10

Option #2... go to the hardware store, buy 2x4s and a couple sheets of plywood.  Make a box and cut out a space for a door.  Apply $2 hinges as explained above.  Bam, you've got a functional house that can be as big as you want it to be.

Estimated cost: $60+

This assume you aren't looking for anything stylish. 

It's funny you suggest this. I actually did this already with the intent to use it for breeding or a broody hen.... it's had more use as a chicken "hospital" though. I wasn't sure if it was big enough to fit 15 full size broilers, but it sounds like it should work just fine.

I'm from the Concord area.... you?

 

[MarinR]

I should add, we've thought if we do meaties again we will pull the trampoline frame in half and use it as a hoop house instead, so that they do have a fenced roof and so that we can walk in and out through a door instead of crawling over the top of the frame to feed and clean and water.  You can find used trampoline frames on Craigslist fairly often and I think that making them into a hoop house is a fairly simple process. Then stick a dog house or little tykes house inside and you are good to go!

I love the trampoline idea!! I like to upcycle whenever I can.... I'll have to remember this!