She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[WalnutHill]

I'm sure there are some commercial turkey farmers over there, with those monster enclosures with the half walls. The ones I've seen have big tarps or heavy plastic sheeting that can be rolled up like an awning for warm weather, or lowered to keep the cold out. I'm sure they'd be glad to show you how they've done theirs; might give you an idea or two.

Or, you could design the runs to accommodate what amounts to old-fashioned storm windows that hook to the top of the window frame so you can remove them or install them, depending on the season.

Ours are small versions of the commercial ones made by Farmtek. They use heavy duty steel framework on 4' centers and a heavy grade poly tarp-like cover. Our older coop is now 9 years old and the cover is just starting to show wear.

Ours are 14 x 24 and we used 4' welded wire fencing attached directly to the frame poles. Ours also has fabric end walls, one zippered and one solid with a door frame inserted. The sides roll up and down and can be opened like canopies as well.

 

[lazy gardener]

Yup, I do the fermented feed too. They love it!
I thought it had to have a cover? I've been doing mine in a large mason jar with the cap on. Am I doing it wrong?

I just lay a cover over the top of my buckets. I do hope you're not screwing that lid down! Folks have covered tightly in glass jars before, and had the glass jar explode!

 

[Cockatrice6420]

I just lay a cover over the top of my buckets.  I do hope you're not screwing that lid down!  Folks have covered tightly in glass jars before, and had the glass jar explode!  

Okay, so are you guys doing a corn mash or is it just regular pellet food that's treated?

 

[kwhites634]

Okay, so are you guys doing a corn mash or is it just regular pellet food that's treated?

Either way, I bet them's some happy chickens!

 

[lazy gardener]

Just what ever feed you normally use.

 

[Cockatrice6420]

Just what ever feed you normally use.  

How is it prepared?

 

[meganhundley]

I'm sure there are some commercial turkey farmers over there, with those monster enclosures with the half walls. The ones I've seen have big tarps or heavy plastic sheeting that can be rolled up like an awning for warm weather, or lowered to keep the cold out. I'm sure they'd be glad to show you how they've done theirs; might give you an idea or two.

Or, you could design the runs to accommodate what amounts to old-fashioned storm windows that hook to the top of the window frame so you can remove them or install them, depending on the season.

That's a good idea. I've been looking online for coop and run ideas. I like the old fashioned storm window idea though.

 

[meganhundley]

Either way, I bet them's some happy chickens!

 

[meganhundley]

Ours are small versions of the commercial ones made by Farmtek.  They use heavy duty steel framework on 4' centers and a heavy grade poly tarp-like cover.  Our older coop is now 9 years old and the cover is just starting to show wear.

Ours are 14 x 24 and we used 4' welded wire fencing attached directly to the frame poles.  Ours also has fabric end walls, one zippered and one solid with a door frame inserted.  The sides roll up and down and can be opened like canopies as well.

I've seen those. They sell something similar at Tractor Supply that I've been thinking about getting and they're really cheap too.

 

[WalnutHill]

I've seen those. They sell something similar at Tractor Supply that I've been thinking about getting and they're really cheap too.

The ones they sell at Tractor Supply are cheap. Ours were not, they are industrial strength which we wanted and needed due to snow loads and severe summer storms. They've held up to 70 mph straight line winds, many seasons of orange-sized falling black walnuts, hail, torrential rain, and up to 14" of snow. They are permanently anchored to raised wooden foundations. They were absolutely worth every dollar spent and offer protected outdoor type confinement.