Show Off Your American Gamefowl and Chat Thread!!!

Status
Not open for further replies.
I raise my incubated chicks in 8 chicken tractors, I keep a few cull chicks running around to clean around pens. Was just wondering if that would work with game cocks with spilled food.



I do similar for a week or two post brooder but use at most to chicken tractors. Tractors used for acclimation to conditions beyond brooder and promote imprinting on ground roosting location. After first week the chicken tractor simply becomes a coop I close up at night. The chicken tractor part of operation makes so I can spread groups out by the time they are allowed to free range. If all goes well the broods do not overlap where they forage promoting longer quality forage. If they are together too much forage gets clobbered and older brood will drive younger from feeders and loafing areas. My setup as described for Dominiques with only a few games mixed in. Majority of games hen raised and I use their pens likes chicken tractors while hens in lay. Once hen commits to incubating pen set in that location through point chicks are about five weeks old. The moving of pens helps me disperse broody hens. Chick survival is much better when hens can keep broods spread out. Chicks not outright killed by hen-hen conflicts but disease seems to take out stressed broods much more frequently. Those same tractor-pens help keep GHO's from snatching chicks off roost.
 
One time I moved a batch out at night, the next morning half had their heads pulled off by an owl. In the dark they didn't stay under the shelter. Now I put out in the morning



Brooder reared chicks are imprinted on a box while still in the brooder. When moved outside, they stay with box like it was their momma and sleep inside of it. Box it placed well out of reach of owls and raccoons keeping chicks safe. IF predator tries getting into tractor, then dogs get it from behind.
 
I use hardware cloth only for hutches as it is expensive and heavy. The lighter stuff the predators will not try to chew through unless chicken is right next to it. Also when the predator does try to chew trhough it makes noise again bringing dogs in. Same pens also allow small chicks to come out and forage with mother is still inside which the hardware cloth denies unless pens propped up.
 
Yes it is. But it's money well spent and lasts for years. I let only let chicks out when I'm home and supervising. My set up is much different.
 
Need to trim some if these too
400
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom