Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Mahlzeit]

How much property do you have? If you don't mind me asking.

 

[JerseyHen]

How much property do you have? If you don't mind me asking.

Just an acre, but we are surrounded by empty lots and a hunting club, so it is pretty open.

 

[Mahlzeit]

Same size that we're buying but no empty lots around it unfortunately. There is a little bit of woods behind the property between the property behind us.

 

[JerseyHen]

Same size that we're buying but no empty lots around it unfortunately. There is a little bit of woods behind the property between the property behind us.

This is the third we have for the chickens, garden, and orchard. The pumpkin patch will go on the other end of the property in an area that is just weeds right now. The garden in the pic is from some time ago. The long ends have raised beds with hoops on them now and there are two more small coops in the back near the run of the coop in the pic as well. Ever expanding the menagerie... I have a dozen or so more fruit and nut trees going in this spring.

 

[Mahlzeit]

That's a great setup. I am thinking about putting my coop in between two runs. One on either side. And swapping them back and forth each year with my garden. It's still in the planning stages though as I'd also like to make them covered runs with that clear polycarbonate roofing to allow light through and keep the smell down that occurs when the runs get all muddy. So many ideas in my head I can't wait til we move in and I can start working on it.

 

[JerseyHen]

That's a great setup. I am thinking about putting my coop in between two runs. One on either side. And swapping them back and forth each year with my garden. It's still in the planning stages though as I'd also like to make them covered runs with that clear polycarbonate roofing to allow light through and keep the smell down that occurs when the runs get all muddy. So many ideas in my head I can't wait til we move in and I can start working on it.

I have seen several plans with the coop in the middle of garden beds. It is genius. I wish I had come across them before building mine. I saw one with 4 beds/runs around the coop. One for composting, two for beds (spring garden and fall garden), one for a run. They used the run until the spring garden was spent, then put them in there, then turned the "run" to prep for the next spring, and did the same for the fall garden run. Then they rotated each year. Also helpful if you need to sequester a group for breeding or illness. You could put a small coop inside one of the runs as needed. I have several of these built now for broodies, chick grow out, and the occasional game bird experiment... They are just big enough for a few birds and move about easily.

This one is neat:
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-rotate-permanent-runs-for-your-chickens.html

 

[Mahlzeit]

Yeah I got the idea of doing this from here a long time back. I am just not sure how the clear roofing will effect the growing of the garden and if it will work.

 

[JerseyHen]

Yeah I got the idea of doing this from here a long time back. I am just not sure how the clear roofing will effect the growing of the garden and if it will work.

Maybe you can make the roofing mobile. If you did it in removable panels. Then you wouldn't have to cover both runs either. Open one for the garden, cover one for the chickens, then swap each spring.

 

[JerseyHen]

Ok, so I am out of control already. I just put in an order for 25 chicks and 3 dozen hatching eggs... it is going to be a busy spring. It is so good to be feeling better!!! Happy new year everyone!

 

[Mahlzeit]

Ok, so I am out of control already. I just put in an order for 25 chicks and 3 dozen hatching eggs... it is going to be a busy spring. It is so good to be feeling better!!! Happy new year everyone

What kind of chickens? Are your pets or do you eat them also? Happy New Year to you too.