Suggestions on how to manage numerous flocks

[flockandgarden]

I was givin an opportunity to farm 100 acres for free for as long as I want. I started a few years ago and have now outgrown my present situation. I have tried and tried to decide on managing just 3 different breeds of chickens, impossible. What would anyone suggest for housing (presently constructing new) and penning 7 different breeds of chickens. I don't want to free range because of the predators so I was thinking of just continuing using chicken runs with covers. I am trying to give each flock a half acre. Predators I have to deal with in free ranging are racoons, fox, bobcats, fishers. These are my worst. I would like to run about 50 of each breed. Also, there is a personal argument in this home. Can I run more than one rooster with each flock. My husband says the roosters will kill eachother I say no. I have roosters waiting for hens penned together now who are best friends. Any/all advise will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[bargain]

What a wonderful blessing. First I would encourage you to get a written agreement with the person with a set out that you should get xyz days to vacate if the situation should change. Circumstances can change and I would be concerned with you having to relocate hundreds and hundreds of poultry!

Regarding poultry housing, I would say areas that have enclosed coops and lots of fencing and of course reliable guards throughout the acreage..... Electric fencing in addition can help. You didn't say if you would be residing on the property, but if you are not, then feeders and waterers would need to be amply large. I would start with working on property, fencing pens, training guards, etc. A large undertaking. I wish you every success!

 

[mrquacker]

You would probably need more than 1 roo to keep 50 hens in fertile eggs if fertile eggs are wanted. Most roos will get along pretty good without hens, but some will fight when there are hens to compete for. 3 or 4 roos with 46 or 47 hens would probably work because each would have a pretty good size harem.

 

[flockandgarden]

I am not residing on the property, which is difficult. This actually is allowing me to save for my own farm. But, you mentioned guards what kind of guards. I have built large coops with electric fence runs. But what kind of animal can I use for guards. I do have a small empty barn left not very large probaby 15x15x6. I do have access to young alpaca's to purchase from a neighbor but assumed they would do nothing to protect chickens. I am not allowed dogs. Also, any suggestions on how to manage the hawks or will that not be such a huge problem with roosters. I have been running chickens for a few years but not in this quanity and totally enclosed not in pasture. Thanks for your input, God Bless

 

[centrarchid]

Overall, your situation does not appear all that sweet and will persist at convenience of land owner. Need an agreement.

With most breeds you can run multiple roosters per flock although you loose control over paternity. You can maintain bachelor pens and have a rooster cover no more than 10 hens at a time in breeding pen. Simply rotate roosters through breeding pens.

Your predator management options are not what I consider to be ideal. Even with confined flocks, if birds are not in a predator proof building, then dogs are an asset. I have in past kept confined flocks at locations where I did not live and found my simply checking multiple times a day and being handy at night greatly limits the damage a predator can do. With or without a dog you can detour predators with electrified fencing placed closed to pens / runs. Additionally always have set a range of traps to catch a critter before it starts eating birds.


You do not indicate purpose for this endeavor. Are you intent on producing something for a profit or simply sustenance?

 

[flockandgarden]

Profit...I have been selling baby chicks and fertile eggs. I really am just expanding on a larger scale of different kinds of birds. I have been running 1 roo per 6 hens has been working out. It is not all that convenient traveling from here to there I must admit. Sick of racoons though don't mean to offend but, I just shoot them. At my house I have the baby chicks that I sell from here (farmer likes solitude and does not like visitors on the farm). Have my own large coop and pen all fancied out so people buying chicks are impressed and I do raise certain ones at my home until I am ready to bring to farm and intergrate them. I like others have said, am worried if the woman who owns the farm dies I better have another plan quick her family already hates me.

 

[centrarchid]

Your biggest challenge may be with family of owner. All measures I would employ to manage seperate flocks remotely and deal with predators cost money and are usually not easy to move once you are given word to go. I kill predators as well but that is not my frontline defense since losses incurred via that route cost more than repellent measures I use.

Have you considered chicken tractors suitable for a dozen or so birds per unit. That would require busting each breed into multiple flocks and you will have to buckup for moving so many of those heavy "beast". I am likely a lot bigger than you and still have difficulty moving even of that size unless ground is level (mine is not). Such tractors are not all that tough against dogs and raccoons by themselves but you might be able to string up some electrified fencing so that it denies ground predators access. The poultry netting is too expensive for most operations trying to operate at a profit but if your chick and hatching egg market is lucrative enough it might be an economical option. I have gone a cheaper route using three strands of hot-wire around perimeter of grazed area to startle visiting dogs and another single strand is set so about 6" above ground and about 9" from my minnie tractors (mobile breeding pens) that zaps a predator slowed up trying to get in. I have about 30 pens in a row that are moved in about 1 hour which includes the fencing. I seem to be getting good repell even on raccoons which my dogs are have been dealing with almost exclusively away from poultry yard since wiring installed. Dogs are still the kicker and I provide backup when raccoon goes somewhere dogs can't get at it. You are denying yourself the "kicker" and simply being able to check at random times during night and storms. Weather events have required my intervention twice in last three years and none in 10 years prior. Chicken tractors can have difficulties with high winds and heavy wet snow.

 

[oliviachicken]

your roosters could kill each other. they wont fight often (mines dont) but when they do they fight to kill. i threw a bucket of water over mines but they didnt even notice (nothing would make them stop) one of mines died they might not as yours is a big flock though (mine only has about 15)