Tell me that this is a bad idea... broiler setup in/on raised bed

[LaurelC]

Please, tell me everything that is likely to go wrong with this plan.

We have some ducks (our first backyard poultry), and will be slaughtering the drakes in about a month. I have already taken a poultry processing class, and feel like I should be able to handle it emotionally. Depending on how slaughter day goes, I feel like I would like to raise (our municipally allowed) 8 broilers come spring. I have a 2ft tall 4x10' raised bed that sits unplanted for all of early spring. It already has a fairly robust trellis and the PVC hothouse frame could fairly easily be adapted to support chicken wire and be secure. At this point, I have enough other compost going that I could excavate the mess the broilers make, toss that into compost, and refill with some rotted compost so I don't burn the crap out of my tomato seedlings when I put them in the ground, come May.

I am mostly trying to figure out a way to not have to buy/build another thing we would have to store for the remainder of the year.

So far, my poorly thought out plan consists of:
*Hope one of the muscovies gets broody by early march
*buy some cornish x eggs and let the scovy hatch them out
*collect chicks, brood for a few weeks (muscovies would likely try to make them swim, no?)
*put them in the newly reconfigured raised bed to grow out (40 sq ft should be plenty for 8 broilers, no?)
*slaughter by may
*excavate poop as well as possible, dig in compost, plant tomatoes
*profit?

Please tell me all the holes in this plan.

Photo of tomato bed for reference.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Not a bad idea.
A couple thoughts.
your quote
"frame could fairly easily be adapted to support chicken wire and be secure."
Chicken wire won't be secure. There are many predators that will scoff at it and have duck dinner/

That space is probably not large enough for the birds to processing age.

IMHO, it's the phosphorus and soil compression that makes it hard to grow things after having birds concentrated in an area more than the nitrogen.

 

[tinkershell767]

I don't think you would have a problem doing that if everything goes according to the plan. The only problems are your muscovies might not go broody and if the eggs do hatch the muscovy could get mad at you for taking her "babies". Water might still be frozen in March so the chicks wouldn't have to learn to swim like ducks.

 

[LaurelC]

Not a bad idea.
A couple thoughts.
your quote
"frame could fairly easily be adapted to support chicken wire and be secure."
Chicken wire won't be secure. There are many predators that will scoff at it and have duck dinner/

That space is probably not large enough for the birds to processing age.

IMHO, it's the phosphorus and soil compression that makes it hard to grow things after having birds concentrated in an area more than the nitrogen.

Thanks for your input. You're absolutely right on the chicken wire. I was using incorrect terms. We have welded wire fencing for the duck enclosure, and would use the same for the chickens. We also have 2 large dogs (that are primarily inside dogs, but like running around outside) and haven't had any evidence of raccoons/predators in our small yard yet, however that could certainly change between now and spring.

Based on my research, high phosphorus soils aid in tomato root development. If I were to excavate most of the "chicken soil" and stir in plenty of well-rotted compost prior to planting anything, would that still be a bad plan?

How much space should I have per bird/how many would you feel comfortable leaving in a 4x10' enclosure?

 

[LaurelC]

I don't think you would have a problem doing that if everything goes according to the plan. The only problems are your muscovies might not go broody and if the eggs do hatch the muscovy could get mad at you for taking her "babies". Water might still be frozen in March so the chicks wouldn't have to learn to swim like ducks.

In the PNW, anything besides light frost is rare in March. IF one of the scovies did go broody, would she be more upset to be put in the enclosure with the chicks? I could certainly just mail order (or try to locate some locally) to avoid the whole ordeal, but I figured eggs would be cheaper, and the muscovy may like the chance to hatch out a clutch.

 

[cmchickens]

*buy some cornish x eggs and let the scovy hatch them out

I have never seen Cornish X hatching eggs.

 

[LaurelC]

I have never seen Cornish X hatching eggs.

Well then I guess that takes complexity out of the equation. Are people just ordering chicks from hatcheries then?

 

[cmchickens]

Yep, I think so. I hear you can occasionally find some (eggs) on ebay. But as far as I know, the chicks come from hatcheries.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Thanks for your input. You're absolutely right on the chicken wire. I was using incorrect terms. We have welded wire fencing for the duck enclosure, and would use the same for the chickens. We also have 2 large dogs (that are primarily inside dogs, but like running around outside) and haven't had any evidence of raccoons/predators in our small yard yet, however that could certainly change between now and spring.

Mink and weasels can squeeze into a 1" opening. Trust me, I know from experience.
Raccoons live where you do. If you haven't seen them, just get chickens and wait.

Based on my research, high phosphorus soils aid in tomato root development. If I were to excavate most of the "chicken soil" and stir in plenty of well-rotted compost prior to planting anything, would that still be a bad plan?

Yes, excavating works wonders. Make sure the compost isn't adding more phosphorus. It doesn't leach out like nitrogen does. I do a similar thing rotating multiple raised beds between vegetables, cover crops, chicken pasture and ultimately chickens. After the chickens come out I top off the beds with finished compost. (compost is made up of mucking out coops and grass clippings) I've had in depth soil tests done. All nutrients were in a good range but phosphorus was a little high but within reasonable range. Where chickens live for long periods the phosphorus will keep plants from growing.

How much space should I have per bird/how many would you feel comfortable leaving in a 4x10' enclosure?

I'd say for meaties, that could hold 6 birds. If the birds will live longer than 7 weeks, they'll need more space. Birds to maturity will need 7-8 sq. ft. per bird minimum.

 

[LaurelC]

Thanks again for the input. I don't think that we have mink/weasels in my suburban neighborhood, but I could be wrong. I'm sure we have raccoons around, but so far they have passed up our yard after a scuffle with one of the dogs a few years ago. I'm sure tasty pieces of chicken clucking around in the yard will be a pretty attractive draw though! The 1/2" welded wire mesh SHOULD be raccoon resistant. I'm banking on it for the ducks!


Am I incorrect in assuming that planting crops that have high phosphorus requirements should help abate the phosphorus accumulation? Perhaps I will just build a cheap 2x4 & PVC tractor and keep moving it around the yard.