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Ya know, Bill, I built 2 of those last year, as temporary housing for my meaties to grow out in. I had planned to disassemble them when we had them processed. But, they work great. Simple to make, too. 8x8 box frame covered in hardware cloth sides and tin roof. I used 4 ft wide hardware cloth, and made the structure 3 ft tall. So, I had the 1 ft of wire to skirt it in, to prevent digging predators. I had some old salvaged corrugated tin that I used as roofing. This year I am using them both as grow out pens for the gazillion chicks I am hatching. They free range all day, and I prefer to keep the feed and water outside, so they will just sleep in there. I have tarps to cover if it rains hard, and I hang them down the sides. I lay 2x4s inside, elevated on the box frame, for them to roost off the ground. They are also easy to move around if need be. We have lots of trees, so they are always shaded. Kinda like an open air coop, I guess.
Thanks for all the offers !!! Looks like I'll have plenty of "free" places to go on vacation this year !! Just take a chicken along, and I'm set
Kathy - that sounds like a great idea. I plan on hatching a gazillion chicks too and we've been discussing where to put them. Do you have a good picture of the pens? I'd like to show the hubby.
Joy, I don't know how I missed the pictures you posted yesterday. Petra is is a beautiful bird. I have her sister here that is very similar. Matilda has a gorgeous tail. No pinch tail on that girl. Her lacing did impove with the molt.
Maybe I can get a few pics today affter I get done with the shampoos of those going to the show.
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Ya know, Bill, I built 2 of those last year, as temporary housing for my meaties to grow out in. I had planned to disassemble them when we had them processed. But, they work great. Simple to make, too. 8x8 box frame covered in hardware cloth sides and tin roof. I used 4 ft wide hardware cloth, and made the structure 3 ft tall. So, I had the 1 ft of wire to skirt it in, to prevent digging predators. I had some old salvaged corrugated tin that I used as roofing. This year I am using them both as grow out pens for the gazillion chicks I am hatching. They free range all day, and I prefer to keep the feed and water outside, so they will just sleep in there. I have tarps to cover if it rains hard, and I hang them down the sides. I lay 2x4s inside, elevated on the box frame, for them to roost off the ground. They are also easy to move around if need be. We have lots of trees, so they are always shaded. Kinda like an open air coop, I guess.
Kathy, I like mine too. As seen in my yard where I have 8. The first year I made them too high. A waste of time and wood and used chicken wire. The chicken wire would be okay to stop that Starling mess I had. But those Vultures would still sneak in thru the crack above the door. I would see a half dozen in those first two pen like that and I was running out and taking my tennis racket to swat them outta of existance to feed them to my dog Tanner. I too throw in about a max of 20 to start. And then move the juvies at about 4 or 5 months old to my open air grow out pens that I have back in my woods. We both are new to the hobby and I enjoy learning from others. This ole dog is accepting to learning new tricks of the hobby. I like to move mine at the most every two days to give the grass a break and the birds something new to devour.
I seen your NewHamp pics on the other site. I am soooooooooo HAPPY for you. For real!! You have some amazingly nice NH's. And I really want to see your Del project take off so the future generations of Kathy's do not have to go thru such effort to have wonderful example of quality OLD SCHOOL breeds like them. GOOD LUCK!!