The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: They do have the posts built in, but they do recommend using a stabilizing post at the ends and where two lengths of net come together for extra support. You can take a look at the video for setting it up on the Premier site to see how they're using the support posts.


http://www.premier1supplies.com/videos/player.php?video=installing_electronet&size=large
http://www.premier1supplies.com/videos/player.php?video=ends_corners_gates&size=large

eta: added the second link...had duplicate originally.

 

[armorfirelady]

Thank you everyone for all your help. I didnt think it had to have a closed circuit in order for it to work. And I have some of thos plastic step in posts already if I for some reason need some extra.

I know how I want to set up the new coop & run but first I have to get some fill since the area floods when it rains & then makes using the fence impossible in standing water. I wanted to give them the most space possible to roam since they are much happier foraging then eating their FF.

I also dont want to have to move the coop for the winter since they have another area already set up to use during the winter when the electric fence wont work.

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote: X2. Depends on how much time I have for processing... if I am going to be in a rush/have only a certain window of time to get the job done I will herd a bunch of birds into a big wire dog crate the night before (and then just pull out whoever isn't getting processed) so I don't have that step to deal with the next day. Otherwise I just do the herding thing and reach in and grab the birds I need before I set up/disinfect my processing area and gather up all the utensils, cutting board, stainless steel bowls, ice chest etc that I'll need.

 

[JackE]

I have the 6' fiberglass support rods that Premier sells. Have one for each corner, works great.
Jack

 

[JackE]

Thank you everyone for all your help. I didnt think it had to have a closed circuit in order for it to work. And I have some of thos plastic step in posts already if I for some reason need some extra.

I know how I want to set up the new coop & run but first I have to get some fill since the area floods when it rains & then makes using the fence impossible in standing water. I wanted to give them the most space possible to roam since they are much happier foraging then eating their FF.

I also dont want to have to move the coop for the winter since they have another area already set up to use during the winter when the electric fence wont work.

My fence works in the winter. But, if I got some measurable snow,(Beyone the dustings we've had so far) it might take a bit of work from me for that to continue.
Jack

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Could you elaborate on that? I take mine down whenever they forecast for a couple or more inches as I'm in a lake effect area and sometimes that ends up being more like 6" before it's done! I've just assumed, based on recommendations, that I couldn't use it and I also didn't want it to get "frozen in" and possibly damage it.

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote: Hmm... I've never had any issue with hanging my birds upside down or any extra mess from a full crop/bowels (yet), but these are very good bits of wisdom shared. I hadn't considered them before, but from now on I will... Thanks!

 

[pigeonguy]

No you are 100% correct..Chit chat is not welcome by some. As Stoney has stated he has many people PMing him and supporting his position about no other information on this thread other then natural chicken keeping. Everyone is allowed to have feelings and share information even ones about that, and even yours about this. We would like more to participate in sharing information about natural chicken keeping and keeping this thread going with as much information as possible. Not only less chit chat, but, less negativity.


OT might mean off topic in some threads, but, if you go to the home page of back yard chickens it can lead you to the recourse section where it gives the thread of the acronyms and meanings. Aoxa did an additional one. It can be very confusing. I still need to look up some of them.

Thank you very much for your participation, please let us know how your birds are doing. I am glad you are here.

OT is not listed on main abbreviations thread. Perhaps aoxa, lithiriel (moderator) and the projects manager should get together and work together to update that one instead of having 2 of them.
I like the original one for several reasons. One of them is if you go to the bottom of it there is a link that leads to a glossary of definitions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...of-common-terms-for-raising-backyard-chickens

I like aoxa's because it has them separated into Forum acronyms, Breed acronyms and poultry color acronyms.

Perhaps OT (proper noun capitalized) could = Old Timers and ot (common noun not capitalized) could = other topic.

 

[JackE]

Could you elaborate on that? I take mine down whenever they forecast for a couple or more inches as I'm in a lake effect area and sometimes that ends up being more like 6" before it's done! I've just assumed, based on recommendations, that I couldn't use it and I also didn't want it to get "frozen in" and possibly damage it.

I get snow around here, but so far this winter, it hasn't really amounted to much, couple inches, if that. Cold weather in itself doesn't mean anything. Now, if I was to get any measurable amount of snow, I would have to clear the bottom of the fence so it's not grounded out. Powdery snow can just be swept away. Now if I get the heavy wet snow, depending on how much, will take more effort to clear. Now if we got a foot or so of snow, I would just deenergise it. The chickens are not going to come out anyway. I think the worst thing that could happen to the fence, is if we get one of those ice storms. We had a couple of those a few years ago, and power lines went down, trees were mangled. If one of those were coming, I'd probably take the fence down and put it in the garage.
I think it would take a lot, to really damage this fence. Last summer, we had a storm blow through here, and knocked a big (24" diameter) tree down and across my fence. Flattened it. After some work with a chain saw and tractor to clear away the tree. I stood the fence back up and put it back in business. As far as damage went, the fence had a couple of the vertical strings broke, but had no damage to the horizontal hot lines. I tested them to make sure. The fence is tougher than it looks.
Jack

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Thanks!