The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[JackE]

Thanks Aoxa......I need to work on my breed acronyms


I have a question for those who use electric fencing. I am looking to get some in March to put around the new coop I am building. I would like it to be solar powered since its not convient or cheap to have to plug one in.

I have ample space so thinking of buying 3 so the hens have a large area to roam in. I cant free range because of living on a busy street and my 2 dogs & my neighbors dogs. I do try to let them roam when I am home to keep an eye on them tho & sometimes they feel the need for a field trip when I am at work

But anyways does anyone have any suggestions on what kind of fence I should get? how may amps? a good solar charger?

I assume with the heavy snows we get it wont be efficent during the winter which is ok cuz the coop will be moved back closer to the house & I have the fencing I have used this year.

Oh I forgot does anyone add netting to go over the top of the run? I am thinking if I added netting over the top it would either melt the plastec netting or electrify it

Thanks in advance!!
Jenn

I have the electrified poultry netting from Premier and would highly recommend it. I have 4 100' lengths, of their PoultryPlus netting. It's 4' high and has the double mount spikes. I am using a 115 VAC charger for it. Premier has and sells solar chargers if you want one of those. The electric draw of my charger is like a low watt bulb, so it is not really expensive to use. According to my fence charge tester, I'm getting 7000Vs out of it. I think I'm getting more than that, but the tester only reads to 7000Vs. I don't use anything over the top, because it covers a big area. But, my birds have the coop itself to get under, as well as a brushy area contained inside the fence. They have gotten pretty good at identifying airborne threats. And stray dogs, and the fox that I have around here are no longer a worry.
Jack

 

[JackE]

Ok guys. I took all your advice about ventilating the coop and turning off the lamp. I tore out the eve covers on one whole side of the coop and covered them with just hardware cloth. I took off plexiglass on the top half of one of the windows and covered it with cloth. AND I unplugged the heat lamp. Hopefully that will clear the humidity out. It's so cold out there! Do you guys promise me chickens won't turn into Popsicles????

Below is a pic of my coop. The front of it is wide open year round. I can get temps into the single digits around here, and I've never had one of my chickens turn into a popsicle.
Jack

 

[delisha]

Quote: Nice set up Jack!
So where did you get this nice looking fence?

 

[loanwizard]

The last couple of days have been tough on me friends. I raise pigs for my family and friends/customers. I understand that I raise them differently than institutions, and I tell myself that they have wonderful lives with 1 bad day.... but.... I raised them from when they were young, and when I hold out baked goods to coax them onto the trailer, they are only responding to what I have done with them from the beginning. I feel like a traitor. Worse yet, when we got to the processor last night, they didn't want to come off the trailer and who could blame them.... dozens of bawling animals in a strange place so far from home, lingering smells of the previous animals that had gone before.... I hunt, I fish, I kill and eat animals, but this time, when my treachery to them spells imminent death.... gives me pause, realizing the dominion we humans have over the lives of our charges. Yes, I will enjoy the fruits of my labor, but a part of me cries for my babies. Most remain nameless, but even so, when you have an animal that will take food from your hands, there is a measure of trust..... that I have broken.

 

[aoxa]

Nice set up Jack!
So where did you get this nice looking fence?

Premier Fencing

 

[aoxa]

The last couple of days have been tough on me friends. I raise pigs for my family and friends/customers. I understand that I raise them differently than institutions, and I tell myself that they have wonderful lives with 1 bad day.... but.... I raised them from when they were young, and when I hold out baked goods to coax them onto the trailer, they are only responding to what I have done with them from the beginning. I feel like a traitor. Worse yet, when we got to the processor last night, they didn't want to come off the trailer and who could blame them.... dozens of bawling animals in a strange place so far from home, lingering smells of the previous animals that had gone before.... I hunt, I fish, I kill and eat animals, but this time, when my treachery to them spells imminent death.... gives me pause, realizing the dominion we humans have over the lives of our charges. Yes, I will enjoy the fruits of my labor, but a part of me cries for my babies. Most remain nameless, but even so, when you have an animal that will take food from your hands, there is a measure of trust..... that I have broken.

It's hard. I can't imagine it with such a highly intelligent animal like a pig. I want to raise my own pork, but I'm afraid I could not handle that part. I did say that about chickens as well, but I came around.

Hang in there.

 

[delisha]

My silkie eggs have arrived..
Catdance does a nice job packing. The box was still warm from the little heater inside, so, no frozen eggs. What a relief. She sent extra eggs.I have 18 eggs just waiting to be chicks I hope. I had a few cracks..

My next set of eggs should be here tomorrow. Those do not have a heater inside. I am a bit worried with this weather.

 

[aoxa]

My silkie eggs have arrived..
Catdance does a nice job packing. The box was still warm from the little heater inside, so, no frozen eggs. What a relief. She sent extra eggs.I have 18 eggs just waiting to be chicks I hope. I had a few cracks..

My next set of eggs should be here tomorrow. Those do not have a heater inside. I am a bit worried with this weather.

Catdance is very reputable. I wish I could get some from her.

What colours do you have? Post a picture! She marks them by breeding pen I wanna see what you're going to get so I can envy you lol

 

[delisha]

The last couple of days have been tough on me friends. I raise pigs for my family and friends/customers. I understand that I raise them differently than institutions, and I tell myself that they have wonderful lives with 1 bad day.... but.... I raised them from when they were young, and when I hold out baked goods to coax them onto the trailer, they are only responding to what I have done with them from the beginning. I feel like a traitor. Worse yet, when we got to the processor last night, they didn't want to come off the trailer and who could blame them.... dozens of bawling animals in a strange place so far from home, lingering smells of the previous animals that had gone before.... I hunt, I fish, I kill and eat animals, but this time, when my treachery to them spells imminent death.... gives me pause, realizing the dominion we humans have over the lives of our charges. Yes, I will enjoy the fruits of my labor, but a part of me cries for my babies. Most remain nameless, but even so, when you have an animal that will take food from your hands, there is a measure of trust..... that I have broken.

awwww...it is difficult..and part of the life cycle. It in never easy
I take that back. I always look forward to butchering out the cockerels.

 

[PeepsCA]

Aoxa...


PermaNet™ Plus 12/48/3 (48" x 100' roll) Electric Netting