The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Fred's Hens]

Nothing fancy and will probably be a pain in the tookus for being something I'll have to bend over or kneel to collect eggs, check broodies, or clean out for any reason. Much nicer to have things at waist height like you describe.

Well, the older we get ………… got to work smarter, not harder.

 

[Beekissed]

I agree!

I've got the age old conundrum of doing things cheap and fast or doing things right...or trying to figure out how to get to that golden place of doing things cheap, fast AND right. Never can seem to get that one right the first time......

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Scott--your pens are so nice. All of you are giving me some great ideas!! I have my 2 BR cockerels separated now and waiting until early March to set eggs. I separated the BR pullets (2) as I'm planning on single breeding.

It is daunting for a beginner--but fun too!

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Not sure what Scott's plans are.  However, the males will indeed fuss with their male competitors, but if you use 1/2" hardware cloth as a barrier, there's not much they can really do to each other anyhow through fabric that tight.

Also, a pen grouping such as Scott showed might merely contain females and the male gets rotated around the pens every other day or every 3rd day.  So a series of pens like this can be used several ways, of course.

If one were to have a waist high "shelf" or floor designed to be installed into these pens?  Now imagine how they might be multi purpose.  I can envision brooding in the right weather, juvenile groupings, or with waist high floors, could be conditioning pens as well.  The only limitation is one's imagination and design/construction abilities.  

Fred

At this point, there will be wire between the pens up top, black silt screen below. Two reasons; cockbirds in adjacent pens (if used for bachelors) wont fight and if needed can be removed easily to use the whole unit as a grow out pen

Fred, I also put bolts in as we discussed so I can "drop in" some trays for conditioning purposes prior to a show.

 

[Fred's Hens]

So, your plan includes pulling the dividers and turning this, potentially, into a large grow out pen?

Fantastic design. This sucker can be converted from breeding pens, to grow out pen - singular, back to three conditioning pens.
Might want pull a utility patent on that thing.

 

[Beekissed]

I'd like to see a pic of those when you have them in place, Scott. It's great to see other people's ideas and designs for these things as I know no one else around here that even breeds chickens in this manner, let alone shows them. There are no shows in my state except for the state fair...and they don't even have a poultry division, not even for youths.

 

[Fred's Hens]

But, just across the river, in Ohio, there are many great shows.

There are a number of states where the locals do not put on a show. The sheer burden of hosting a show is enormous. The number of volunteers required to setup and tear down, do all the registration work, staffing work is overwhelming. There is the rental of the large building and the hiring of judges. It is no easy task to put on a show and I admire greatly those local clubs that pull this off. Their commitment is extraordinary and I salute them.

This stuff is 100% donated, volunteer time.

 

[Beekissed]

Guess what? You are correct! There IS a show right across the river and in a good driving distance from me....not sure about regulations to enter a show but I don't want any NPIP stuff at my place. But I will definitely go to that show~The Southeast OH Poultry Breeders Show~and check out the stock they have.

 

[Fred's Hens]

They test them right at the show. Not an issue.

It also happens to be one of the best shows, historically, around. Really good shows there over the years.

The other Awesome show is the Southern Ohio show in Lucasville. http://www.sohiopa.org/
I believe they got bumped to Chillicothe last year. i hope they're able to return to Lucasville, but I am not up to date. It was my personal favorite years ago while living in the area.

 

[Beekissed]

They test them right at the show. Not an issue.

It also happens to be one of the best shows, historically, around. Really good shows there over the years.

The other Awesome show is the Southern Ohio show in Lucasville. http://www.sohiopa.org/
I believe they got bumped to Chillicothe last year. i hope they're able to return to Lucasville, but I am not up to date. It was my personal favorite years ago when I lived in the area.

Now, that's no problem! I don't mind them testing any of my birds, just not putting my place on their government radar. I like to fly under that when I can.

Who knows? Could be I'll have a bird or two in that show down the road! I have lived in this area most of my life and have worked in the town where that show is held, as well as get their newspaper for most of my life and have never heard one mention of that show! It's only 35 miles from me.

They need better PR.

It's coming up in March!!!!!