Hi. I am finding that the onesy-twosy approach isn't growing my flock as quickly as I would like. My end goal is to put chicken tractors on my acreage, rotating them to the same spot about once every month, and to sell meat and eggs while doing that. Ideally a self-sustaining operation beyond the initial outlay to purchase a starter flock (would have enough eggs every day to incubate replacement birds to sustain flock size and replace aging hens when desired/needed).
The "small box / tupperware storage tub brooder and heat lamp" approach isn't going to work any longer, and the "chicken condo" coop and run will no longer suffice. With a starting flock of 500 birds, I'm wanting to purchase a suitable brooder and large coop, preferably that is "pre fab" that I can finish setting up on site (rather than building from scratch - I just don't have the time or experience). Does anyone have any thoughts on commercial brooders and prefab henhouses suitable for up to 500 birds (that's 1000 square feet, if I give 2 sq ft to each bird).
Thanks in advance for helpful replies.
The "small box / tupperware storage tub brooder and heat lamp" approach isn't going to work any longer, and the "chicken condo" coop and run will no longer suffice. With a starting flock of 500 birds, I'm wanting to purchase a suitable brooder and large coop, preferably that is "pre fab" that I can finish setting up on site (rather than building from scratch - I just don't have the time or experience). Does anyone have any thoughts on commercial brooders and prefab henhouses suitable for up to 500 birds (that's 1000 square feet, if I give 2 sq ft to each bird).
Thanks in advance for helpful replies.