What kind of a set up would work?

[PetitePlume]

Hi there!
I currently have to layers and on the market for a 3rd one. Early June I'll be getting 10-15 meat birds. They will have to cohabit.

My layers are free most of the time during the day. Not sure I could manage 13 more birds in the neighborhood loaded with roaming dogs. My bernese mountain had been chasing everything off the property but she can only be at one place at the time. So, all that to say that the meat birds are more likely to be confined most of the time.

So I was thinking of building a coop on the small size since the reality is that it's not very likely I'll have that many birds again. It will only be used for night time. Do meat birds roost?

Also I was planning on having a run that is fenced all the way around, a predator proof one except for weasel. But a run big enough and more would be too much for me to handle so I was thinking of dividing it in half and use the safe run for when I go to town or a friend has to take care of my chickens. I was thinking that the safe run would be a treat for the chickens since it wouldn't get much use. Maybe 10x16 or something like that. The casual run would be around the same size.

Does it make sens to do it that way or really they wouldn't get a fly about new ground?
I'm at home most of the time. Once or twice a week I go to town for 1/2 day and it's about it. I have chickens because I love them and I want to give them a good life. They are already caged in so might as well be a good and comfortable cage. Also would day care about a little trail where the water runs in the run?

I live in the Yukon, winter are long and cold and this is why I don't want to have a huge coop. I live off the grid so power in this dark season is an issue.

Any input or advice or idea or opinion welcome!

Thanks and have a lovely day!

Mary :0)

 

[pwiker]

If you have a Burmese Mountain dog that protects your chickens, trust him to protect all of them. Why would you put the extra energy and cost into a coop for chickens that should be out eating? If you are getting cornish cross, they won't wander far from the feed, but if you are getting something else, they will do fine pasturing with your hens. The hard part is feeding them different feeds since meat birds shouldn't eat laying ration.

 

[PetitePlume]

The thing is that my dog usually comes along where ever I go. And I'll be getting Mistral Gris for meat birds. For feeding time I was thinking that ...I'll have to figure out this one. Maybe this is where the 2 coops will be handy? Even for an hour or so?

I don't know where I am going yet and I don't want to waste my time and energy on something that won't matter in the end. This is why I am posting here...