What kind of coop or pen in needed for Meat Birds?

[jaku]

Quote:
It's 6x10, and I've done 25 in it, but it could handle more.

 

[jpace]

jaku,
I really like your design, I have a couple questions about your coop:

I see something sticking out behind the coop, looks like a shelf of some sort. What is that for?

Does the roof have more than one hinged opening?

Is that metal roofing or the corrugated fiberglass stuff?

And lastly, is it light enough to move easily ever day?

Thank you!

John

Ahhh... my first post here!

 

[oldsoftie]

Jaku, I like your tractor. Do you coop your birds at night, or do they stay in the tractor?

Thanks
Brad

 

[jaku]

Quote:
John:

As for what's sticking out the back, it's wheels. They make it much easier to pull the darn thing around. Make it as light as possible!! Mine is really heavy. (Better photo below.)

No, I only have the one opening. I'd change that too, as when it's time for the slaughter, they all congregate in the back, and it's hard to get them to the front. Plus, you find that you need to get to the back for various reasons, and with my design, you have to BE IN THERE WITH THE STINKBOMBS to do it.

The roofing is the fiberglass stuff- about $16/sheet, in the shingles isle at Lowe's. It works great, but it adds a lot to the weight.

I move mine usually twice a day- it's plenty light to do that, even with a bad back, but I would have made it lighter if I were doing it again. It tends to dig into sand, and leave tracks in soft soil, etc. Make it as light as you can depending on your level of predators. I made mine like a tank, and haven't seen a single predator.


Brad:
My birds stay in the tractor 24/7 once they're out of the brooder. For cold weather batches, I hang a heat lamp under the covered portion.

 

[jpace]

Quote:
Last year was my first year to raise CRs, I was amazed at the amount of poop they can produce in a day. On a good note, I have some seriously green grass where I was moving my hoop house around!

Thanks for the info about your house and what you would like to change. Last year I did one batch of CRs and I plan on doing multiple batches this year, so I am checking out different housing options.

 

[jaku]

Quote:
Last year was my first year to raise CRs, I was amazed at the amount of poop they can produce in a day. On a good note, I have some seriously green grass where I was moving my hoop house around!

Thanks for the info about your house and what you would like to change. Last year I did one batch of CRs and I plan on doing multiple batches this year, so I am checking out different housing options.

Yeah, I think the tractor is absolutely the only way to go with the Cornish X's, but there are definitely kinks to work out with them.