Your Breeding Pens!

[sunnie7]

I'm getting a late start on splitting up my leghorn pens. Got a roll of plastic construction fence and zip tied it together and to existing infrastructure. So much better (and more affordable) to work with than chicken wire, and when breeding season is over I can snip the zip ties and roll up the fence for safekeeping until next season.
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Do they have roosts? No actually coop just covered pen? Do you have issues with predators?

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Do they have roosts? No actually coop just covered pen? Do you have issues with predators?

This one shows the roosts better.

I trimmed the ends, secured them, and wrapped the whole thing in tarps for wind block. We have some minor issues with raccoons being around, but they don't get into these.

I'm in the southeast, IMO coops aren't necessary. Just need something to keep them dry and out of the wind when it's cold-ish.

I lived (and raised chickens) in Alaska for over a decade. Chickens are phenomenally hardy, and those that aren't... well I don't want any that aren't. LOL

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Anyone have small pens that are good sized for a pair or trio?

 

[sunnie7]

This one shows the roosts better.

View attachment 2486945
I trimmed the ends, secured them, and wrapped the whole thing in tarps for wind block. We have some minor issues with raccoons being around, but they don't get into these.

I'm in the southeast, IMO coops aren't necessary. Just need something to keep them dry and out of the wind when it's cold-ish.

I lived (and raised chickens) in Alaska for over a decade. Chickens are phenomenally hardy, and those that aren't... well I don't want any that aren't. LOL

I had my juvenile peafowl trio in a 10x10 kennel but decided to sell them. Predators are too bad around here to free range that valuable of a bird. My Great Pyrneese keeps a lot of the predators away. I’m debating between CCL, Silverudd Blue and Swedish Flower to get started into breeding. How many do you keep in each pen and do you keep the rooster in with them? I have a smaller wire kennel wrapped in Hardware cloth I can raise them in while younger.
Do you just have one door?! How to you get to the other side?

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Anyone have small pens that are good sized for a pair or trio?

I'm planning to split a 10x10 kennel into four 5x5 pens for LF pairs and trios using the same zip-tie/construction fence method that I used above. I couldl also split the ones above (5'x8') in half for pairs, I suppose. I just needed some for quads, so this size worked.

 

[sunnie7]

Here’s what I have. I covered the top in chicken wire after this photo but I think I’d redo it with the construction fencing like @HaikuHeritageFarm has.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

I had my juvenile peafowl trio in a 10x10 kennel but decided to sell them. Predators are too bad around here to free range that valuable of a bird. My Great Pyrneese keeps a lot of the predators away. I’m debating between CCL, Silverudd Blue and Swedish Flower to get started into breeding. How many do you keep in each pen and do you keep the rooster in with them? I have a smaller wire kennel wrapped in Hardware cloth I can raise them in while younger.
Do you just have one door?! How to you get to the other side?

I'm keeping a cock and three hens (LF Leghorns) in these 5x8 pens for the breeding season. For now, at this point in my program and the set-up I have, yes, the male is in with them. I'll have to snap photos of the "gates" tomorrow. It's a pretty casual affair, but I'm struggling to find the words to describe it clearly.

Whether or not these open-air coops work for you will depend on what kind of predators you have. These protect from aerial predators and dogs/coyotes (I don't have issues with those as my own dogs patrol the yard, so have not made the perimeter "dig-proof"). If your birds have the opportunity to roost up against the chain-link without a barrier, they will be vulnerable to raccoons and possums. I have other coops that solve this problem by using ladder style roosts that set the birds away from the perimeter. Here, the tarps on the perimeter have proven sufficient so far, but I suppose they aren't bulletproof. If you have problems with small weasley things... you'd need to lock the birds up in airtight boxes to protect them.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Here’s what I have. I covered the top in chicken wire after this photo but I think I’d redo it with the construction fencing like @HaikuHeritageFarm has.
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At the peak at the top, you need to use wire. Field fencing or hardware cloth or some manner of welded wire. Do not use chicken wire or the construction fencing for perimeter stuff, that's for interior divisions only—it only serves to separate birds from other birds.

 

[sunnie7]

I'm keeping a cock and three hens (LF Leghorns) in these 5x8 pens for the breeding season. For now, at this point in my program and the set-up I have, yes, the male is in with them. I'll have to snap photos of the "gates" tomorrow. It's a pretty casual affair, but I'm struggling to find the words to describe it clearly.

Whether or not these open-air coops work for you will depend on what kind of predators you have. These protect from aerial predators and dogs/coyotes (I don't have issues with those as my own dogs patrol the yard, so have not made the perimeter "dig-proof"). If your birds have the opportunity to roost up against the chain-link without a barrier, they will be vulnerable to raccoons and possums. I have other coops that solve this problem by using ladder style roosts that set the birds away from the perimeter. Here, the tarps on the perimeter have proven sufficient so far, but I suppose they aren't bulletproof. If you have problems with small weasley things... you'd need to lock the birds up in airtight boxes to protect them.

I do have racoon and I think now a weasel problem with the pen I lock my guineas in but that’s up towards our house by the smaller pen that’s covered in HC cloth. The larger dog kennel is down the hill with the chickens, goats and my Great Pyrneese. Only issues I’ve had down there has been when a couple chickens escaped the uncovered run (before i clipped their wing) and my GP got them. She’s only 1.5 and that was awhile ago so I’m really hoping with age and more and more training she gets better with the chickens! She doesn’t try to dog and get them or anything.

 

[Minky]

Anyone have small pens that are good sized for a pair or trio?

I have trios and quads. Mine are nothing special- all 50 sq feet. Dirt floor, roosts. Seems to be a good size for 3 or 4 hens and a rooster. Bored enough that they think about mating a lot. OR laying eggs. lol Just one nest box so they can keep the eggs warm for me until I get them. Mine is chicken wire to separate pens, and hardware cloth on the exterior walls. However Im feeling like there should be some sort of privacy block between pens so the others roosters dont get all riled up when there is mating going on. It just seems a bit intimidating and scary for the hens...?? anyone else feel this way?