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Started By
Message
Wife Wants Chickens
Posted on 3/21/24 at 4:46 pm
Posted on 3/21/24 at 4:46 pm
What this really means is that she likes the idea of having chickens and not actually investing the time it would take to raise chickens. So I’d be the one doing all the work. If I do this I’d like to do a combination of free range and a run. I leave for work early some days, before sun up. My question is how big of a run is needed for say 8 chickens? My plan would be to let them free range the mornings I don’t leave early for work and let them stay in the run when I do. Of course I’d have to figure out a water and feed process but wanted to know if that was a sustainable plan?
16
Posted on 3/21/24 at 4:52 pm to GAFF
8 hens will need quite a bit of space if enclosed. You can do a small run but you’ll wind up with a smelly mudhole
if you let them roam, which is best for the hens, they WILL tear up all your planting and flower beds, and shite all over decks, porches, etc
a good compromise is a big fenced pen. Mine was 30x30 with a henhouse inside. Plan on high turnover (everything eats chicken)
if you let them roam, which is best for the hens, they WILL tear up all your planting and flower beds, and shite all over decks, porches, etc
a good compromise is a big fenced pen. Mine was 30x30 with a henhouse inside. Plan on high turnover (everything eats chicken)
Posted on 3/21/24 at 5:11 pm to GAFF
If you want to let them be in the yard but contained, then make a rolling cage that allows you to move them around the yard so they don't tear up one particular spot if in a permanent structure.
With the moveable cage you let them peck, scratch and eat and their crap will help fertilize the area after you move the cage to another site.
With the moveable cage you let them peck, scratch and eat and their crap will help fertilize the area after you move the cage to another site.
Posted on 3/21/24 at 5:15 pm to gumbo2176
We have 26 acres so the hen house will be in an area away from the main house. What about 4-5 chickens? How big of a run?
Posted on 3/21/24 at 5:19 pm to GAFF
If they are out, watch out for predators..dogs in the area, etc. Hawks will also get them
Posted on 3/21/24 at 5:49 pm to GAFF
quote:
What about 4-5 chickens? How big of a run?
Look up Chicken Tractors and they have sites with plans to build just about any size and complexity you want to attempt.
Sometimes it's as simple as chicken wire on a rectangular wood frame with wheels so you can roll it around the yard when you move it and a lot of them have a chicken wire bottoms so the chickens can peck at the grass and bugs but nothing can get at them from underneath.
Posted on 3/21/24 at 6:57 pm to GAFF
This is our setup , we have 10 hens in it, combines a house and a protected run, I will never say that a predator can not get in, but they would have to be very motivated
Posted on 3/21/24 at 7:21 pm to GAFF
General rule of thumb is 10 sqft of run per chicken from everything I've read. My run is roughly 180 sqft, and I plan to keep 8 chickens initially (mainly because I have a smaller coop). We have 16 pullets/cockerels around 10-11 weeks old right now, but half of those will end up in the freezer in a few months.
I also have some portable electric fencing to move them out of the run and allow them to "free range" without actually roaming all over. I don't have my garden fenced in, and don't want them getting into the garden. BUT, at the end of the season, I can throw the temp fence up around the garden and let them clean it up.
I also have some portable electric fencing to move them out of the run and allow them to "free range" without actually roaming all over. I don't have my garden fenced in, and don't want them getting into the garden. BUT, at the end of the season, I can throw the temp fence up around the garden and let them clean it up.
This post was edited on 3/21/24 at 7:23 pm
Posted on 3/22/24 at 8:56 am to Tigerpaw123
quote:
I will never say that a predator can not get in, but they would have to be very motivated
Raccoons and snakes are probably the critter you need to plan for the most. Not saying they are the public enemy number 1, but if you raccoon/ snake proof the run, you will block out most other critters.
Have a buddy that has a fenced in area with horse fence as the material around the run. Raccoons reached in and grabbed one of the chickens and tore its leg off and eventually dragged it out of a hole somewhere. Raccoons and coyotes will dig under the run if they're given enough time without a nearby deterrent.
Posted on 3/22/24 at 9:58 am to GAFF
They will tear the shite out of your lawn and trees. Also be prepared for shite all over your concrete areas. I love my chickens, but I'm not a big yard being nice person. If I had actual grass in my yard, I'd be pissed. Chickens don't NEED much area at all. But there isn't any use in just putting animals into a tiny cage. Also to consider is what kind of dogs or predators do you have in the area?
Posted on 3/22/24 at 10:27 am to GAFF
Posted on 3/22/24 at 10:35 am to cgrand
quote:
Plan on high turnover (everything eats chicken)
My wife wants them for our kids to tend to. They are going to get attached to them and we have tons of predators around our property. Foxes, coyotes, eagles, hawks, etc.
I have held off because of this.
Posted on 3/22/24 at 10:58 am to GAFF
You need an automatic waterer. You will give up without one.
Posted on 3/22/24 at 11:19 am to Churchill
quote:
You need an automatic waterer. You will give up without one.
I put a couple of buckets like you'd feed horses with under my down spouts and they like that more than city water. But you need decent rain once a week or so to keep it up. I know when I started chickens, I thought they needed special waterers and feeders. But for the most part, they will drink wherever there is water and eat whatever you throw at them. If they're in an enclosed coop though, I'd get a 5g waterer.
Make sure you get a decent secure coop that has plenty of room where they can roost at night. Splurge for the automatic door. It makes things much easier as long as there isn't a power interruption. I lost half my chickens to 2 stray dogs that one day just happened on my girls. Now I keep them in about an acre area with electric netting that they can go in and out of, but dogs and foxes wouldn't have the courage to since I've got a 50mile charger on .5 miles of fence. Most of the time they stay in it, but some go out every day to probably escape the rooster.
Posted on 3/22/24 at 12:33 pm to CatfishJohn
quote:
I have held off because of this.
And if wanting them for the fresh eggs, what are your plans once they get too old to lay????
Most folks cull them for the freezer, but if your kids are making them pets, good luck getting them to eat that chicken stew, soup or gumbo..........
This post was edited on 3/22/24 at 2:24 pm
Posted on 3/22/24 at 12:35 pm to gumbo2176
quote:
And if wanting them for the fresh eggs, what are your plans once they get too old to lay????
Most folks cull them for the freezer, but if your kids are making them pets, good luck getting the eat that chicken stew, soup or gumbo.........
I actually want to lop their heads off in front of my kids to toughen em up
jk...kind of
Posted on 3/22/24 at 1:12 pm to GAFF
My son has a few.. he chose a variety for egg color… fwiw my favorite are silkies… your kids will get a kick out of them.. they look like a cartoon.
Posted on 3/22/24 at 2:42 pm to GAFF
WE have had our chickens 1 year and haven't lost any yet - knock on wood. We have 9 hens & 1 rooster and live in north Louisiana in a rural area - lots of predators. Main predators are fox, coons, coyotes, hawks and dogs . I built a coop that has an attached run and automatic door (solar) that opens from the coop to the run at dawn & closes at dusk. I highly recommend an auto door. Third Coast Craftsman has a Youtube on the coop I built and he also has a website LINK . I changed a few things but pretty much used his plans- the wife loves it. We did a ton of research on YouTube before doing or building anything . If you have the right setup they are really easy and a lot of fun for the grandkids and us. I built a screen door on the run- use hardware cloth on the run and door not chicken wire. We use the OverEZ 12 gallon waterer and OverEZ 50Lb feeder , this really lasts a long time. I use apple cider vinegar in the water and check a few times a week, but it will last a week or 2
This post was edited on 3/22/24 at 2:55 pm
Posted on 3/22/24 at 3:55 pm to popig
quote:thats a very nice coop and run
Third Coast Craftsman has a Youtube on the coop I built and he also has a website
Posted on 3/22/24 at 6:51 pm to cgrand
Yes, we are very happy with the coop and attached run. My hat goes off to TCC , the Youtube and plans were very thorough and detailed . I built mine just a little larger , but followed the basic plan pretty close. I am using the deep litter method so I didn't build the poop shelf , so I ran my roost boards sideways instead of diagonal . We use industrial hemp for litter like the Carolina Coop guy does and its great .
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