Comments on: Extending the chickenhouse http://tinyfarmblog.com/extending-chickenhouse/ Daily photo-journal of organic market gardening: growing local food with two acres and some tools...! Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:30:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1-RC1 By: Ruth http://tinyfarmblog.com/extending-chickenhouse/#comment-64850 Ruth Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:00:03 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2661#comment-64850 Where did you get your shaver reds? Where did you get your shaver reds?

]]> By: Tim http://tinyfarmblog.com/extending-chickenhouse/#comment-63273 Tim Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:35:47 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2661#comment-63273 We've had chickens for years, and have had some seasons when we lose a few to hawks and foxes. When ours are out ranging, we like to  make sure the have something to hide under if a hawk comes over.  At night we close up the coop and rarely have any trouble. In the past I had a chicken run that was covered with poultry wire. To keep things from burrowing under, I dug a trench around the perimeter, and put my wire down in it. Then I filled the trench with quickrete, and let it cure before covering it with dirt. Sounds extreme, but I never lost a chicken in that run. We’ve had chickens for years, and have had some seasons when we lose a few to hawks and foxes. When ours are out ranging, we like to  make sure the have something to hide under if a hawk comes over.  At night we close up the coop and rarely have any trouble.
In the past I had a chicken run that was covered with poultry wire. To keep things from burrowing under, I dug a trench around the perimeter, and put my wire down in it. Then I filled the trench with quickrete, and let it cure before covering it with dirt. Sounds extreme, but I never lost a chicken in that run.

]]> By: Mike (tfb) http://tinyfarmblog.com/extending-chickenhouse/#comment-62702 Mike (tfb) Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:14:06 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2661#comment-62702 <p><strong>Kevin:</strong> I'm not nearly an expert source of chicken info, this is only my second round of chickens, first was last season. I recommend doing a little reading to start, that's always a good idea. You can try this <a href="http://backyardchickens.com/raising-chickens-basics.php" rel="nofollow">Raising chickens 101</a> page, and there's TONS more helpful chicken raising stuff online. Getting a book is also good. My one chicken book is <em>Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens</em>. Storey is a publisher that I've found to be reliable for farm stuff.</p> <p>In the pic, it's just a double shed. It used to be an open-sided roadside veggie stand, and we added walls. Each room is 8'x10'. Still have to add windows and a chicken doors (there's temporary ventilation and light through openings just below the roof on the back). One side is for the meat birds, the other for the laying hens.</p> <p>We've so far allowing the meat birds to roam freely during the day. Nothing's taken a run at them yet, but a fence will have to go up soon, as they're roaming further from home every day.</p> <p>A secure chicken coop and fencing is the usual way of protecting them from various predators. You can get details about the standard ways, online and in a good chicken book.</p> <p>Hope that helps! Get chickens!! ;)</p> Kevin: I’m not nearly an expert source of chicken info, this is only my second round of chickens, first was last season. I recommend doing a little reading to start, that’s always a good idea. You can try this Raising chickens 101 page, and there’s TONS more helpful chicken raising stuff online. Getting a book is also good. My one chicken book is Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens. Storey is a publisher that I’ve found to be reliable for farm stuff.

In the pic, it’s just a double shed. It used to be an open-sided roadside veggie stand, and we added walls. Each room is 8′x10′. Still have to add windows and a chicken doors (there’s temporary ventilation and light through openings just below the roof on the back). One side is for the meat birds, the other for the laying hens.

We’ve so far allowing the meat birds to roam freely during the day. Nothing’s taken a run at them yet, but a fence will have to go up soon, as they’re roaming further from home every day.

A secure chicken coop and fencing is the usual way of protecting them from various predators. You can get details about the standard ways, online and in a good chicken book.

Hope that helps! Get chickens!! ;)

]]> By: Kevin http://tinyfarmblog.com/extending-chickenhouse/#comment-62119 Kevin Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:43:17 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2661#comment-62119 Hey, can you explain what I'm seeing in your photo?  I'd like to raise some chickens for eggs, but have no idea how to start. -What is the room off to the right in the photo for?  Do I need to build one? -We have chicken snakes down here.  Do you(?), and if you do, how do you protect your eggs from them? -We also have coyotes and foxes.  Will that chicken wire you are using keep them out? I ask because the place that I'm hoping to build a coop is about 200 yards from the house, so the chickens will pretty much be on their own when trouble strikes.  I'd like to give them a fighting chance. Hey, can you explain what I’m seeing in your photo?  I’d like to raise some chickens for eggs, but have no idea how to start.
-What is the room off to the right in the photo for?  Do I need to build one?
-We have chicken snakes down here.  Do you(?), and if you do, how do you protect your eggs from them?
-We also have coyotes and foxes.  Will that chicken wire you are using keep them out?
I ask because the place that I’m hoping to build a coop is about 200 yards from the house, so the chickens will pretty much be on their own when trouble strikes.  I’d like to give them a fighting chance.

]]> By: Mike (tfb) http://tinyfarmblog.com/extending-chickenhouse/#comment-62022 Mike (tfb) Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:10:20 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2661#comment-62022 <p><strong>EtienneG: </strong>Yes, indeed, repurposed. In all, that ends up being a fairly costly chickenhouse, built on a pile of rough-cut cedar with a zillion screws! But it is recycled. :)</p> EtienneG: Yes, indeed, repurposed. In all, that ends up being a fairly costly chickenhouse, built on a pile of rough-cut cedar with a zillion screws! But it is recycled. :)

]]> By: EtienneG http://tinyfarmblog.com/extending-chickenhouse/#comment-61609 EtienneG Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:04:59 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2661#comment-61609 Ah HA!  That's the old farm stand we recognize there!   Ingenious  use of available resources that is :) Ah HA!  That’s the old farm stand we recognize there!
 
Ingenious  use of available resources that is :)

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