In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Homesteading Chicken Coop Build, Chickens, Pond, Garden & Projects

Discussion in 'Hobbies and Interests' started by Well Seasoned, Mar 25, 2018.

  1. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    18,033
    Likes Received:
    83,739
    Location:
    N.H. WMNF
    Thank you sir! First timer here, we really enjoy watching them. Made some newbie mistakes, but all are doing great. Our big one may be dinner at some point.
     
  2. clay shooter

    clay shooter

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2017
    Messages:
    1,389
    Likes Received:
    7,104
    Location:
    ENGLAND
    they look very happy there,when i was a young lad, my dad had chickens in the garden i went up to feed them for him oppeded the gate, they jumped up after the food, i dropped the food and ran like hell.
     
  3. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    18,033
    Likes Received:
    83,739
    Location:
    N.H. WMNF
    :rofl: :lol:
     
  4. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    18,033
    Likes Received:
    83,739
    Location:
    N.H. WMNF
    I started a run tonight. Lots to still do, but planning on framing the door, some more 2x's and adding a smoky polycarbonate roof on it. The chickens will use the large area and utilize under the coop as well giving them 130sqft, a little smaller then the 160sqft they should have, but this will only be during the day at work- after which & during the weekend they'll have total free range.


    So far.....



    20180516_201941.jpg
     
  5. coreboy83

    coreboy83

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2017
    Messages:
    703
    Likes Received:
    4,737
    Location:
    NW of Twin-Cities
    looks nice. we added a 2' strip of hardware cloth to the bottom of fencing, as well as a row of paver blocks around the border to prevent digging in or out
     
  6. clay shooter

    clay shooter

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2017
    Messages:
    1,389
    Likes Received:
    7,104
    Location:
    ENGLAND
    another nice coop.
     
  7. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    18,033
    Likes Received:
    83,739
    Location:
    N.H. WMNF
    Yes- good idea....... I'm planning on putting the hardware cloth a foot down.
     
  8. justdraftn

    justdraftn

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2017
    Messages:
    1,032
    Likes Received:
    7,480
    Location:
    On the road
    Are these meat or egg chickens?

    In Alaska we raised Cornish Cross chickens for meat.
    You knew they were ready when they couldn't stand up anymore.

    FYI What's the best shower?

    The shower after butchering chickens.
     
  9. coreboy83

    coreboy83

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2017
    Messages:
    703
    Likes Received:
    4,737
    Location:
    NW of Twin-Cities
    out thought i
    Good plan. we opted for the pavers out of sheer laziness. didnt feel like trenching that day...
     
  10. savemoney

    savemoney

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    13,374
    Likes Received:
    68,352
    Location:
    Chelsea Maine
    Word of caution, around the bottom two feet, consider the small opening chicken wire to border that area. I had coons reach trough my wire cage and rip the heads of several chickens that are too dumb to stay away. Chickens are very curious and will go up to the wire and are attracted to the hand of the coon. there is no escape from the coon then. I buried my wire a few inches down to help discourage any digging under. Looks like a good set up. Anxious to see it at GTG
     
  11. jrider

    jrider

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2018
    Messages:
    5,236
    Likes Received:
    35,700
    Location:
    NJ
    I just put mine in the freezer 2 weeks ago. Had one come in at 8.6 pounds.
     
  12. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    18,033
    Likes Received:
    83,739
    Location:
    N.H. WMNF
    They are both layers & meat birds (white rock) - but we're keeping for eggs unless the dinner bell rings.

    Shower...... i read this :eek:
     
    Chazsbetterhalf, Chaz and bogieb like this.
  13. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    18,033
    Likes Received:
    83,739
    Location:
    N.H. WMNF

    Plan is to trench around the area and bury about a foot of wire. I still need to grade the area a bit. I picked up 4'x50' hardware cloth galvanized 1/2".
     
    Chazsbetterhalf and Chaz like this.
  14. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    18,033
    Likes Received:
    83,739
    Location:
    N.H. WMNF
    One rooster we have is at least that! Starting to make a basketball look small! :eek:
     
    jrider, Chaz and Midwinter like this.
  15. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    18,033
    Likes Received:
    83,739
    Location:
    N.H. WMNF
    I picked up some polycarbonate smoke colored panel. (Chit is pricy! :headbang:) I still have a little lumber to put up, but is mostly framed out. Still deciding on what we're doing for a door. Not much time after work, but roof is on. There is a slight pitch for runoff, but I'll be roof raking in the winter. It's solid, but not for a chit-ton of snow!


    20180518_184949.jpg
     
  16. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2016
    Messages:
    13,053
    Likes Received:
    92,514
    Location:
    Southern Worcester county
    A rooster you say. An alarm clock for the gtg, eh?

    Sent from my SM-T280 using Tapatalk
     
  17. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    18,033
    Likes Received:
    83,739
    Location:
    N.H. WMNF
    :rofl: :lol:
     
    Chazsbetterhalf and bogieb like this.
  18. Midwinter

    Midwinter

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2017
    Messages:
    19,846
    Likes Received:
    130,464
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
    Is that him? I hope he's not too protective, he'll chase all the lumberjacks up trees! 20180518_184949.jpg
     
  19. Midwinter

    Midwinter

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2017
    Messages:
    19,846
    Likes Received:
    130,464
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
  20. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    18,033
    Likes Received:
    83,739
    Location:
    N.H. WMNF
    Lol...


    The run is nearly all closed in. I ordered 50ft of hardware cloth, but need another 16'!:hair:

    Ill need to pickup more tomorrow. Was hoping to have the run finished today, so I can start planting tomorrow, but it is what it is.



    So far......

    20180520_193424.jpg