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Post by davidjp on Feb 28, 2015 16:02:28 GMT -5
Good point. I have found a source locally for someone that sells them but I actually don't know the price so maybe thats what I should ask first. i doubt they would be that expensive but maybe they would.
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Post by breezygardener on Feb 28, 2015 16:11:28 GMT -5
Locally I see this type of pen sold which seems a little too minamalist to me but its made by a company in San Diego and it might be OK for this climate, basically it never gets cold here and heat is probably more of an issue. I also quite like the idea od being able to move it around my yard. What do you think of this type of thing, they have some other models as well. I was thinking maybe insert a roosting pole and a trap covering at one end for shade and that might be one way to go. www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/rugged-ranch-products-spring-fling-mobile-coop-9-chicken-capacity
Honestly, in my opinion that IS a little too minimalist. The wire run hole openings are way too large for my taste, & while there are a few nest boxes, there's no coop for the birds to retire to & nest in. And you DON'T want them doing that in the nest boxes. The birds are going to feel very insecure. I'd nix the idea of this model.
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Post by brownrexx on Feb 28, 2015 17:12:42 GMT -5
WAY too expensive too. I also agree about the wire opening size. It's too large.
I wish I had a picture of our first coop. It was crappy but it worked fine for the chickens.
A moveable coop is called a chicken tractor and many times it is just for moving the hens around the yard and it keeps them safe at the same time. However moving a coop full of chickens is not easy and the moveable pens without a coop are just for daytime foraging and you would have to return them to the coop at night. Since those enclosures do not have a floor I am wondering about moving them around with chickens inside and not having problems with legs getting caught or chickens getting out while moving. I decided that it would be too much trouble so we just let them free range when we are at home and keep our eye on them. We also have a rooster who alerts them to hazards like hawks which is our biggest risk.
Here is my current coop both inside and outside. Hubby built the outside pen last year with 2 x 4's and wire. The wire cost $100 but it's a large coop and covered on all sides and the top. There is also wire buried around all of the edges to keep digging predators out. Note how my wisteria gives them shade in the outside pen during the summer. In the winter it loses its leaves and lets the sun shine in.
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Post by davidjp on Feb 28, 2015 17:57:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the opinions, I was thinking it was a little too bare as well.
I must say brownrexx what a fabulous coop and location as well. I've only been to Pennsylvania once, actually Philadelphia but looks like I need to explore more through the state. I guess I'll trawl through the backyard chickens site's coop plans and see if there's anything I can come up with my limited woodworking skills. I can have roosters but I think I will stick with hens only as not sure the neighbours would be too keen although actually we're spaced fairly far apart. We have a sort of fenced yard within a yard thats fenced in chainlink to 5-6ft so I can probably try and free range for at least the time we're around, its also fairly densely wooded so hopefully might provide some protection but I'm sure we would loose some at some point. Definitely making the actual coop secure and with room enough to stay in for extended periods would be good.
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Post by davidjp on Feb 28, 2015 17:59:02 GMT -5
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Post by brownrexx on Feb 28, 2015 18:03:15 GMT -5
I've only been to Pennsylvania once, actually Philadelphia but looks like I need to explore more through the state. Philadelphia is OK but I definitely wouldn't want to live there! I live 60 miles west of Philadelphia in a semi rural area. There are small housing developments mixed in with lots of farms.
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Post by davidjp on Feb 28, 2015 18:16:39 GMT -5
I've only been to Pennsylvania once, actually Philadelphia but looks like I need to explore more through the state. Philadelphia is OK but I definitely wouldn't want to live there! I live 60 miles west of Philadelphia in a semi rural area. There are small housing developments mixed in with lots of farms. Well wherever it is it looks lovely. Part of it is here things whilst things here are green they are never that green or that vibrant sort of green so its almost a kind of shock to see it that way after being in a naturally more arid area. It just looks so lush.
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Post by brownrexx on Feb 28, 2015 19:05:11 GMT -5
I didn't even think of that. I have only been to CA either at the airport or San Francisco.
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Post by ncgarden on Mar 1, 2015 6:26:12 GMT -5
While I don't normally care much about egg color (after careful blind taste testing - I am completely unable to tell any difference), this last year I have become obsessed with dark brown eggs, and have been eyeing some Cuckoo Marans. Thankfully, my local supplier sold out of hens before my resolve completely weakened. But I am still looking at photos....
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Post by brownrexx on Mar 1, 2015 8:45:49 GMT -5
A nickname for the Marans is "chocolate eggers" and my hubby became obsessed with the dark brown eggs as well. We couldn't find any chicks for a reasonable price so I searched on Craig's List and found a local person selling a Black Copper Maran Rooster and I called to see if he might have any fertile eggs.
He gave me a dozen eggs and I gave him one of my extra Barred Rock Hens. We had our broody hatch the eggs and ended up with a Black Copper Maran rooster and a hen. We also got two Black Copper Maran/Americana cross hens which are called "olive eggers" and they lay the dark green eggs.
There is absolutely no difference in taste but I just love the colors. However French chefs think that Black Copper Maran eggs are special because they covet them.
I will say that there is one difference and that is that the shells are thicker which is shy they are difficult to hatch in an incubator. Broody hens do a much better job with them.
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Post by ncgarden on Mar 1, 2015 9:40:24 GMT -5
Okay, I am supposed to be exercising and instead.... Brownrexx, such a neat, tidy coop! David, for my coops, I always need to make them big enough to get in and out easily, because I spend an absurd amount of time IN there with the chickens. And like everything, my coops are evolving. The first one, we converted an 8x12 garden shed into the coop, thinking we did not need an enclosed run. Added some windows, a big screen door, roosts and we were good to go. But then we realized we really needed a run, so we added on. Then I needed a BIGGER run, so we made some portables. Then I needed an even BIGGER run, so we built one big enough that when I have to keep them locked up due to predator pressure, I still feel good about it (and can spend time inside with them). Inside the giant run is my mini "isolation" ward for chicks or injured hens. The run Attachment Deleted
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Post by brownrexx on Mar 1, 2015 11:19:01 GMT -5
NC, you may want to avoid going to Tractor Supply for a while. We just stopped in there this morning for some bird seed and they have baby chicks!
OMG, those Bantams are just adorable. I just stood there and watched them peck around. And the ducklings with their little tiny beaks....so cute.
I don't need chicken, I don't need chicks, I don't need chicks.
I managed to get out without buying any but the sure were cute.
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Post by davidjp on Mar 1, 2015 17:23:11 GMT -5
I know its very tempting and its only 1/2 mile away as well which even more annoying
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Post by brownrexx on Mar 1, 2015 17:31:31 GMT -5
Get a pen made or purchased quick. Aren't they cute????
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Post by davidjp on Mar 1, 2015 17:52:27 GMT -5
David, for my coops, I always need to make them big enough to get in and out easily, because I spend an absurd amount of time IN there with the chickens. And like everything, my coops are evolving. The first one, we converted an 8x12 garden shed into the coop, thinking we did not need an enclosed run. Added some windows, a big screen door, roosts and we were good to go. But then we realized we really needed a run, so we added on. Then I needed a BIGGER run, so we made some portables. Then I needed an even BIGGER run, so we built one big enough that when I have to keep them locked up due to predator pressure, I still feel good about it (and can spend time inside with them). Inside the giant run is my mini "isolation" ward for chicks or injured hens. That's a great looking run, as you say its good to have room to move around in. My grandfather had an old abandoned railway stock car that he'd somehow purloined and used as a chicken shed. It was one of those small English ones and definitely pre war, question is pre which war possibly Boer as it looked very old but seemed to work well.
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