Chickens, and things related

[4720 OWNER]

CT's are kind of fun to build. I used 4" pvc and all measuments based on 8. 2' high walls, run area 8 x 8, coop 4x8, all covered in chic wire or thin plywood (the coop) and lite plastic foldable roof, so can put waterer in there. Couple dowels for roosts inside coop. Slide door from coop to run so can trap them in when inviting them to dinner. This is easily big enough for 25 birds. Have a cam, but have to figure how to get pics in.

Put feed by the coop and pull forward until almost running into flock will keep everyone happy. Grass looks really bad the first time gone over and then greens up like crazy with many fewer weeds after about a week.

The 4" pvc is a little overkill, and maybe could get by with 3" but 4 has all the correct corner fittings and easy to find. This will be the fourth year on mine with minimal problems. Probably about 10 flocks have gone thru it.

 

[Tororider]

Tony,
They have a beginners pack at cackle that includes most of the stuff you need. I think I will still get most of mine at TSC, need to support the local economy, but in case you are interested I thought I would let you know.

 

[4720 OWNER]

Always got medicated feed for the first bag, and regular after that. Tried electrolyte for the water and have not seen a difference whether use it or not.

 

[mjfox6]

I had the 12" brooder pen that came with a starter kit that I ordered. That lasted a little while but the chickens started flying up and landing on it. Made a pen out of unfolded cardboard boxes after that, just taped them to the garage floor and each other. Had plastic on the floor so it was an easy clean up after moving them to the pen.

 

[4720 OWNER]

That sounds like a great idea! I just had them in the shop or the feed house (which is lots of fun since the door opens out and all the guys come rushing to the door and over the threshold, but the dog is more than happy to put them back in or help me herd them!!!)

 

[EddieWalker]

Tractor Supply has a roll of 72inchx50' chicken wire for $43.99 and a roll of woven wire fence 72in x 100 ft for $198.99.

That price for woven wire is crazy. I can't imagine why you would need the heavier gauge. The 14 ga fence at HD is only 3ft tall, but at half the height, it's 1/5th the price of the 6ft 12.5 gauge fence.

You can buy two rolls of the 14 ga fence from Home Depot and put them on top of each other for the same height and have $120 left over!!!

Eddie

 

[Tororider]

Thanks Eddie, I couldn't find what I was looking for on Home Depots website, but yeah, that makes way more sense. I don't find the search engine on the HD site to be at all helpful. Yeah, $120 in the bank sounds good to me.

When are you all going to be ordering your chickens for? I was thinking the first or second week in March.?.

 

[Soundguy]

Thanks, the only thing missing from that tag was the price. Do you find that the mesh is easy to work with?

I have use dthat wire.. and find it easier than chicken wire to work with.

soundguy

 

[Tororider]

For those of you still reading this thread. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being terrible and 10 being outstanding, rate your chicken owning experiences in these areas.

Cleanliness of chickens
Time spent on chickens
Amusement of chickens
Food provided by chickens
Overall enjoyment of chicken owning

I am fully convinced that this will be a fun thing to do, and give me another excuse to get out to the "farm" more. Some family members are not convinced this will be as easy or as fun as I am, so I am looking for some experienced chicken owners opinions.

 

[davitk]

Are you spontaneous? Like vacations? Have busy evenings? Get tired of poop on your shoes? Trust me, as the man and the father, the buck stops with you. If it needs doing, you will be the one to do it.

5 Cleanliness of chickens
7 Time spent on chickens
9 Amusement of chickens
10 Food provided by chickens
7 Overall enjoyment of chicken owning

That said, once you have your own eggs, you won't want to look at store bought.