EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

thinkin of gettin some chickens for the new house, anybody have a good pen to put them in? i want it to be portable and just move them around the yard.

U can build one pretty cheap---I think I built mine for like $50 maybe less, they dont need much realy. 

Two chickens per person will keep yall on eggs year rnd, I have red/golden sex links, BUT I am also getting some American Dominicks.

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Oly, what did you build yours out of to make it so cheap

I don't have a portable pen aka Chicken Tractor, but I did build a coop a few years ago and don't have $100.00 in it total.  I used scrap cedar slabs, used tin on the roof, cedar fence pickets for the door. Only thing I bought was some 4x4 lumber, gate hardware and wire mesh.

We keep about 15 layers these days, when we had more dogs, we kept as a many as 60-70 layers and the dogs had fresh eggs daily with their food.

Here's a pic of the coop
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0354.jpg)

CC thats a awsome lookin pen if ive ever seen one ;D

im just thinkin of doin the 2x4 method and chicken wire. i have 4 leghorns and a big rooster

free range all the way! my daughter likes to go egg hunting with me in the evening..we have fun! My barn lot is about 5 acres an Id say they might travel that but not real far from the barn

The idea is (Like CircleC has done) to make it from matls you can find or forage, I seen some nice ones built out of shipping pallets and so on, I made mine out of shipping containers the company I work for was throwing out, so I just bought wire and I made my laying boxes out of $5 homedepot buckets---

I like my hens to forage, BUT I like them to lay eggs in the coop and I dont like to see them get killed by coons or cats after waiting for them to lay so I tend to watch over the ladies, they are put up at night---- if you get them killed then it kinda defies the purpose of saving money in eggs and meat when ya have to constantly replace them because they get ate---

 

yea and living in the city i dont want my hens runnin down the street. i was just thinkin of makin a light weight pen that i can move around the yard so they can get the bugs and grass

You can make one out of an old dog kennel

(http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedImages/SpecialProjects/Eggs/movable-full-2.jpg)


these would be CHEAP and easy to make, I bet I can make one like this for under $50 a bit nicer but same style for well under $100

(http://chickenbreedslist.com/images/movable-chicken-coop.JPG)

So many Ideas in the internets just google CHEAP chicken coops and then go to the images--- and steel ya some ideas--- keep your eyes open for FREE matls.

On the second one just add wheels so its portable/movable.

thanks bud i really like the first one  ;D ;D

I don't think I want to be knowing about you have red/golden sex anything rolleyes If you get a Domina.. anything, American or not, you need to keep that out of the yard ;D

I made this one out of an old dog kennel. Attached some 2x2's and a few sheets of tin for the top. Attached some plywood around the back part and added a roost pole . All that is left is to add a few nest boxes. I have pine shavings about 6 in. thick on the bottom.
                     (http://)(http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/eelcat1/vest033.jpg)

I'd be sure to put a top on it where ever you live cause hawks will swoop down get them. Pisses me off

im more worried bout coons, skunks, and possums

Haha thats one advantage of have some dogs run free around my house lol

lol i would love for one to get in the yard long enough for my dach hen to get his mouth on it.  >:D

how do you keep the yotes and hawks from killing your chickens? iv been pondering the chicken thing too, but dont want to build a big coop, but want enough birds that will keep me in chickens and eggs yr rnd, but dont want to loose my butt to brids of prey and yotes and the possible stray dogs and cats.

Yesterday I went to the coop and fnd their FIRST ever offering---  ;D  ;D  ;D

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/deltruenokennels/1stegg.jpg)


I love my little hens, next thing will be either a pair of goats or rabbits---I think I will have to wait to convince the ol-lady about them two, LOL.

how do you keep the yotes and hawks from killing your chickens? iv been pondering the chicken thing too, but dont want to build a big coop, but want enough birds that will keep me in chickens and eggs yr rnd, but dont want to loose my butt to brids of prey and yotes and the possible stray dogs and cats.
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Lacys an trapping my friend..varmints don't step one foot in my barn lot with out consequences  ;) an the Hawks/ Eagles have more tasty thing so eat..like lambs an kid goats lol

The key is build a bullet proof pen for those domesticated wussie chickens.   


Or.......get some that fight back when they are being taken P.O.W.  :laugh:

They don’t need pens, laying boxes, or shelter,  when they roost they will helicopter straight up like a turkey in a 30ft pine tree.  I have saw them whoop off cats, dogs, snakes, red tail hawks and kids. Sure every once in awhile one gets killed or dies....just call that the week link in the flock and better off KIA.

The beasts I refer to is the mighty .................Game.................

But might want to keep more hens than roosters....or it could get a lil sporty! >:D

(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h450/YELLOWBLACKMASK/1051099348_photobucket_188123_.jpg)

I purchased a dozen Phoenix fowl chicks 2 months ago because a guy told me that they could survive in the woods. We live on a wooded Island with plenty of predators, coons,minks,alligators,coyotes ,hawks,etc. I kept them in a pen and 2 weeks ago I let them out. All 12 are
still alive. When they are startled or sense danger they will fly straight up in the tops of the trees. I'm sure sooner or later I will loose some but so far I haven't loss a single  one. They are only 2 months and can fly about 50 yds in distance and helicoter straight up in the tops of trees.
                  (http://)(http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/eelcat1/Phoenix1.jpg)
                    (http://)(http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/eelcat1/Phoenix2.jpg)

                       

I hear ya there man. In your spare time hold them down and slap em around a little.

Do that and they will go looking for those predators.  Lol

Caught couple of mine last week on the backside of the place punching a bear in the arse with a stick.  rolleyes. Love me some Game Chickens. Hahaha.

I thought about getting some of those..the roosters look really neat when they are older...all I have are bared rocks, americanas, bantums, an some solid black chickens..have 3 roosters an 10 hens so its pretty funny to watch them roosters beating up each other for a lady..now the bantums are the meanest ive seen..got one little hen that will ride a cat pecking the tar outa it!

 You are sure right about game chickens. Our neighbor down the road had some that hung around his barn. We were standing outside by the barn one day shootin the chit and all of a sudden we saw a chicken hawk swoop down behind some round bales. We heard an awful squable and then we saw the hawk trying to fly away with a hen in his grip. That hen was putting a whoopin on that hawk.  ???  The hawk only made it about a few feet above the round bales and had to drop the hen. We couldn't believe our eyes.

ive thought about some game chicks but yet again miles im in the city, i dont need no chickens chasin city folk around they would think they were rabid. i just want a nice meat hen every now and then and some eggs. ill clip their wings and let them out in the back yard a bit tho.

Haha. I have a one eyed rooster, bad wing that walks with a slight gimp that I  could send up there. He lost the eye stick fighting in bancock a few years back.

You could put an eye patch on him and carry him around to bars as your lil pirate friend. He wont give you any eggs but you cannot find a better conversation piece. 

consider it done miles, hook him to one of your mutts and ill take them both ;D

here are 3 of the ones ive bought, got 2 more hens comin too
(http://images.craigslist.org/5I15L15Je3K73G83I9c5b5dfba6a52a1c1da4.jpg)