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SCHitemHard
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« on: June 20, 2012, 11:52:45 pm » |
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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.
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Matt H
Cleveland, OH
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Oly
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« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2012, 07:34:12 am » |
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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.
O
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"If it is againts the law for a man to fend for himself--- then outlaw I am"
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TwistedMidnite
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« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2012, 10:15:04 am » |
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Oly, what did you build yours out of to make it so cheap
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Circle C
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« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2012, 10:17:12 am » |
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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  |
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Never get too busy making a living that you forget to make a life.
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SCHitemHard
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« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2012, 11:42:06 am » |
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CC thats a awsome lookin pen if ive ever seen one  im just thinkin of doin the 2x4 method and chicken wire. i have 4 leghorns and a big rooster |
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Matt H
Cleveland, OH
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trapperchick87
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« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2012, 11:46:04 am » |
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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
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Life's tough...get a helmet
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Oly
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« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2012, 12:34:05 pm » |
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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---
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"If it is againts the law for a man to fend for himself--- then outlaw I am"
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SCHitemHard
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« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2012, 12:43:45 pm » |
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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
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Matt H
Cleveland, OH
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Oly
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« Reply #8 on: June 21, 2012, 01:00:50 pm » |
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You can make one out of an old dog kennel  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  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. |
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"If it is againts the law for a man to fend for himself--- then outlaw I am"
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Oly
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« Reply #9 on: June 21, 2012, 01:02:11 pm » |
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On the second one just add wheels so its portable/movable.
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"If it is againts the law for a man to fend for himself--- then outlaw I am"
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SCHitemHard
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thanks bud i really like the first one |
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Matt H
Cleveland, OH
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dub
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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.
O
I don't think I want to be knowing about you have red/golden sex anything  If you get a Domina.. anything, American or not, you need to keep that out of the yard |
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"...A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself..." John Stuart Mill
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jimco
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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.   |
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"Pedigree indicates what the animal should be. Conformation indicates what the animal appears to be. But PERFORMANCE indicates what the animal actually is."
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jdc2296
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I'd be sure to put a top on it where ever you live cause hawks will swoop down get them. Pisses me off
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SCHitemHard
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im more worried bout coons, skunks, and possums
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Matt H
Cleveland, OH
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jdc2296
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im more worried bout coons, skunks, and possums
Haha thats one advantage of have some dogs run free around my house lol |
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SCHitemHard
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lol i would love for one to get in the yard long enough for my dach hen to get his mouth on it.  |
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Matt H
Cleveland, OH
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charles
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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
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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Why should I trade one tyrant three thousand miles away for three thousand tyrants one mile away? An elected legislature can trample a man's rights as easily as a king can!
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Oly
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"If it is againts the law for a man to fend for himself--- then outlaw I am"
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trapperchick87
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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. [/quote] 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 |
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Life's tough...get a helmet
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