tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post3968728826716566928..comments2024-03-26T10:01:18.135-04:00Comments on Living the Frugal Life: News of the FlockKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-9055131570338013192011-05-23T06:38:56.926-04:002011-05-23T06:38:56.926-04:00Shauna, I suspect that breed and size only play mi...Shauna, I suspect that breed and size only play minor roles in the chicken pecking order. As with canine dominance hierarchy, I think personality is the more salient factor.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-21345853070491527052011-05-23T06:35:06.223-04:002011-05-23T06:35:06.223-04:00Alyss, I have left my hens in the same spot for tw...Alyss, I have left my hens in the same spot for two days on very rare occasions. I don't like to do it because it's unpleasant for them and the lawn takes a beating. The factors I see in keeping hens stationary are the amount of space per bird (more is obviously better) and the quality of the turf they're on (which in turn depends on the health of the soil). Dense grass is better. Taller than "neat lawn" height is better. And a polyculture is also much better than pure grass. Bored or hot chickens will dig divots in the lawn, which isn't a problem in itself except that the wheels of the pen get stuck in them. At 7.5 sq. ft. per bird, I think two days in one place is manageable, provided the other factors are favorable. My current stocking rate is 5 sq ft per bird and I wouldn't consider a two-day rotation workable. Manure builds up a good deal in just one day and that's not pleasant for either birds or humans. If you plan from the outset to leave them in place longer than a day, then I would allow them at least 10 sq ft per bird, and more if it can be managed. <br /><br />However I must recommend that you reconsider. Daily care is really best. They need fresh water *daily* and this is doubly true in summer. Also, you will want to keep a close eye on them with respect to predators, especially early on when your coop and pen is untested. Then there are the eggs. Will you leave them overnight?<br /><br />You never want to allow birds to "ruin" lawn in any one spot, as this would mean that they're consuming all possible green forage and living in their own filth. If you want to use them to break turf, then you must add plenty of partially finished compost and mulch every day after the first few days, so that they have forage available and something to absorb the manure. You can search out "winter quarters" on the blog, and I have also added a link where I mention them in this post. Our winter quarters rely on a deep bedding system which prevents toxic accumulation of manure. That system might work better for you if rotational grazing isn't feasible. Good luck with your hens.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-3133638581499627442011-05-22T19:47:18.010-04:002011-05-22T19:47:18.010-04:00I have a question about logistics with your mobile...I have a question about logistics with your mobile coop and pen. You say you move the pen every day for your hens but the location I have as a possible home for chickens is a house I do not live at. It is close to home and I have full access, but a management system that needs me there EVERY day is less than idea. Have you ever left your coop in place for longer than a day? How long do you think it would take for your hens to ruin the lawn in any given spot? I wonder if you have any thoughts on how big a space should be for three hens to give them a couple days on the same spot without ruining it... reasonable or too big for a mobile coop? You say your hens have different winter lodging? What does that look like? I've been daydreaming about this mobile chicken tractor thing for days since reading your posts :)Alysshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04820396354932192545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-20638024768030790152011-05-16T13:07:07.197-04:002011-05-16T13:07:07.197-04:00I have used a covered cat litter box (minus the li...I have used a covered cat litter box (minus the litter & the cats) for our hens for quite some time...it actually started because the litter box was too small for our large cat, but it works GREAT for the hens. And it's light. It would just be a matter of how you'd attach it, and make it raintite (or put drainage holes in the bottom). <br /><br />I have a black copper maran, and she's somewhere near the bottom of the pecking order. I wonder if the variety makes the difference?Shaunahttp://www.danandshauna.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-85389383366750942682011-05-11T09:20:29.429-04:002011-05-11T09:20:29.429-04:00Mrs. J, thanks. The main predators in this area a...Mrs. J, thanks. The main predators in this area are raccoons, dogs, and hawks. The pen takes care of dogs and hawks pretty well. Raccoons could theoretically get inside the pen, but they're nocturnal, and the hens are inside the coop at night. The coop is pretty sturdy and locked up tight each night. So far we've had no losses to predators. Good luck with your chicks.<br /><br />Caroline, nice to hear of repurposed materials for chicken keeping. Thanks.<br /><br />Rosie, thanks for the suggestion. If we had more milk crates, I'd probably go that route. What we have in abundance are buckets. So I'm going to try a different approach with them that I hope will suit the Marans better.<br /><br />APH, when we rebuild our mobile pen I think we'll keep the horizontal dimensions, but maybe make it just a little shorter. And we'll definitely use 2x2's for most of the structure. The current one is made of 2x4's and it doesn't really need that much strength.<br /><br />Dmarie, I like this use of leftover paint too. I'm gradually getting more and more color into the garden.<br /><br />Tamar, things seem mostly to have worked themselves out with the two breeds. There's still something going on that I don't quite understand. The Red Stars don't race out the gate in the morning as they used to when I moved the pen and opened the coop. I'm hoping it'll work itself out soon, but the obvious establishment of the pecking order is done.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-38463559634359249492011-05-10T09:36:03.072-04:002011-05-10T09:36:03.072-04:00Glad to see you were able to integrate new hens in...Glad to see you were able to integrate new hens into your flock without too much infighting. We're expanding later this summer, and a bit apprehensive about how the ten new pullets will go over with the 7 elder stateshens. But I figure people have been combining chickens for millennia, so it can't be impossible. Thanks for the data point.Tamar@StarvingofftheLandhttp://www.starvingofftheland.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-79363704081249611812011-05-09T21:47:58.314-04:002011-05-09T21:47:58.314-04:00love it that you were able to use up some leftover...love it that you were able to use up some leftover paint. wish I could figure out how to use up the bits and pieces around here!Dmariehttp://bettermebetterworld.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-82469424033806441162011-05-09T17:10:16.890-04:002011-05-09T17:10:16.890-04:00Weeks ago I got my first ever flock of chicks. My ...Weeks ago I got my first ever flock of chicks. My boys & I made a brooder out of a plastic storage tub. We did a post on it on my blog. It worked well. Your post was helpful. I have an old run used for ducks I am using for the chickens for now. Way to heavy. As now it has to be drug around the yard. Looking to build something more like your on wheels. I am limitied to whight so any more ideas to decrease the weight of the tractor is great. I used left over shower wall for the bottom of the coop. Your are so right it is much easier to keep clean. I did a post on the coop too. Blessings!<br />LaraA Primitive Homesteadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06205375008312950661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-74967285336681081332011-05-09T10:17:33.360-04:002011-05-09T10:17:33.360-04:00Kate,
I raise marans and use plastic milk carton b...Kate,<br />I raise marans and use plastic milk carton boxes for nest boxes (12 x 12). I cut a square out of the front of the box leaving an edge at the bottom to keep the eggs in. I add a square of carpet in the bottom and add pine shavings for bedding. It works great and if I have a broodie hen I can move her and her eggs easily. I found the cartons at a recycling place for $1 each.Rosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10147087888610351695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-44437292221228050382011-05-09T09:21:31.265-04:002011-05-09T09:21:31.265-04:00Other things useful for brooding chicks - empty me...Other things useful for brooding chicks - empty metal stock tank, for one. That's what we're using now, with a folded section of an X-pen for a cover (puppy playpen). We also scrounged a bathroom cabinet that a neighbor was replacing. I plan to use hardware cloth to close off the openings (the top, drawer spaces, and a few holes from the pipes). The doors will be great for getting babies & food in & out!Caroline in NHhttp://fiberarts.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-42162629858083327162011-05-09T08:18:04.044-04:002011-05-09T08:18:04.044-04:00I like your chicken tractor. How do you keep preda...I like your chicken tractor. How do you keep predators from getting under it?<br /><br />My husband and I just got our first chickens. We got 3 day old chicks from the feed store and are raising them inside until they can go out in our newly constructed coop. They certainly are cute! :) We'll be raising them as egg layers and pets. I'm really looking forward to this experience!Mrs. Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11194099874167915915noreply@blogger.com