Nuthin but Chickens.

[Siddhartha]

@HuskerTrev we also live very rural and want to produce as much of our own food as we can. We’ve been on the property a little over a year and a half and are adding a bit at a time to the infrastructure needed to meet that goal. It was an unfinished house and raw land to begin with so it’s a process. Now I know who to reach out to when I have questions

 

[HuskerTrev]

@HuskerTrev we also live very rural and want to produce as much of our own food as we can. We’ve been on the property a little over a year and a half and are adding a bit at a time to the infrastructure needed to meet that goal. It was an unfinished house and raw land to begin with so it’s a process. Now I know who to reach out to when I have questions

I have only scratched the surface with chicken knowledge, but I'll be happy to share what I know, what has worked and what hasn't when it comes time!

 

[zeke500]

@Siddhartha , My neighbor built her own chicken plucker out of scrap. She used milk inflation's for the rubber part. It's the part of a milking machine the teat goes into.There are youtubes about it.

 

[Siddhartha]

@Siddhartha , My neighbor built her own chicken plucker out of scrap. She used milk inflation's for the rubber part. It's the part of a milking machine the teat goes into.There are youtubes about it.

Haha I appreciate your confidence in my MacGyver skills. I’ll probably search FB marketplace before attempting that

 

[zeke500]

Cool early morning pic.

 

[Moondog55]

I've a general question for the brains trust.
My grand daughter is doing Vet Science at school and loves chickens and has a contact that want to gift me a dozen Brahma cross hens.
I've just started building a coop large enough for a dozen large breed chooks and I am a bit blown away by how much it is costing me to build something that has a floor up off the ground.
I made the mistake of asking the local council building department for advice and they said that while I could make something lightweight it would be better if I made something that wouldn't fall down if I jumped inside it [ and I'm on the other side of Regular] and had to be strong enough to not fall down if kids climbed up onto the roof.
Is this the same experience for members here once you make the decision to get the coop floor a couple of feet off the ground?

 

[Siddhartha]

If you’re building from scratch and don’t have at least a portion pre-existing it’s probably gonna be a bit expensive just because lumber isn’t exactly cheap. Even if you kept it bare bones I’d guess you’re a good bit north of $500. Plywood is pricey as is siding and roofing material.

I’m sure others have different experiences than me and could probably help you save some costs with the build.

Edited to add a couple of pics of mine—a little “fancier” and off the ground

 

[Moondog55]

Build is half new structural elements and mostly salvaged or scrounged cladding and some cheap recycled stuff. But about $300- in prime costs so far.

 

[Moondog55]

Is there a consensus on how wide the roosting rails should be for a birds foot health?
Standard timber sizes here are 70* 35mm or 70 * 45mm and I just read a page that was extolling the virtues of wider being better but 70mm sounds to me a bit big

 

[Andy in NH]

Is there a consensus on how wide the roosting rails should be for a birds foot health?
Standard timber sizes here are 70* 35mm or 70 * 45mm and I just read a page that was extolling the virtues of wider being better but 70mm sounds to me a bit big

I recently put 2"x4"s (89mm) down as roosting bars and the chickens don't seem to mind.

 

[Moondog55]

I've got the laying box hung on the outside of the coop but so far no dividers, Rather than make something up from scrap wood or ply I just got to wondering if a few heavy duty cardboard boxes would work? Use them for a while and just compost when replaced?
Haven't been able to do much the last few days, laid low by my recurring tropical fever again

 

[Moondog55]

The steel tophat and all the other bits of Rondo I got cheap via the Facebook market place. The tophat was leftover from a huge shed build; used as the side rails.
Getting there slowly