We have a couple of new projects underway for the winter , Firstly we are in the process of building a new brooder system for rearing chicks. Secondly we have just started on some new housing and also some nesting boxes for the winter houses photos will follow soon. We will run through each project as we put up photos.
Above is a picture of our new broody coop we hope to make around 6 of these as alot of our hatching will be done under hens in 2010 . We have been busy putting down new pathways in the run area and also making extra housing which we need this year after adding a few new breeds . The housing we use is of 2 variaties both being raised off the ground to prevent dampness inside . More details on other projects will be added soon .
The start of our new breeding pens
Read down now updated
The new path that leads into the passage of the breeding pens after removing frame work.
On saturday 21st we finally started our new project digging out a trench 4 foot wide and 8" deep which we then filled with hardcore filling , compacted and levelled we then put down frame work to hold the concrete in place. We then paused for a quick cup of tea to admire the work we had done and talk about the best way to do the rest. We poured the concrete and it was then floated off to achieve the fall away from the wall to keep water from soaking through the wall of the winter shed. This is the first section of the path to be laid having to lay one more to the main gate.
The runs are to accomadate around 4-6 hens and a rooster of each of our breeds. They will be made using 5" x 3" treated stakes with 1" chicken wire on the bottom and 2" chicken wire on top. The posts are 8 foot high and will be set in concrete leaving approx 6' 6" above ground the external fence will have a three strand electric fence with a stagered 2 wires on the bottom and 1 wire at the top.
The run measurements are 5 meters x 4 meters x 6.5 foot high, giving us a nice size run which we will then use in a rotation based system resting runs as needed.
This is the the path way between the runs to allow easy access and cleaning for the houses. Due to the bad weather we were unable to do any work on the runs but the recent sunny spell, has let us catch up and we have sowed the grass and the wire on the perimeter fence has been put up so this page will be updated with photo's soon.
Here we sowed young hedging to provide shelter in the run area from the wind. Leaving 4 foot between the hedge and the fence where grass will be sowed and kept short allowing us to keep an eye on the fence to see if any foxes have been around. We also have planted fruit tree's in each run , such as apple plum and pear this is for two reasons . Firstly to provide shade in summer from the sun and secondly any fruit that falls off the tree's the fowl can eat.
Here is the first pictures of our finnished runs just a little little bit of tidying up to be done around them now. We are now fixing gates to all the runs and an electric fence also has to be finnished.
This is the pop hole in which the birds come out with a linear slide door which will be fitted with an arm so it can be closed from outside the run making it fast to lock in birds at night.
This is looking in at the front of the house, the door on the front is for inspection of the birds when roosting at night making it less stressful on the birds . On the opposite end of the house is the nest boxes this can be got at through a hinged door shown in the picture below.
The nesting area is about 16 inches by 36 inches plenty of room or the four hens that will be kept in this house. The breeding groups will be cut down to 4 hens and a rooster of each breed in a pen with a spare rooster of every breed kept in an all male pen as to have no fighting over hens. This will sort out the pecking order much more quickly.
