Chicken Coop

Was just down in my yard having a look and although as N.M. said you would be best off getting that book to read. If you don't have time prior to getting your chooks an important thing to do is keep them locked up for up to 2 weeks in their coup. This allows them to get comfortable and learn where to lay and where their bed is. Some times you can get away with less time however. But 2 weeks is a guide. This means not letting them out for more then about an hour a day in those couple of weeks and do note- chooks make short work of any garden and are harder then any animal to catch, I have spent over an hour trying to catch 3 chickens in my garden when they decided to run out their gate. In the end one of my foxies caught one of them for me.

Xav

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Originally Posted by RonMcGr

Jason,

This is what my Wife calls, "The Chicken Coup"!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

One day I'll fix it....:(

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if you build a fox proof fence around it & throw in some food & water, what more could chooks want?;)

even old jags are sometimes useful :angel:

Barnevelders are good for both meat and eggs. If you are going to have ducks then Rouen are good eating with large meaty breasts. I agree that peacocks are a PIA. Don't get geese unless you are very tolerant. They are bad enough witth their aggressive natures at any time but are absolutely bloody impossible when they have goslings. Melon head bull terriers or blue heelers are a solution for foxes but can also be a final solution for fowl. You do need a good green patch to let them out in to forage and pick through the day.

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Originally Posted by taff

t
still not decided on the rooster but think we'll leave it for now

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If you live in the burbs - NO ROOSTERS

Every neighbourhood dispute I have been involved in relates to keeping chickens and roosters.

Noisy buggers:mad:

Garry

once again thanks for all the advice.
started in earnest today i'm building a coop similar to that of numpty's missus. with their shed/nest at the rear with it backing on to my shed.
it will be tall enough to walk in and cos i didn't have a slab to put it on i've tiled out the floor area to make it easier to clean.
i'm also putting up a fenced area outside the coop approx 5m x 5m where they can run around during the day when where not home in relative safety from the foxes and dogs - which i dug a 2 foot trench all the way around to bury the bottom of the fence.
will keep pottering on through the week and hopefully have it finished by friday.
thanks again numpty's missus i think i'll get that book

Hi Taff
I will post a pic of the feeder I built last week.
I had a hopper before,it was OK whilst only feeding layer pellets.When I switched over to poultry mix,its got all sorts of goodies in it,they started wasting HEAPS of tucker picking out their favorite stuff.
Now they cant:cool::cool::cool::cool:
Will put a pic up during the week.
Andrew

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Originally Posted by RonMcGr

It certainly looks like that, or pigeons :D

Actually, I clean out my spray gun on it :)

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It really needs a couple of blow-up dolls in the back seat, dressed as Betty and Phil, or, if you wanted to frighten the chooks, as Chilla and Cammy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by taff

once again thanks for all the advice.
started in earnest today i'm building a coop similar to that of numpty's missus. with their shed/nest at the rear with it backing on to my shed.
it will be tall enough to walk in and cos i didn't have a slab to put it on i've tiled out the floor area to make it easier to clean.
i'm also putting up a fenced area outside the coop approx 5m x 5m where they can run around during the day when where not home in relative safety from the foxes and dogs - which i dug a 2 foot trench all the way around to bury the bottom of the fence.
will keep pottering on through the week and hopefully have it finished by friday.
thanks again numpty's missus i think i'll get that book

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That's the bit I was going to tell you about to make the fence fox proof.

Foxes will dig down fairly deep to get under a fence, so burying it a couple of feet may not be enough.

However, they dig close to the fence, so the solution is to have a horizontal apron of wire netting just under the surface extending out a couple of feet from the bottom of the fence.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RonMcGr

Jason,

This is what my Wife calls, "The Chicken Coup"!
http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/ds420.jpg

One day I'll fix it....:(

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Neat wheels Ron :D. How good is it on Fraser ;)

1. Make sure you get chooks that have been vaccinated against Mareks Disease in particular.
2. Get some Baycox and Nilverm Pig and Poutry wormer from your vet and follow their instructions.

otherwise pretty easy to keep.... enjoy....

When up to use by date - will make a nice curry.

Have a look at the qld Dept PI website
Poutry Disease Handbook (Bottom pdf file - poultry book)
Poultry Breeds