What is the very least you need for chickens?

[greenmimama]

And hear me out please. We are going to pick a couple up from CL and we have a building, with a fenced in outside area. There is no top to the outside area though, would it be enough to cover it with chicken wire? I know it is only to keep chickens in not predators out, but if it is on the top, there is much heavier duty fencing on the sides. There is even a place off the ground that is 2x4s could they roost on that? the floor is cement, should we coat it with hay or sawdust?

I will also have feeders and water. I will ask the owner what they had been feeding them. We have a local TSC that I can run and get food.

I just need to know what we have to bring them home to and what we should do as quickly as possible, like this thurs. or weekend.

My plan is to eventually have a large chicken tractor to keep them outdoors but safe from predators.

Thanks for your input.

[CathyA]

My concern with the chicken wire is that coons could tear into that, but it would probably be okay temporarily. You could also buy some bird netting and throw over it. Its very inexpensive, and no animal likes getting their feet caught in it. How large is that area? Will the chicken wire need supported so as not to sag alot in the middle?

How old are the chickens? If they are over a couple months, you can give them something like Purina Layena pellets. If they are chicks......that's a different story.......they will need special feed and heat and be kept from drowning in the waterer.
The 2x4's should be okay for roosting.
For the cement floor, go to TSC and buy some of their wood shavings and cover it with that.
Make sure your side fencing isn't easy to dig under.
Is the building they will be roosting in safe? If there are windows that are open, make sure they are covered with wire too.
Good luck!

[greenmimama]

Yes it would have to be supported with something, it is an L shaped outdoor area and is maybe 2 -6 ft by 9ft sections. never thought of the bird netting, I know that from trying to protect my plants.

They are all old enough to be laying eggs, so I will just pick up some.

Thanks for the suggestions

[The Storyteller]

Good dogs are the best predators deterrents in the world. I currently have close to 300 birds, most of which go pretty much where they want on pasture. Predators won't come anywhere near them because of my dogs. Even airborne predators. The other day a huge hawk perched in a tree right above my egg wagon. My dogs saw it and raised a fuss, sat under the tree until the hawk left. If you don't have good dogs, thought, protecin birds can be tough.

I use pine shavings in a deep litter (4-6 inches deep) when I keep birds in coops. Every now and than I throw some scratched grains so they keep the bedding turning. After a while I add more. Makes great compost material. You'll need a light and/or heat lamp to keep them warm and laying in winter. Knowing a good feed source is helpful. When you get ready to tractor, consider adding a door and electric poultry netting so they can day-range.

Outside of that, sounds like you have what you need.

[greenmimama]

Thank you, yes dogs do seem like a good answer, except that we don't have any, so I need to protect them now, even of we decide to get a dog later.
That would be my 6yos dream come true, he wants a puppy so bad :)

[CathyA]

Dogs........they make great protectors...........if they don't kill the chickens themselves! :~)

[The Storyteller]

Well, I did say good dogs. :)

I'm convinced that any dog can be trained to be guardians, but some breeds are better than others. There are many breeds with too much to overcome, with high predatory instincts. Others have been bred for centuries to care for and protect animals. My hybrid of choice is Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd. A bit overkill for back yard city flocks perhaps, but I wouldn't own livestock in the country without one.

Or two or five. :)

[The Storyteller]

I thought last night I should add another effective method of predator deterrence: electricity.

Electric poultry netting is excellent for both containing your birds and keeping out predators. You could surround your coop and run with it. It's a little expensive, though, but very portable. You can then use it when you take your birds out on pasture, moving it when needed to afford the birds fresh forage.

Netting is about $200 for 164 feet through Premier1. A less expensive but slightly more cumbersome (although still very portable) alternative would be a polywire, polyrope, or polytape system strung on plastic step-in posts. The concept here is that you build a perimeter with the posts, then string the wire at intervals up the posts through the built in holders on the posts. I like to start at 6" from the ground, which will catch coons and other short nasties, and additional lines at 6" intervals up the post. Materials for this system can be purchased at your local TSC.

For energizer, you can get solar, battery, or electric operated systems for $120 or less. Solar systems tend to have the least kick, and 110 electric energizers carry the most. Solar is the most portable, battery second, and electric requires you to run a line out to your pasture to where the setup is. I have all three and use them in different areas for different reasons.

I would say electric fencing is the second best deterrent, next to dogs. :)

[greenmimama]

Thank you for all of this info, I am thinking the electric fencing sounds good for next year, our goal is to have them mostly pasture raised.

We did pick up 3 of them last night, they are so sweet, 1 isa brown and 2 Rhode Island Reds, we already got one egg this morning, my 6yo found it and was so proud, they are named, Rosie, coconut and Red.

We also got 5 rabbits today too, we went from 0 pets to 8 and 2 of the rabbits are pregnant :)

We made a pretty nice little place for the girls, we have pine bark all over the flooring, we have a waterer hung form the rafters, we have beautiful boxes lined with straw, next is making the outside safe so we can let them out n the pen, unattended.

They seem to be rather happy, I am already planning to add to my flock, 25 little baby chicks.

[CathyA]

Sounds good greenmimama.
Just never use cedar shavings around them. its supposed to not be good for them.
And eventually you might change over to hardwood or pine shavings for their nest boxes, since straw can harbor more bugs in it, since it is a hollow tube.
It sounds like you're off to a great start! I hope you're not going to eat the ones you've named! :~) Its hard to eat pets!

[greenmimama]

The plan is not to eat the chickens, no, just there eggs :)

The baby rabbits are for meat though, we named the mamas