Pastured Chicken

Isaac built an awesome chicken shelter of his own design (inspired by others we've seen) shown below. The electric fence allows the predator protection to be separate from the "coop," so it can be lightweight, easily moveable, and open to fresh air! We are seriously thinking about building one more to use for broiler chickens. Since broiler chickens are not very active and don't get to full size, you can fit up to 25 chickens in one of these. Now taking advance orders for tasty, grass-fed chicken! :)

The bottom frame is 5' by 6' and the ends of the long sides are angled to act as skids. 10' PVC pipe (yes, like a small version of our greenhouse) is bent into a frame on which to attach the 1"X2" mesh panels. In the back are nest shelves with hinged access doors for egg collecting (we'll put straw on the shelves at the end of summer when we're getting close to laying time). Scavenged sticks became two roosts. Isaac attached two hooks into the top support bar from which to hang their food and water. Then he attached a 6'X12' tarp with bungees.

Caleb and Sam came out in their PJs to join the fun.

The prettiest Blue-Laced Red Wyandotte by far (their blue coloring varies). Unfortunately, he's male. So far it appears that we have 1 Wyandotte pullet (young hen), 2 Wyandotte cockerels (young roosters), 2 Silver-Laced Rock pullets, 1 Rock cockerel, 1 Partridge Cochin pullet, 1 Cochin cockerel, an accidental Americauna pullet, and 1 more Wyandotte that I haven't yet identified. What is our plan? Well, in our plan, females are given preference since these are primarily egg layers. All females will enjoy a nice happy life on the farm. Males however, are mostly destined for the freezer, depending on whether we can make a breeding set out of either the Rock or Wyandotte varieties so that next year we can raise our own chicks. BTW - Yours truly caught each of our 10 chickens and carried it to the new coop, and only sustained one scratch. A little extra excitement occured later in the day when the chickens tested the electric fence and a few got out. Ever heard the phrase "herding chickens"? Well, I was pretty proud when I managed to catch one by the feet and carry it upside down back to the pasture.