Hi,
......and now I'm waiting for my son to come an help me manoeuvre the Quail Hilton into position so that the big refit can take place.
Gary
Hi,
......and now I'm waiting for my son to come an help me manoeuvre the Quail Hilton into position so that the big refit can take place.
Gary
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
www.microponics.net.au - for candid dialogue on integrated backyard food production.
www.urbanaquaponics.com.au - the home of the Online Urban Aquaponics Manual.
The chicken house project took a further step forward when we culled about ten of our surplus layers (the only big thing about them was their appetite) and processed a further eight for the freezer.
We now have eight layers left......and they will fit into our new chicken house nicely.
Gary
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
www.microponics.net.au - for candid dialogue on integrated backyard food production.
www.urbanaquaponics.com.au - the home of the Online Urban Aquaponics Manual.
Hi,
Prior to processing the most recent batch of chickens, we had begun to purchase chicken meat again.
Notwithstanding the fact that we buy organic chickens from Aldi, I found that the meat contains a huge amount of fat. After eating our own free range chicken, biting into a thigh was enough to make you gag. You just don't realise how much fat there is in store-bought chicken.
We found that home-grown chickens are not so tender (largely because they get more exercise) but the taste is so superior that I'm happy to move to slow-cooked dishes if it means that we don't have to eat supermarket chicken......in any form.
It was a timely reminder that continuous production of our own chicken meat should be a priority. It contains much less fat and has much more taste.
Gary
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
www.microponics.net.au - for candid dialogue on integrated backyard food production.
www.urbanaquaponics.com.au - the home of the Online Urban Aquaponics Manual.
Interesting about the fat as chicken is generally thought of as a low fat meat. Ducks on the other hand, love 'em, but man a lot of fat.
I could see myself raising chickens some day. Not an option right now.
I was looking at my AP system last night, and thinking. I'm going to have 3 tables, with GB on top, nothing underneath, 4'X16' 3 foot tall. I was thinking of wrapping chicken wire around the bottoms and putting about 4 or 5 chickens per table area. The tables are going to be wrapped with screen and the top a frame will be greenhouse plastic.
So the idea is having no bugs and easy access to plants, with a bit of greenhouse/shade house for the plants, with chickens underneath pecking at the bugs that do come by.
Hi Gary
Years ago I built a movable chicken house made out of pvc, chicken wire, and bamboo. It worked really well for years. It is basically a dome.
Make a circle of pipe (3mdiameter)This is the base. Then cross pvc from one side to the other in a dome. Repeat around the base so you have dome roof. Put chicken wire over the lot. At just below shoulder height put in some bamboo roosting posts.Right across in a grid. With space for your head to fit through. Then when you get in through your door and stand up straight the cage lifts a couple of inches off the ground and you walk it to a new bit of pasture without the chooks escaping. Leaving the eggs on the grass behind.
It was great. Light, stable, I put some shade cloth over the top. It was enough protection from rain and allowed breezes through.
If foxes were going to be a problem then we would have run a portable electric fence to a low wire around the outside (but our dogs kept em away).
The chooks had new pasture everyday. No diseases and dominant chooks had no corner to bully weaker ones into.
Hey Gary,
I started to make chicken coops after I got my first chickens 2 years ago. Check out my design: http://aquaponicsinparadise.com/mychickencoop/
see the barn type coops (#3). its lifted so i can compost the poop. the egg hatch is either internal or external. you could build a longer/taller one for 6 chickens or mutliples as these are only meant to hold 2-4 chickens.
The chicken treadle feeder (#1) isnt my design, its from backayrd chickens. I also use watering nipples so I dont have to change the water very often (#2).
You could also install wheels and wheelbarrow-like handles to make it moveable and/or make a pen out of 2x2's and chicken wire.
-hellbent
http://www.aquaponicsinparadise.com/
current build:
modified barrelponics
160 gallon in-ground pond
two 250 gallon IBC
300 gallon 'monster' plywood fishtank
plants: taro, lilikoi, roma tomato, manoa lettuce, strawberry, kale, bok choy, swiss chard, celery, chinese parsley, eggplant, okinawan sweet potato, watercress, cabbage, and azolla
fish: 1 feeder comet, 6 blue tilapia, 30 gold tilapia, 60 fingerlings, 50 fry, 13 chinese catfish, 3 koi, 2 malaysian prawns
Matt......I've seen similar chicken tractors over the years. I think they have their origins in various permaculture magazines. You're right, they do have some nice features.
Albert.....love your designs. I agree that the mesh floor is a "must have"......life is too short to spend any of it cleaning out chicken pens.
Gary
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
www.microponics.net.au - for candid dialogue on integrated backyard food production.
www.urbanaquaponics.com.au - the home of the Online Urban Aquaponics Manual.
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