Once we made the decision we wanted to breed chickens, we needed to create some breeding pens. We also need a place to grow out young cockerels until we make decisions about their breeding potential. So we are in the process of creating some breeding pens and a bachelor pad.
For t he breeding pens we created a building 16' x 8' that is mostly covered on the top. We used 8' metal roofing and allowed for a little overhang on the back so it leaves the top of the run open about 12 inches. The building is 6' high in the front and slopes to 5' in the back. We also enclosed the back 6' of the sides and have left open the bottom and the top for ventilation. Here in Texas it gets very hot so we have more a concern to keep the birds cool rather than warm in our winters.
So far we have the two on the left side of this building done. In each of the pens we have PVC feeders for feed and oyster shell. We will be adding another PVC feeder for grit in time. There is a nest box and an automatic waterer that can be topped off from the outside as needed as well as a roost across t he back of the run.
The reservoir for the water are plastic cat litter buckets. They hold several gallons of water, are easy to clean and free with the cats we have in the house. I am finding the chickens like to get up on the bucketd to hang out so I am going to have to make sure they are covered. I am also going to have to put some sort of screen over the top to keep mosquitoes from growing in them.
Each of the runs in the breeding pen is 4' wide by 8' deep. Since I feel bad keeping chickens in a pen, we have created runs off each of the pens so the chickens can get outside and scratch around. Chickens are very good at working soil so I am also adding weeds and leaves in the pen for them to work until we have some good compost that can be used in the garden. Each pen will have one section that has a removable top so I can add leaves and wood chips and get into the pen if needed.
The two end pens will have runs along their sides. The two center pens will exit to pens on the back of the breeding pens.
Though we are making progress we still have another month before this breeding pen and runs are done. When the weekend arrives our time is divided between working on the pens and all the other chores that need done on a weekend.
Once we get the breeding pens done we will get back to work on the bachelor pads. So far we only have one run done and usable. There will be another run on the other side for the other end pen then one long run across the back for the center pen.
We have had this pen up for a bit and the birds we have had in there have wintered fine with the more open design than we did for the breeding pens. Before we opened the existing run for use, we seeded it with some winter rye. I was going to seed the runs in clover and alfalfa.. but the rye only lasted a few weeks and the run is now just leaves ad wood chips. We will continue to add leaves and garden waste and just look to get compost in time from all the scratching the chickens will do. I still want to grow the clover and alfalfa for the chickens, just need to come up with another way to do it.
There are definitely times I wish I did not have to work on yet another chicken pen, I do like what we have designed and I am looking forward to hatching out eggs from my desired pairings.
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