REVISED Meat Chickens in Large Coop in the Woods? REVISED

[Chickie YumYum]

Hi Chicken Brains!!!
I've got the layers I want inside my backyard that's fenced with wooden fends and 24" tall wire around the bottom. I inherited the place and my parents always had small dogs.
I want to get some meat chicks early spring. I plan to put 1/4" square wire around a rectangular 36" or 48" do up next to my other chicken coops so the can get comfortable with each other and the chicks may will learn somethings from them. Then make a little door in the 1/4" wire so they can hangout together but chicks could go back to their stuff if they needed to. Sound okay?
Cause the big question is can the coop and run be in the partially wooded area outside the yard fence? I was thinking of a large coop (unfortunately they all use chicken or dog wire. How far up the sides do you think I should go with the 1/4" wire? Can't put them inside yard fence because of raised vegetable gardens.
And would chicken/ dog wire on the top of the coop keep them safe from owls? Will probably feed range them also but since I want to raise chicks, they would have their own rooster. Could I just leave him in the coop while the hens few range? Other than the snakes and hawks (which under canopy of trees shouldn't be a big problem) all other predators are nocturnal. Ideas? Thank you my brains.


Thanks

 

[Ridgerunner]

I want to get some meat chicks early spring.

What kind of meat chicks (Cornish Cross, some type of Ranger, or dual-purpose cockerels or a mix). That would affect how I answer some of these questions.

I plan to put 1/4" square wire around a rectangular 36" or 48" do up next to my other chicken coops so the can get comfortable with each other and the chicks may will learn somethings from them. Then make a little door in the 1/4" wire so they can hangout together but chicks could go back to their stuff if they needed to. Sound okay?

I personally do not see the benefit. You'd have to do an integration which puts the chicks at risk from the older chickens. With the age difference they are probably not going to mingle at all. Until they mature enough to force their way into the flock pecking order the chicks are probably going to be afraid of the adults. If they don't avoid the adults they are likely to get pecked or worse. You probably want to feed them differently. Because of how much they eat so they can grow so fast Cornish Cross especially are going to poop a lot. Rangers also but to a lesser degree. Poop management may become an issue. I don't know what you hope to gain by mingling them but to me any supposed benefits would be outweighed by potential negatives.

Cause the big question is can the coop and run be in the partially wooded area outside the yard fence?

I don't know where you are or what potential predators you have. Many of us have situations like that. It depends on your risk tolerance and how you build the coop.

And would chicken/ dog wire on the top of the coop keep them safe from owls?

Yes, as long as they are locked up at night. I had an owl enter a grow-out coop and take a cockerel when I was late locking up that night.

Will probably feed range them also but since I want to raise chicks, they would have their own rooster. Could I just leave him in the coop while the hens few range?

This totally confuses me. Are you saying you want to have a separate flock where you can raise your own meat chickens? Are you planning on putting a fully grown mature rooster in with a bunch of baby chicks? I don't understand your question.

Other than the snakes and hawks (which under canopy of trees shouldn't be a big problem) all other predators are nocturnal.

Again, I don't know where you are located so I don't know what specific predators you may have. I've seen foxes, coyotes, bobcats, mink, raccoons, possum, and skunks actively hunting during the day. Most of these critters are more dangerous at night as your daytime activity doesn't keep them away at night but don't assume you have no risk during the day. And dogs, I've had more problems with dogs than anything else and that was during daylight.

A lot of us free range. Some of us can go years without a predator loss, some may lose a chicken on rare occasions, and some can be wiped out overnight. I'm not saying do not free range, you may do well. But don't think it is without risk.

 

[ChicNmom]

Chicken wire should work for owls but will not work for raccoons and larger predators. Hardware cloth is better. Build with screws not finish nails.

 

[Chickie YumYum]

Hi Chicken Brains!!!
I've got the layers I want inside my backyard that's fenced with wooden fends and 24" tall wire around the bottom. I inherited the place and my parents always had small dogs.
I want to get some meat chicks early spring. I plan to put 1/4" square wire around a rectangular 36" or 48" do up next to my other chicken coops so the can get comfortable with each other and the chicks may will learn somethings from them. Then make a little door in the 1/4" wire so they can hangout together but chicks could go back to their stuff if they needed to. Sound okay?
Cause the big question is can the coop and run be in the partially wooded area outside the yard fence? I was thinking of a large coop (unfortunately they all use chicken or dog wire. How far up the sides do you think I should go with the 1/4" wire? Can't put them inside yard fence because of raised vegetable gardens.
And would chicken/ dog wire on the top of the coop keep them safe from owls? Will probably feed range them also but since I want to raise chicks, they would have their own rooster. Could I just leave him in the coop while the hens few range? Other than the snakes and hawks (which under canopy of trees shouldn't be a big problem) all other predators are nocturnal. Ideas? Thank you my brains.


Thanks

Hi Chicken Brains!!!
I've got the layers I want inside my backyard that's fenced with wooden fends and 24" tall wire around the bottom. I inherited the place and my parents always had small dogs.
I want to get some meat chicks early spring. I plan to put 1/4" square wire around a rectangular 36" or 48" do up next to my other chicken coops so the can get comfortable with each other and the chicks may will learn somethings from them. Then make a little door in the 1/4" wire so they can hangout together but chicks could go back to their stuff if they needed to. Sound okay?
Cause the big question is can the coop and run be in the partially wooded area outside the yard fence? I was thinking of a large coop (unfortunately they all use chicken or dog wire. How far up the sides do you think I should go with the 1/4" wire? Can't put them inside yard fence because of raised vegetable gardens.
And would chicken/ dog wire on the top of the coop keep them safe from owls? Will probably feed range them also but since I want to raise chicks, they would have their own rooster. Could I just leave him in the coop while the hens few range? Other than the snakes and hawks (which under canopy of trees shouldn't be a big problem) all other predators are nocturnal. Ideas? Thank you my brains.


Thanks

I'm sorry I have confused everyone. It sounded right in my head but I think I kept part in my head and typed the rest.
Ok. What I would like to do is get one of the biggest prefab wire coops or greenhouses that will fit fairly close to house. All the coops come with either dog wire or chicken wire. I prefer 1/4" because of little critters like snakes(copperheads, black, King, garter) Others are raccoons, coyotes, hawks owls. I live in very southern central VA 5 miles from NC zone 7. If I got a chicken coop, how high would I need to run the 1/4" and would the chicken wire work for owls and hawks? I'm hoping I have room to have the coop just outside yard fence. Layers are inside that fence along with raised bed gardens. I saw some houses, square, plenty of ventilation, but much lower to the ground. But 2 together, making sure there's support for the load bearing walls would be a nice size for them. I'd build it myself but my back and shoulder is all messed up but my dad was a carpenter.

I plan on getting meat chicks early spring if we have one or around 04152025, cold hardening in garden house and then moving them to their permanent home. I'll be getting a rooster or 2 chicks at the same time.
Will probably free range them also but since I want to raise chicks, they would have their own rooster. Could I just leave him in the coop while the hens free ranged?
I would like nice breeds but not orps, australopes (my layers&pets) or CX- they grow fast but so uncomfortably. I'll be sending them to chicken heaven myself, I've done all that before.
Do y'all have any suggestions on breed? One grandmother had brownish tan and the other white chickens. I don't know what kind they were. I was young.

 

[Ridgerunner]

how high would I need to run the 1/4"

Snakes, weasels, and rats can climb. If you leave openings anywhere that are bigger than 1/2" they can probably get inside. Just because they can doesn't mean they will, but there is always the possibility. As an aside, if the snakes are pretty small the chickens will probably eat them. I don't worry about small snakes but the bigger ones can eat eggs and baby chicks.

Some people put a small mesh wire on the bottom 18" or so of the run to stop raccoons from reaching in and tearing off bits of the chickens to eat.

and would the chicken wire work for owls and hawks?

Yes.

I plan on getting meat chicks early spring if we have one or around 04152025, cold hardening in garden house and then moving them to their permanent home. I'll be getting a rooster or 2 chicks at the same time.
Will probably free range them also but since I want to raise chicks, they would have their own rooster. Could I just leave him in the coop while the hens free ranged?

Why do you want to leave him in the coop while the hens free range? Are you talking about a baby chick or a fully grown rooster? For how long? This is the part I don't understand what you are talking about.

I would like nice breeds but not orps, australopes (my layers&pets) or CX- they grow fast but so uncomfortably. I'll be sending them to chicken heaven myself, I've done all that before.
Do y'all have any suggestions on breed? One grandmother had brownish tan and the other white chickens. I don't know what kind they were. I was young.

The way I understand this you do not want CX for your meat birds. You also do not want Orpington or Australorps because your current flock of layers are those breeds. You are looking for a suggestion of what breed to raise to butcher as your meat birds. You are basically looking for dual purpose birds that don't look like your laying flock.

There are several different breeds that could meet your requirements. If you pluck them instead of skin them when you butcher dark feathers can leave noticeable pin feathers which can make for an ugly carcass. If you skin them it doesn't matter. But assuming you pluck some suggestions would be Delaware, White or Columbian Wyandotte, White Chantecler, or White Rock.

I'd suggest you order all cockerels, do not order unsexed or pullets. Cockerel chicks are typically less expensive per chick and will grow bigger and faster to butcher age.

 

[Chickie YumYum]

At what age would you harvest them? I've been told roosters are tough and good for nothing but stew

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you don't know how to prepare and cook them any other way then they do make good stew. The secret for good stew is to never bring them to a hard boil, just simmer them.

When cockerels go through puberty they develop both flavor and texture due to the hormones of puberty. The chicken you get at the grocery store was butchered at 6 to 8 weeks of age, too young to develop either flavor or texture. That's the standard a lot of people use. Some of us like that extra flavor, some don't. That's personal preference, I can't do anything about that.

If you butcher a cockerel pretty young, say by 12 weeks of age, you will get very little meat but you can fry or grill it. Some people are OK with frying or grilling at 14 weeks but you may start to notice a texture difference. 16 weeks is probably going to be too old for most people. You need to use a moister and slower cooking method.

Up to around 23 weeks I like to bake them. Cut them into serving pieces and bake them in a baking pan with a tight fitting lid to keep the moisture in at a fairly low temperature. I use 250 F for about 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

The exception to a slower cooking method is a pressure cooker. Those get really hot but they work to make the meat tender.

You can use a crock pot, set on low and cooked for several hours. Seven or eight hours is probably enough but I like to cook them overnight.

You can use roosters to make soups or stews. Coq au Vin is how the French developed a method to make a gourmet meal out of a tough old rooster. I prefer old hens for chicken and dumplings but you could use an older cockerel or rooster.

Before you cook any chicken you need to make sure rigor mortis has passed. If you cook it while it is still stiff from rigor mortis it can be tough and inedible.

If you feel you need to fry or grill then get CX and butcher them by 6 to 8 weeks of age. Or get Rangers and butcher them at 12 weeks. They should reach a decent size by then, dual-purpose chickens will not.

 

[Chickie YumYum]

Why do you want to leave him in the coop while the hens free range? Are you talking about a baby chick or a fully grown rooster? For how long? This is the part I don't understand what you are talking about.

Finally moved Mr. Bonsi and the ladies to a new run. Bought a 9x19 that came with just chicken wire. I will have to fortify it soon with hardware cloth and still need to install the tarp. I have some chicken wire overhang and some tie tails I need to trim, but it’s enough to get them out of their tiny starter coop and run. I just took the run off and attached the chicken wire (and soon hardware cloth) to the coop itself so they have that outside the run and I can access the nesting boxes and litter tray from outside the run.
I plan on adding some roosts, ladders to climb, an official dust bath bin, tarp, and making a new coop door. I don’t like the ‘security of the sliding one that’s on there now.
Outside, I’ll run hardware cloth up the side and out on the ground a few feet. I plan on placing railway ties against the outside bottom to further fortify the bottom, and place planters on the ties filled with things the ladies can snack on, should it grow through the fence into the run. I also want to add lighting around the perimeter and some motion lights.
Any other suggestions?

I'm sorry I have confused everyone. It sounded right in my head but I think I kept part in my head and typed the rest.
Ok. What I would like to do is get one of the biggest prefab wire coops or greenhouses that will fit fairly close to house. All the coops come with either dog wire or chicken wire. I prefer 1/4" because of little critters like snakes(copperheads, black, King, garter) Others are raccoons, coyotes, hawks owls. I live in very southern central VA 5 miles from NC zone 7. If I got a chicken coop, how high would I need to run the 1/4" and would the chicken wire work for owls and hawks? I'm hoping I have room to have the coop just outside yard fence. Layers are inside that fence along with raised bed gardens. I saw some houses, square, plenty of ventilation, but much lower to the ground. But 2 together, making sure there's support for the load bearing walls would be a nice size for them. I'd build it myself but my back and shoulder is all messed up but my dad was a carpenter.

I plan on getting meat chicks early spring if we have one or around 04152025, cold hardening in garden house and then moving them to their permanent home. I'll be getting a rooster or 2 chicks at the same time.
Will probably free range them also but since I want to raise chicks, they would have their own rooster. Could I just leave him in the coop while the hens free ranged?
I would like nice breeds but not orps, australopes (my layers&pets) or CX- they grow fast but so uncomfortably. I'll be sending them to chicken heaven myself, I've done all that before.
Do y'all have any suggestions on breed? One grandmother had brownish tan and the other white chickens. I don't know what kind they were. I was young.

Why do you want to leave him in the coop while the hens free range? Are you talking about a baby chick or a fully grown rooster? For how long? This is the part I don't understand what you are talking about.

If you don't know how to prepare and cook them any other way then they do make good stew. The secret for good stew is to never bring them to a hard boil, just simmer them.

When cockerels go through puberty they develop both flavor and texture due to the hormones of puberty. The chicken you get at the grocery store was butchered at 6 to 8 weeks of age, too young to develop either flavor or texture. That's the standard a lot of people use. Some of us like that extra flavor, some don't. That's personal preference, I can't do anything about that.

If you butcher a cockerel pretty young, say by 12 weeks of age, you will get very little meat but you can fry or grill it. Some people are OK with frying or grilling at 14 weeks but you may start to notice a texture difference. 16 weeks is probably going to be too old for most people. You need to use a moister and slower cooking method.

Up to around 23 weeks I like to bake them. Cut them into serving pieces and bake them in a baking pan with a tight fitting lid to keep the moisture in at a fairly low temperature. I use 250 F for about 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

The exception to a slower cooking method is a pressure cooker. Those get really hot but they work to make the meat tender.

You can use a crock pot, set on low and cooked for several hours. Seven or eight hours is probably enough but I like to cook them overnight.

You can use roosters to make soups or stews. Coq au Vin is how the French developed a method to make a gourmet meal out of a tough old rooster. I prefer old hens for chicken and dumplings but you could use an older cockerel or rooster.

Before you cook any chicken you need to make sure rigor mortis has passed. If you cook it while it is still stiff from rigor mortis it can be tough and inedible.

If you feel you need to fry or grill then get CX and butcher them by 6 to 8 weeks of age. Or get Rangers and butcher them at 12 weeks. They should reach a decent size by then, dual-purpose chickens will not.

 

[Chickie YumYum]

I'm sorry I'm still confusing you but I keep leaving out the facts:
1) I already have an EE rooster
given to me with my layers
2) Right now he and hens free
range together
3) If I have a broody hen, I'm going to let her raise them
4) Going to get meat birds. You
had said get all cockerals for
meat birds
5) Originally had planned to
raise Some chicks off the
hens having a meat rooster
6) I had wanted to be able to
have some old hens to roast
7) Because I'd like to raise
some meat chicks if i had
some broody hens, I
wanted to keep the
correct rooster with the
correct hens and still free
range. That's where my
dilemma comes in.
8) My yard has a wooden
fence around it. One
thought i had was
just run some chicken wire
on the back of the wooden
fence to keep the layers/
meat separate so the
roosters stay with their
own ladies. The wooden
fence is only 4ft tall.Would
this work?
Or is my brain making things difficult for me?

I also think I'd get Cockerels and pullets so I'd get those old hens also for roasting and chicken and dumplings. And bake or fry the cockerals
Am I making any sense now?

 

[Ridgerunner]

One thought i had was just run some chicken wire on the back of the wooden fence to keep the layers/ meat separate so the roosters stay with their own ladies. The wooden fence is only 4ft tall. Would this work?

So your thought is to have one flock (a specific rooster with specific hens) as a laying flock and a different flock (a specific rooster with specific hens) as a meat flock. Thanks.

Nothing wrong with that. I use the same dual-purpose rooster with dual purpose hens as my combined egg and meat flock but that does make it interesting when I am deciding on which chickens to keep for breeding as you want separate traits for those goals.

A 4' high wooden would probably not keep the separated. A dual purpose chicken can fly a lot higher than that if it wants to. What often happens is that they fly up to the top of a fence that they can perch on and then they might hop down on either side. So if you attach mesh wire so it stands up so they cannot see a safe landing spot you can usually keep them from going over the fence. If you get 36" wide wire mesh and attach one end of that about 18" down the wooden fence and again at the top it the wire could be stiff enough to stand up. I used welded wire for that since it is stiffer and I had it on hand. I'm not sure how well chicken wire would work as far as stiffness goes. It could be fine.

Those roosters could probably fly over that 5-1/2 feet high combined fence if they want to. I don't know how well it will keep them apart. But that's the way I'd try it.

I also think I'd get Cockerels and pullets so I'd get those old hens also for roasting and chicken and dumplings. And bake or fry the cockerals
Am I making any sense now?

Yes. You can make chicken and dumplings with old hens from your laying flock too when you need to replace them to improve egg laying. As they get older egg laying declines so you'll need to replace them to keep egg production up.