OurBoys Posted March 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 Can the ones who have tractors post some pictures of them??? I would also be interested in pictures of coops as well, inside and out. Does anyone use their tractor as a coop or do you have both?? And if you aren't satisfied with your tractor/coop, what would you do different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fosher Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 FWIW, we have decided to abandon the broiler idea. Just couldn't make it work. We will probably get a straight run of some heavy layer and dress the males. Grain is simply too expensive to feed to chickens right now. Broiler mash is $37/CWT, which means we would probably have about 84 cents of grain in every pound of meat, even allowing for pasture consumption, plus the cost of chicks, equipment, and electricity. I just can't get the cost of production down below $3.25/lb, even if I ignore all labor and we do the processing ourselves. I can buy free range organic chickens in the store for $2.79/lb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martySQ Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 Yeah, only the quick probably wouldn't have won if darn JellyBean had been handy! I'm squeamish about killing things like mice myself, so I need a cat, or chicken, or some other critter to do it for me. That mouse got lucky.... Brenda, A cover isn't a crazy idea at all. I almost suggested it myself as a way to protect from winged predators. Also, you can get solar powered fence chargers for use with electronet. I've never used a heat lamp or other warming device in winter. At least in this climate, healthy birds should be able to manage just fine without, especially if they're in a draft-free (not airtight) coop. J. If you have Layers, or ducks laying , they do better at laying in the shorter daylight hours with supplemental light. FWIW... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnewe2 Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 I've never used a heat lamp or other warming device in winter. At least in this climate, healthy birds should be able to manage just fine without, especially if they're in a draft-free (not airtight) coop. I've been wondering if we're gonna need a heat lamp to get through winter. I've never needed one before but I wasn't in CO either. I'm also waiting for my 6 month old chickens to start laying. I was thinking a light would help get them started. NOw to go do it! I saw the coolest chicken tractor thing on Renovation Nation I think it was DIY or Discover channel. THey were built out of 1x2's and chicken wire. Shaped in a triangle with a triangle shaped enclousure at the end. Wheels on the wieghted side (with the house) and a long pole extending out the other side where you could hook up and drag it to the new spot. I recorded it for later refrence. Even DH thought it looked good. And he's not into helping much so I have to save him for real important or hard stuff that I can't do alone. I raise chickens for eggs and fun. I enjoy watching them and listening. I HATE butchering them so only get egg layers. Really I'm such a baby, I like Aracauna's(sp?) cause I like getting colored eggs! But I have noticed how expensive these guys are compared to a couple years ago. Glad I only have 9 birds. Only one accidental rooster but he's my favroite guy so guess he was supposed to be here. If I added up what it cost for these birds, organic eggs from the market would be cheaper but then I wouldn't get to enjoy my birds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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