Building Chicken Housing
Donna asks…
Building a cat house & enclosure
We have 24 cats in our house and we are wanting to build an outdoor enclosure and attach it to our house so that they can enter the enclosure through a kitty door. Could anyone give me any advice or a website to go to to get plans or ideas on the best and most affordable way to build an enclosure? We were going to use chicken wire (that's small enough so cats won't squeeze through it, right?). We thought about using concrete to go around the bottom so that they couldn't dig out. Our love to dig. Or could we just use wood to go along the bottom. Like dig somewhat of a mote around the bottom and place the wood in? Something like that? And we were thinking about using poles to go all around to construct. Also, for the top covering, we were going to set some beams inside the enclosure and have beams/poles going across the top to keep the wire on top from sagging. Does this sound ok? Any advice welcome. As for the cat house. We're not wanting anything fancy, but big enough for all the cats.
We are also going to build some small simple steps, but along with a beam to go out to the side a good ways for litter boxes.
Building Chicken Coops answers:
Wow your millions of cats will be very spoiled... Sorry to be of zero help other than saying it's a great idea, but if you google "cat runs" you should be able to find a lot of sites more helpful than i could ever be.
Mandy asks…
is there any websites on becoming self sufficient?
for example, with guides to building your own house, growing crops, raising chickens, etc, for people from the city?
Building Chicken Coops answers:
Why is this in vegan and vegitarian.
Just look it up. There are all kid of books on that sort of thing so I am sure there are millions of websites.
Mark asks…
Chicken Coop for Christmas?
Im Building my mum a chicken coop for Christmas, and buying Chickens. Im wanting any information on Chickens and there health and needs. And any important things they need for there House/Food?
Building Chicken Coops answers:
Buy your chickens from a local in the area. I would select young layers. Look at the whole flock to see their appearance if the droopy, runny eyes, coughing listless DONT BUY. Look for shiny feathers, bright red combs (things on their heads), always moving, just a healthy look to them. When you decide on the birds get sevin dust and dust them for mites (lil parasites that sucks blood from them), also get a good wormer that goes in their water.(Read the instructions on container if not you can poison them) Most of all protect them from outside wild animals. Make sure you bury the wire around the pen and place a top on top of pen. Chicken need at the least 1 square foot of space to live but I give mine 1 square yard. When you see a sick one though remove it immediately for they will infect your folk. Good Luck
Donald asks…
How much money would I need to start a self-sufficient farm?
I am interested in eventually purchasing land, building a house and shed, and live by growing my own food and bartering whenever possible. I would raise chickens but no more. Is this a feasible idea (in New England)? ty
I would have some capital in the bank, and would pay bills with the interest. I would only make as much food as I and anyone living with me would need. I would also not have tractors or machine tools whenever possible. If I had to, I would not always barter. And further, I would try to install solar panels and possibly a hand crank generator to provide power.
Building Chicken Coops answers:
Check for government help. They will help farmers get started and keep going if they keep there farmland. Not much money is to be made on a farm that is why the government assists farmers.
