Pastured PoultryPastured Poultry

A Few Housing and Fencing A Few Housing and Fencing Options to Manage BirdsOptions to Manage Birds

These pens are very strong, but not easy to move, and the feed was not completely protected from the rain.

Free ranging birds are easy to care for, but more vulnerable to predation.

A very innovative farmer uses a bus for his free range layers. There is a ramp into the bus, and nest boxes and feeders inside too. Feed can be

loaded into a bulk feeder via a hole in the roof.

The water bucket on top of this “chicken tractor” supplies the nipple waterers on the pvc pipe inside the pen.

This hoop house works fairly well, a loop of rope attached to the 4x4 skids at one end makes it fairly easy to move. The plywood can be replaced with netting. A tarp at one end protects the birds and keeps the feed dry.

Preventing PredationPreventing Predation Predator tight buildings or fences.Predator tight buildings or fences. Electric Fence (Psychological barrier).Electric Fence (Psychological barrier). Habitat Modification. Removing brush etc. from areas surrounding Habitat Modification. Removing brush etc. from areas surrounding

your pens.your pens. Lights, noise (i.e. radios) or other techniques to frighten predators. Lights, noise (i.e. radios) or other techniques to frighten predators.

Predators may get used to these tactics and learn to ignore them.Predators may get used to these tactics and learn to ignore them. Management (i.e. housing birds at night).Management (i.e. housing birds at night). Guard Animals.Guard Animals.

LlamasLlamasDogsDogsDonkeysDonkeys

Trapping. If you have poultry it is a good idea to have a live trap Trapping. If you have poultry it is a good idea to have a live trap too.too.(Raccoons are one of the main predators of poultry.)(Raccoons are one of the main predators of poultry.)

Donkeys can be a very effective predator deterant.

Guard dogs such as this Great Pyrenees can be very effective, however some guard dogs like to

wander and it may be difficult to keep them in the pasture. Note the high tensile fence with hot wires.