I am in the progress of building my next chicken coop. It will measure 12'x16'. I would like to know if any of you have found a good wholesale source for chicken wire. My local TSC has the best price so far, but I thought surely there is a cheaper way to purchase the wire. ????? Maybe? If anyone has a good source, will you please let me know. I truly appreciate your help!
Have a great weekend,
Belinda
Another Question, can anyone help?
Hey Dont Know about your wire. But if you have never had Turkeys be fore when they get older dont put your pen where you have kept chickens before
I read also that you shouldn't keep turkeys near chickens, but then I see some ppl keep them together.... it's very confusing.
~Julie
Hmmmmm, I hope some Turkey People see this!! I was thinking about ordering a couple of Royal Palm Turkeys , and putting them with my Chickens after they get old enough!! Now I'll wait to see what others think!!! I remember Turkeys at my Grandmothers , in the yard with her Chickens! But of course way back then , in the country, Chickens and other fowl just ran loose in the yard , No confinements!!! that could make a big difference!
I had planned on separate pens for my chickens and my turkeys but they would be exposed to one another if I turn them out to free range the yard now and again.....
This is what I found on a poultry forum regarding keeping turkeys/chickens
Blackhead is an acute or chronic, infectious protozoan disease of fowl, primarily affecting the ceca and liver. The disease is present wherever poultry is raised. Blackhead is one of the critical diseases of growing turkeys. It may cause stunted growth, poor feed utilization and death. It is of lesser economic importance in chickens since they are more resistant.
Chickens frequently are infected with blackhead without showing signs of the disease. These chickens may shed enormous numbers of blackhead organisms, many of which are protected by cecal worm eggs. Because of this, outbreaks in turkeys often can be traced to direct or indirect contact with ranges, houses or equipment previously used by chickens.
Free-flying birds also may introduce an infection.
Prevention and treatment: Good management practices can do much to control the blackhead problem. Do not keep turkeys and chickens on the same premises. Do not range turkeys on ground previously used by chickens unless several years have elapsed. Rotate ranges periodically if possible. Cecal worm control may help reduce blackhead incidence. Wire or slatted floors around feeders and waterers reduce exposure.
Thanks Jab,
I will definitely have to check this out! I had never heard of this! this is why we love this site!!! thanks again for this info!
I have raised chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, guinea fowl, peafowl, piegeons, etc. all together for years. Never had a problem with any of the diseases that are suppose to abound between them. Mabye mine are just too dumb to know that they can't live together. lol. Like my buck rabbits who were such proud papas & helped raise the young bunnies. No one told us for many years that I couldn't keep the bucks and does together or the bucks would kill the babies. We raise dozens of babies with the bucks helping the does.
I really think that some of these rules came about because of large-scale husbandry in close conditions; i.e. less natural circumstances. Animals w/ fresh air and space to sort things out tend to do very well, both with other animals and with microscopic bugs. This is a generalization, but hey.
I can't tell you about a cheap source for chicken wire, but I can tell you that I have used chicken wire before, and the reason it is cheaper than other fencing is because it is very thin. In only a couple years it will rust and fall apart. I would spend the extra dough now and buy some real fencing that will last for years and years.
Just my 2 cents worth!
After messing with the chicken wire, I certainly agree with hmstyl. I am biting the bullet and adding the stronger wire, since these crazy birds will be a part of my world from here on out.
We too have had turkeys before but only free ranging. Never coop'ed with anything - - - they get free range of things...........makes them nice and fat! :)
You could also think about flight netting, which will keep hawks out and chickies in when you want them in their pen. I don't have any right now, and every day I come home to a chorus of cackles from the roof of my garage, where Pandora, Oona McCool and Butterball are serenading me in three part harmony.
It's when they lay an egg up there than it gets my goat. I have nightmares that it will fall on my head as i rush out for school, LOL!
Good idea, BackyardHens. :-) I'll give that a whirl - - - - I just hear your hens serenading you right now.........that is pretty cool. But now egg gathering on top of the roof could be a complete disaster!!!!!! E-yikes! Can't you put a "catch pan" on their little fannies while they serenade from above???? lol