Our last little flock of 4 hens went to the great barnyard in the sky some years ago, but we're now planning on having a somewhat bigger flock of 8-12 girls and want to make sure that I plan this right.
We have quite a bit of land (agricultural and garden) and the last flock were allowed to run completely free range, let out first thing in the morning and locked in at night. They did completely wreck the garden and we've now got used to things that we've planted staying on one place, so I'm going to fence them in.
I can see 2 options. Either a nice big permanent enclosure that I can properly protect against predators, or a temporary fence arrangement that I can move about periodically. The hen house would then either be permanently sited, or movable.
What's your advice on the pros and cons of both approaches? Is one much better than the other?
Also, I'm thinking of an electric door opener. These days I have a job that means I'm usually back after dark much of the year and don't really want to rely on my "Assistant Chicken Keepers" (ages 3 &
to lock the girls safely in at night. Do they work well (the doors, not my boys) and is there anything I should consider in the chicken house pop door "design" or are they all pretty much the same and capable of being automated?
Thanks!