Creating a Chicken Paddock from scratch

Hello All! This is my first post and I have to say I love this site. I wish I didn't have to work, or go to school, so I could just read everything it has to offer. OK back to my topic.

I am working at a local fairgrounds that is getting back to their agricultural roots and wants to create a farm. This question is directly related to raising chickens and is broken up into two parts.

Part 1

The goal of having chickens on this farm is to have around 18-25 layers during the warm months and will become stew birds prior to winter. I want to design a system in which almost all of the food (90-95%) comes from what we can produce on the farm. In addition to a large area set aside for the chickens I also currently have a 70x30 foot area that I will use strictly for growing feed (this will be addressed in part 2). So, I have done a lot of exploring as far as how to construct a paddock and I know that there are as many strategies to doing so as there are types of birds. The method I am looking to pursue is the portable paddock method in which a large area is sectioned off for the chickens with a central coop. I will then plant this entire area with different chicken friendly plants and move the chickens every 2-3 days. It should be noted that we will not be getting the chickens until next year so I have this entire year to establish plants. So, to my question. I would like to hear your opinions on the specific steps I should take to prepare this area for the chickens (the area is a large semi-grassy area that needs to be amended.) I have access to large amounts of compost and wood chips. Now I know there are a lot of details regarding the building of the structure but put that aside for the moment and please just address the steps YOU would take. Or, to put it another way, you are looking at a field in New Hampshire, it is April 22, 2013 and you want 18-25 layers next year what SPECIFIC steps do you take?

Part 2

What plants should I plant on the 70x30 feet area to help supplement the chickens. From what I have read it is looking like I would use 50% for corn, and the rest would be a mix of barley, oats, sorghum, soybeans. Again, if you were looking at this area what specifically would you plant?


Thanks guys!! and please try to be as specific as possible, feel free to ask follow up questions, and if you live in Southern New Hampshire feel free to swing by!!

I just quickly wanted to stress I am looking for very specific plans on what you would do if it was your area and you had the goal of having 18-25 layers. This site is a great resource for general knowledge such as the numerous threads listing chicken friendly vegetables, but in this particular case I am interested in receiving very specific plans. Feel free to respond in the form of Step 1: Step 2: etc.