Just remember that "Chicken Math" will strike and you'll be a full fledged member of the "Addicted to Chickens" Group and there's no 12 Step Recovery. :lol:You're doing wellJust need to make it to spring so we can improve the setup. But, I definitely think we'll add a few more when we have more appropriate housing and outdoor area set up.
Help! 4 lovely ladies just moved in, coop and all
- Status
41 - 60 of 105 Posts
We had a bizarre 50 degree day yesterday, and a ton of snow melted, exposing...grass. I think the chickens were more excited to get to the grass than my horse was!
We've been able to build them a little makeshift "patio" so they can get much more time outside in relative safety, and they love it (it has dirt to roll in!). There have been a couple of "jailbreaks" but they don't really go anywhere, just stand on the other side of the fence looking at the ones who are still on the inside, like "what are you doing submitting to those artificial boundaries?!? Join us out here in freedom!" There is one ringleader- I watched her go back and forth a couple of times through the little hole she had found, trying to get the others to follow her, which was hysterical. You could just see her little chicken eyes cursing the others for being such dummies. Yesterday, she was successful in getting one to follow her out. So, this weekend, we'll be patching and strengthening the fence. I don't mind them being out, but I just don't trust my neighbor to keep her dog contained.
We've been able to build them a little makeshift "patio" so they can get much more time outside in relative safety, and they love it (it has dirt to roll in!). There have been a couple of "jailbreaks" but they don't really go anywhere, just stand on the other side of the fence looking at the ones who are still on the inside, like "what are you doing submitting to those artificial boundaries?!? Join us out here in freedom!" There is one ringleader- I watched her go back and forth a couple of times through the little hole she had found, trying to get the others to follow her, which was hysterical. You could just see her little chicken eyes cursing the others for being such dummies. Yesterday, she was successful in getting one to follow her out. So, this weekend, we'll be patching and strengthening the fence. I don't mind them being out, but I just don't trust my neighbor to keep her dog contained.
Attachments
These girls just continue to crack me up. I let them out of their pen in the afternoon when I take my dogs for a walk, and at promptly 5:15, I go out to close them up for the night, to find them already tucked in to bed. I have never had animals that are so punctual about heading home for the night- it's a great feature! I assume "bed time" will get later as the days get longer, right?
Attachments
You guys are awesome- that video completely nailed what I heard! And also made my poor dog jump off the floor and come shooting across the room
After producing 3 eggs today, the ladies stayed outside all day and braved the beginnings of "Nemo"-aka winter storm of the century. It's not going to be so fun to wade through 2 feet of snow tomorrow morning to get to their coop, but I have a feeling they're still going to want to try to go outside. Will be a good photo op- who wouldn't love looking at chickens frolicking in fluffy, fresh snow!?
After producing 3 eggs today, the ladies stayed outside all day and braved the beginnings of "Nemo"-aka winter storm of the century. It's not going to be so fun to wade through 2 feet of snow tomorrow morning to get to their coop, but I have a feeling they're still going to want to try to go outside. Will be a good photo op- who wouldn't love looking at chickens frolicking in fluffy, fresh snow!?
And also made my poor dog jump off the floor and come shooting across the room
So definitely no going outside today! The snow was about as bad as the forecasters expected- close to 2 feet overnight, but the wind gusts continued to be 40+ mph all day long, making the wind chill -5F. We did manage to shovel out the "chicken yard," but when this all starts melting, the coop is going to be flooded! There just was nowhere else to put all the snow, so we tried to move it back the best we could so they can get out again tomorrow.
Can you all talk to me about laying for a minute? Today, for the first time, we got 4 eggs, which means everyone laid. Was this just because being shut in the coop literally all day got them feeling "inspired" to lay? Or, do you think this means someone is laying outside somewhere more private? I have been getting 3 eggs about every other day for the past week, but two is more typical. I do think the Rhodies just started laying this past week- I don't think they really were when they first moved over here.
Can you all talk to me about laying for a minute? Today, for the first time, we got 4 eggs, which means everyone laid. Was this just because being shut in the coop literally all day got them feeling "inspired" to lay? Or, do you think this means someone is laying outside somewhere more private? I have been getting 3 eggs about every other day for the past week, but two is more typical. I do think the Rhodies just started laying this past week- I don't think they really were when they first moved over here.
Attachments
41 - 60 of 105 Posts
- Status
