12x6 Coop Construction, August 2016 Deadline!

[kie4]

Not letting them out until 3 hours before nightfall now in an attempt to stop them roaming too far.

 

[aart]

They always fight to be closest to the wall. Sometimes they even jump on the back of the chicken closest to the wall and both chickens fall off then race to get back up. This is the only kind of pecking order behavior In seeing at 2 months.

That's the 'Roost Time Rumble'....happens about everyday no matter how old or how long living together.

 

[kie4]

That's the 'Roost Time Rumble'....happens about everyday no matter how old or how long living together.

Thanks @aart ! That's good to know our chooks are behaving normally. It's fun to watch them jossle at the end of the day

 

[kie4]

Put a perspex window on the internal window

After reading about vertical space on BYC, added a really high roost. Took the chickens about a week to work out how to get up to it.

 

[aart]

After reading about vertical space on BYC, added a really high roost. Took the chickens about a week to work out how to get up to it.

Keep in mind, if that high roost in the run(I think that's the run) is higher than the roost in the coop, they may start sleeping on it.

 

[kie4]

Keep in mind, if that high roost in the run(I think that's the run) is higher than the roost in the coop, they may start sleeping on it.

Thanks for the advice @aart, the roost in the run is lower than the one in the coop. I plan to put one higher, so when I do that we'll see if they roost on that one instead. If they do I'll take it down. The roosts are to keep the run interesting when I lock them in.

 

[aart]

Quote: <thubmsup> Indeed, I have several roosts and other things to 'climb' on in the run, mine are always confined.

 

[kie4]

Our 2 week old Silver Welbar.

 

[Little Fuzzy]

I used rubber horse stall mats over hardware cloth over dirt. I use deep shavings over the mats. Very easy to do a full clean out once a year, other wise I just scape the top off every other day or so.

 

[kie4]

Sounds like a good system @little fuzzy.

Put a rear window in the coop today. Has glass to close for when it's cold in winter and a grill for all other times. Opens all the way for when I want to reach in for something. Pleased with how the back of the cooo has turned out.

Next thing to add is a raised box in the run full of soil and charcoal for the hens to jump up to and have a dust bath.