2018 Newbie Chat!

[Anna Ranieri]

Yes. I was in my last trimester of pregnancy and we had already hit around 90F or 32C. We converted my work shed into our coop. The first weekend we had to clean it out and remove shelving. Then we built the frame on a second weekend. Another weekend we got the roof on. Then over about a weeks time we got all the hardware cloth and chicken wire situated. It was a long and hot process.

Wow, you really did work hard and with being heavily pregnant! Well, your hard work paid off, your coop/run is one of the best I've seen - puts mine to shame that's for sure lol

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I was so mesmerized by @ChooksNQuilts grass as well. Lol. Dh and I have been working so hard to get our yard back and it's so hard! Here in Texas it's hard to find a grass that is drought hardy and also survives in the shade.

We don't have the heat problems you have but being on heath land our soil is very sandy and dries out so quick even on dull cloudy days which makes things harder for us as the seeds need to be constantly wet. Another difficulty is we get masses of moss and weeds grow, even when the grass got destroyed by droughts followed by exessive rains the weeds survived. We've opted for two types of grass, one is designed especially for chickens and has clover, rye and other nutritious grasses in it and the other is hardy grass designed for kids and it withstands excessive playing on it such as football. We are mixing the two and hope for a lawn covered in both types but it is a very long process, so will probably take the whole year to complete

 

[Cbarr00]

Wow, you really did work hard and with being heavily pregnant! Well, your hard work paid off, your coop/run is one of the best I've seen - puts mine to shame that's for sure lol

Oh thank you so much! Yes I started giving myself contractions towards the end so DH put me in time out after the roof was completed. I was only allowed to watch and lift light objects. Lol. I've been looking around the internet for some grass. we have been keeping the chickens locked up while we reestablish our grass. Last year any time new grass popped up the chickens destroyed it! Our seed last year took off really quick. This year not so much. We have a really nice patch in our front yard that I can look at and pretend the rest of the yard doesnt exist.

 

[llombardo]

So these babies go right into the coop at dusk. Nothing like the other ones that rebel against me and try to roist in the run. These babies don't even need treats. Good girls.

Last night they kept Little One nice and warm, she was wedged in between them. Plenty of room on one side but they get real clise to each other.

The ducks have gone into their house every night on their own. I just count them and lock it up.

I missed how easy it was to take card of them. I get everything ready for the next day at night once they are locked up and then in the morning I can just let them out and head to work.

Tonite when I got home, the first thing I do is check them and when they heard me, they all came running--so precious. I'm completely hooked on chickens.

I then decided to cut the grass, well the one area. I go to the shed and the darn walls popped out. All I'm thinking is that a darn raccoon better not jump out. No raccoon, but a large mouse, vole or mole. I popped the one wall in, could t get the other wall. I had about a foot to work in. So as a last resort I got my handy drill and bolted the wall up-cursing the whole time because I really wanted to cut the grass. I just made it as it got dark.

 

[No More Empty Nest]

Hi everyone! haven't been around in a while. Warm weather came and there was so much to do. Plus my daughter's birthday fell on Easter this year, so a double celebration.
I love all the pictures you've posted! Such beautiful chickens!
Last week when my grandson was here I decided to let the chickens out and see what happened. He's always been very gentle with my daughter's dogs so I hoped he'd be the same with the chickens.
First we went out and he waved at them...

Then I let them out. He watched them walk around and decided to pet Diamond. He picked the right one, the others would have walked/run away. He was very gentle as I had hoped. He never chased them and just walked with them watching them. And occasionally petting Diamond again.
He'll be 2 on the 4th of July.

Diamond is quite the layer, she's laid an egg every day for 19 days now. The others all skip a day at least once a week. She's lowest in the pecking order. Pearl is tops, she always has been. But she's very gracious about it. She was in the preferred nest box one day when I opened the egg door to check for eggs. Then the next time I looked she had let Diamond come and share the nest box with her. I don't think I've ever seen her peck anyone. Opal has pecked Jade a couple times. But Jade always pecks at Diamond when there are treats down. The insecure second from the bottom chicken. Diamond gets back at her though. She jumps up on my lap and gets treats from my hand. She's the only one who does that. I'd give anyone else treats if they came up but nobody else does. Opal has once or twice, but not regularly.
When I let them out, they all stay around me if I'm sitting down. They follow me if I walk away, lol. I really like that they do because we have hawks around sometimes. It's my hope that one wouldn't swoop down as much if they are all close to me. My husband said I should take a tennis racket outside with me in case one ever does, lol.
Last week my daughter had her chickens out and she went inside the house for a short time. She heard them alarm and looked out just in time to see a hawk fly up from her back yard. She ran out and three of her chickens had run back into the coop, and three had hidden under a bush. They weren't upset at all and came out when she shook her treat can as usual. She was very happy to know that they still have the instinct to alarm and hide.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Oh thank you so much! Yes I started giving myself contractions towards the end so DH put me in time out after the roof was completed. I was only allowed to watch and lift light objects. Lol. I've been looking around the internet for some grass. we have been keeping the chickens locked up while we reestablish our grass. Last year any time new grass popped up the chickens destroyed it! Our seed last year took off really quick. This year not so much. We have a really nice patch in our front yard that I can look at and pretend the rest of the yard doesnt exist.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

So these babies go right into the coop at dusk. Nothing like the other ones that rebel against me and try to roist in the run. These babies don't even need treats. Good girls.

Last night they kept Little One nice and warm, she was wedged in between them. Plenty of room on one side but they get real clise to each other.

The ducks have gone into their house every night on their own. I just count them and lock it up.

I missed how easy it was to take card of them. I get everything ready for the next day at night once they are locked up and then in the morning I can just let them out and head to work.

Tonite when I got home, the first thing I do is check them and when they heard me, they all came running--so precious. I'm completely hooked on chickens.

I then decided to cut the grass, well the one area. I go to the shed and the darn walls popped out. All I'm thinking is that a darn raccoon better not jump out. No raccoon, but a large mouse, vole or mole. I popped the one wall in, could t get the other wall. I had about a foot to work in. So as a last resort I got my handy drill and bolted the wall up-cursing the whole time because I really wanted to cut the grass. I just made it as it got dark.

Seems to be one thing after another at your place, really feel for you, must be so frustrating, you just get done with one problem then another arrives straight after!
My girls used to go in on their own but since the ducks have been gone they now want me to head them in and since the cat attack two of them want me to pick them up and place them in the hutch each night. I always sit out with them every morning until mid morning and every evening until they are ready to go in ( always have done so) now the four come over to me and do a soft clucking sound to let me know they want to head in at which I lead them in to the run and sit in the run with them, then when they are ready to bed down for the night Lilah and Roo jump in by themselves but Pedro and Jellybean come over to me and make the same cluck sound to let me know they want lifting in. I don't mind at all but it's sad for them thst they lost so much confidence.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Hi everyone! haven't been around in a while. Warm weather came and there was so much to do. Plus my daughter's birthday fell on Easter this year, so a double celebration.
I love all the pictures you've posted! Such beautiful chickens!
Last week when my grandson was here I decided to let the chickens out and see what happened. He's always been very gentle with my daughter's dogs so I hoped he'd be the same with the chickens.
First we went out and he waved at them...
View attachment 1749928
Then I let them out. He watched them walk around and decided to pet Diamond. He picked the right one, the others would have walked/run away. He was very gentle as I had hoped. He never chased them and just walked with them watching them. And occasionally petting Diamond again.
He'll be 2 on the 4th of July.
View attachment 1749930
Diamond is quite the layer, she's laid an egg every day for 19 days now. The others all skip a day at least once a week. She's lowest in the pecking order. Pearl is tops, she always has been. But she's very gracious about it. She was in the preferred nest box one day when I opened the egg door to check for eggs. Then the next time I looked she had let Diamond come and share the nest box with her. I don't think I've ever seen her peck anyone. Opal has pecked Jade a couple times. But Jade always pecks at Diamond when there are treats down. The insecure second from the bottom chicken. Diamond gets back at her though. She jumps up on my lap and gets treats from my hand. She's the only one who does that. I'd give anyone else treats if they came up but nobody else does. Opal has once or twice, but not regularly.
When I let them out, they all stay around me if I'm sitting down. They follow me if I walk away, lol. I really like that they do because we have hawks around sometimes. It's my hope that one wouldn't swoop down as much if they are all close to me. My husband said I should take a tennis racket outside with me in case one ever does, lol.
Last week my daughter had her chickens out and she went inside the house for a short time. She heard them alarm and looked out just in time to see a hawk fly up from her back yard. She ran out and three of her chickens had run back into the coop, and three had hidden under a bush. They weren't upset at all and came out when she shook her treat can as usual. She was very happy to know that they still have the instinct to alarm and hide.

Welcome back! I had wondered where you'd got to
Love these pictures, your grandson is so cute, absolutely love the pic of him petting Diamond - so cute!
Amazing how big your girls are now (the little I can see of them on your pics) - how old are they now? I would appreciate some updated pics if you don't mind and have the time to post some

 

[Anna Ranieri]

My girls have finally formed a flock now - at last! Roo no longer sits alone or away from the others like used to be and they let her join in with them foraging and wot not which I am so happy about.
Jellybean still has days where she picks on Roo a lot but doesn't bash her nearly as much as she used to. When Jellybean gets too much, Roo will come over to me and sit by my feet so when Jellybean comes over to her, I shoo Jellybean away so Roo can have some peace.
The cat still lurks around but hasn't been in the garden since we've been spraying it with water and the girls are very good at warning us and do so as soon as it approaches. It is amazing how they know it's around even though they can't see it as the fences are too high and the warning they give off is distinct so we now can tell when it's a warning about the cat.
My immediate neighbour is having problems with the cat now, it keeps going into her house when she has the door and/or windows open (as it's very hot here now) and a few days ago she found it in her bedroom and is worried it will pee in her house to mark it's territory, plus she can no longer leave food cooling on her kitchen work top otherwise the cat steals it.
Jellybean and Pedro are now a year old, and we will have had Pedro for a year on May 14th, and Jellybean on 21st May (our drakes have turned a year too now, so I'm gonna text and ask the Chuckery to send me a pic, Aurora and Midnight will be a year old in July) - my daughter's baby is due May 13th so if she comes on time they will share birthdays lol. Roo won't be a year untill August 11th. Lilah was 20 weeks when we got her in August so we think turned a year last January. I hope I get to have them all in my life for many many years to come, they are very much a big part of our family

 

[llombardo]

I need your opinions...

In the next couple days there will be some rain...should I just leave the babies in the coop or should I let them out and hope they know to go in when it rains?

I do not want them wet for night time--it's still in the 40s at night, to cold IMO for wet baby chickens.