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Oh no!! When do you start there? Maybe the little ones will be better at going in before you change? Are you using the flood lights now? If they're not asleep when you put them on, I'd think it would encourage them to stay out of the coop. Mine hung out by the coop door for a few nights before they figured out the roost. We finally realized it was because it was lighter there than inside the coop. They still all roost at the end of roost that is closest to the window...where it's lightest at dusk.
I'm in Wisconsin and if I could have more than the ones I have, I'd offer to take them for the winter and then return them to you. :(

I jysf got the flood lights. They are getting wired tomorrow. I'm not sure if I should put the double one in the run and one in the coop?

Which way would encourage them to go in? They prefer the top of the coop right now. Before it was the rabbit hutch. They have gone higher.

I was thinking in the run so they can see in case of a predator coming around.

Thd time change is going to mess me up. We are looking at about an hour in the morning and an hour at night.
 
I got word today that I'm being relocated for work. I'm pretty depressed and not looking forward to it. They are allowing me up to 1.5 hours for linch to come home and let the dogs out and check on the chickens. For that I feel completely blessed.

I am really not going to see the chickens and ducks for the whole winter. I'll be gone when it's dark, coming home when it's dark and the days are going to be super long. The younger ones are hit or miss going into the coop at night. They still have not gotten the flaps on the doors figured out either. I got some flood lights to put on once it gets dark for the run. I'm worried about predators even with the electric fence. I'm almost thinking I may have to give them up for their own safety--weather and predators. An auto door won't work because they don't get in anyway and the ducks won't go in period. I can not spend my days worried about them constantly.

I don't even know what to do, except cry.
I am so sorry to hear this @llombardo :hugs Obviously you have to do what is best for you and your flock, but if I am ok to give my opinion, I think if you are able to keep them, then keep them, if you are unable to withstand the worry then for the sake of your health then maybe they should go but if I were you I'd keep them. As much as a pain in the arse winter is, it is but only three months of each year and from what I've been told and have read chickens are less active in the winter anyway. As for the young ones, I'm sure they'll figure it out eventually. As for the ducks, I have it on good authority, they don't sleep through the night and can be more active in the night than the day, they are not night blind although their eye sight not as sharp in the dark as by day, they can see enough to get around plus they rely on their senses and sharp hearing. Of the ponds around here the ducks (wild and domesticated ducks) play all through the night and some swim, so of your ducks there is every chance they could be going in and out through out the night any way. I know many believe chickens and ducks to be stupid but they are far from being stupid, chickens especially are amongst the list of animals (which includes dogs) easiest to train, so maybe the young ones aren't going in yet because they don't want to? - Just a thought, either way I hope you find a resolve soon, my heart goes out to you :hugs
 
Sorry I've been totally absent for a while!!
I've been reading through the posts every so often but I recently adopted a puppy so all my time has been devoted to that! (And fall yard work) :)

The chickens are doing good, Nala and Kida are both molting so I usually get 2-4 eggs per day now. It seems like Kida has been molting forever. I miss her big green eggs! I just ate one of the last Nala eggs I have left over from before she started molting this morning. Her eggs have such a cute shape, like the Cadbury candy coated eggs.

At least I still have Belle's little blue eggs. :)
Here are the chickens keeping my raspberries free of beetles as the leaves slowly change colors!
IMG_20181014_092219.jpg


Not chicken related but the new puppy is a 7 month old border collie mix with three legs!
He was found as a stray with a badly broken leg that could not be healed, so the shelter amputated.
He is a super happy little guy though and that sure doesn't slow him down!
IMG_20181018_112240.jpg
 
Sorry I've been totally absent for a while!!
I've been reading through the posts every so often but I recently adopted a puppy so all my time has been devoted to that! (And fall yard work) :)

The chickens are doing good, Nala and Kida are both molting so I usually get 2-4 eggs per day now. It seems like Kida has been molting forever. I miss her big green eggs! I just ate one of the last Nala eggs I have left over from before she started molting this morning. Her eggs have such a cute shape, like the Cadbury candy coated eggs.

At least I still have Belle's little blue eggs. :)
Here are the chickens keeping my raspberries free of beetles as the leaves slowly change colors!
View attachment 1564249

Not chicken related but the new puppy is a 7 month old border collie mix with three legs!
He was found as a stray with a badly broken leg that could not be healed, so the shelter amputated.
He is a super happy little guy though and that sure doesn't slow him down!
View attachment 1564251
:goodpost:
 
What a day I had...

I took a half day because I needed to get the run and coop done here and the weather was good today. It seems anything that is easy for a regular person is extra hard for me. When I got home I noticed Sunni(the peking) did not look good. She didn't try running when I picked her up, she didn't move around the pool and she was shivering. So off to the vet we went, which means I had to leave my run almost finished but not quite. Sunni had some liquid in her crop and lots of grit in her belly. Also a possible upper respiratory thing going on. It seems she is somewhat molting but has most of her winter feathers. She weighs 7 pounds exactly. So they gave her a couple antibiotic shots, a calcium shot, vitamin a and d shot and fluid. We got sent home with 2 antibiotics. So she is in the house now. Not sure how this will work with acclimating her back outside. It's now in the 30s almost every night. With relocating at work, this is not super great timing. I'm not even attempting it until she is 100%. The vet said she is a very good duck, I said you can tell she isn't feeling good--super quiet. I did get to cuddle her though.

I did manage to get the lights up before I left which was a good thing because it was dark when I got back. One of the guys at work gave me a really nice water proof light for the run. I finished plugging everything in and running it to the house. I just got to secure the plastic again. I'm exhausted..long long day.

Sunni at the vet

image.jpg


Sunni at home all set up in her new temporary home

image.jpg


And the lights in the run. Chickens were active and moving around until 8 when I put them up. Don't mind my cords running across the top. I had to get creative. I got wires running on the ground through pvc on the ground. Then I put holes in the green bucket to run the cords in there so they can't get wet. I might move the light but I think anywhere else it would be to bright. It's brighter then what the pictures show and I put a light in the coop too. Busy busy busy...

image.jpg
 
What a day I had...

I took a half day because I needed to get the run and coop done here and the weather was good today. It seems anything that is easy for a regular person is extra hard for me. When I got home I noticed Sunni(the peking) did not look good. She didn't try running when I picked her up, she didn't move around the pool and she was shivering. So off to the vet we went, which means I had to leave my run almost finished but not quite. Sunni had some liquid in her crop and lots of grit in her belly. Also a possible upper respiratory thing going on. It seems she is somewhat molting but has most of her winter feathers. She weighs 7 pounds exactly. So they gave her a couple antibiotic shots, a calcium shot, vitamin a and d shot and fluid. We got sent home with 2 antibiotics. So she is in the house now. Not sure how this will work with acclimating her back outside. It's now in the 30s almost every night. With relocating at work, this is not super great timing. I'm not even attempting it until she is 100%. The vet said she is a very good duck, I said you can tell she isn't feeling good--super quiet. I did get to cuddle her though.

I did manage to get the lights up before I left which was a good thing because it was dark when I got back. One of the guys at work gave me a really nice water proof light for the run. I finished plugging everything in and running it to the house. I just got to secure the plastic again. I'm exhausted..long long day.

Sunni at the vet

View attachment 1564805

Sunni at home all set up in her new temporary home

View attachment 1564809

And the lights in the run. Chickens were active and moving around until 8 when I put them up. Don't mind my cords running across the top. I had to get creative. I got wires running on the ground through pvc on the ground. Then I put holes in the green bucket to run the cords in there so they can't get wet. I might move the light but I think anywhere else it would be to bright. It's brighter then what the pictures show and I put a light in the coop too. Busy busy busy...

View attachment 1564807
Ohhh dear - "It never rains but it pours!" I am so sorry for you that everything has been so hard for you and now you are getting bombarded with everything happening at once but ohh my, what a trooper you are! Everything against you yet you achieve so much. I hope things will get easier for you very very soon and I wish Sunni all the best too but with you taking care of her she has every bit of a fighting chance. I admire you for your strength and courage and your willingness and ability to fight against adversity - all this worry yet you still managed to administer the upmost care and attention to all your flocks and get the lights done too! You deserve a great big well done :clapand I hope you remember to give yourself a great big pat on the back - you totally deserve it :hugs
 

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