2nd night in the coop and i'm up at 3 a.m.

[AccidentalFarm]

You'd think the flock were my kids or something. My dogs started barking at 3 a.m. and I'm laying in bed trying to ignore them. Then my mind wanders over to the chickens...and I start thinking: coons. Or maybe coyotes. Is that darn skunk back again? Could be the neighbors dog, I did see him earlier today...
What if a snake got in the coop and the chickens are riled up, so the dogs are barking at that? Opossums. We DO have opossums here.

So. I soon find myself in my nightshirt and slippers headed to the coop 100 yards from the house, in the dark, no flashlight, no gun, no DH, no trusty Lab by my side. Hey, wait! Where's that darn dog?? It's 3:15 in the morning. I take a moment to pause and reflect on the level of intelligence one must have to continue on this path. Do I really want to do battle with a coon? Unarmed and half asleep? Do I really want to walk up on a skunk and scare the crap out of him?? I didn't ponder this for long before I decided a low whistle to call the dogs might be prudent. Yep, they came a-running right away. So, now I have the dogs and they're completely relaxed. The coop is quiet. All I could hear was some dumb 'ol Mockingbird singing in the night.

I went back to bed wondering if I'd be back again the next night. Boy, i'll be glad when my chickies are all grown up and off to college.

 

[eggchel]

LOL, I think that if you ran into a skunk that you'd be scaring the stink out of him.

Yup, Ive been on that middle of the night what am I thinking stroll in the dark.


chel

 

[ozark hen]

Accidental farm, my chicks are two weeks old and I have already been dreading when they go into their new coup! It is almost like when the last of our five daughters finally left home! I hope I survive it.

 

[mudhen]

Aren't we ridiculous!?

Mine are in their fifth night out and last night I actually put a little nightlight in there for them.

My first three nights were the worst!
I get so worried that they can't see in the dark and some noise or something migh frighten them and....

Well, I've heard say that the second child is easier. Maybe I won't be so neurotic with my second batch of kids?

 

[ozark hen]

mudhen, now I know I will probably be camping out that first night they go to the coup!!

 

[mom'sfolly]

My girls have been in the coop a little over a week. The last thing I do before bed is check on them. The first couple of nights even my dh went to check. All I ever see is 7 linear feet of roost and four pullets squeezed on on foot of length.

. They obviously don't know they need 1 1/2-2 feet each. Silly chickens.

 

[ozark hen]

mom's folly-now that is funny! Perhaps someone should read "building a coup" or "raising chickens" to the chickens?

 

[Happy Chicken Mama]

How Funny! What a great story!

Mine have been getting me up too! My one sweet Blue Cochin Has figured out how to get out of the brooder and peeps at the bedroom door till I get up and get her. I put her back... lo and behold she does it again untill I watch tv with her for a while or put her in the bed with me untill she falls asleep.

Can you tell I'm in love?

Im sure I'll be worried all night when they first sleep in their coop. They love going out in it during the day. They will be ready soon to go out all night... Not me though.

The night light is such a great idea! If not for them... it will make me feel better!

 

[AccidentalFarm]

Quote:
LOL- You are right. And THAT would scare the crap outta me!

 

[homechick]

I know what you mean. I think about them alot. They are safe in their outside pen (which is in my fenced yard) but I saw the neighbors cat pacing the outside of it yesterday. I ran outside like a crazy woman and after the stalker was gone I instinctively said "Are my babies okay?" right after.. very anxiously. Like they were going to say "Yes mamma, we're okay now!"