6 Comets and 2 BSLs

Pics
Date sort Score sort
Big Mama Chicken said:
The chicken pen is 8 feet by 16 feet which includes a 9 ft by 3 foot redneck raised bed. I transpant things from the garden (usually at night after the girls are in the roost) into the RRB which usually don't last until mid morning. They love to "forage". I have bought red wigglers and put them out in the RRB and in the dog run and they usually have them "scratched out" in a couple of days. The dog run is attached to the pen and is 3 1/2 feet by 7 1/4 feet. Both have feeders and waterers. The original coop is in the pen and has two nest boxes. Some of the girls use those nest boxes and some use the hanging wall boxes (sorry that the "curtains" are dirty) There is also a single nest box in the dog run. I have a hanging feeder in the pen as well as a wall feeder that is lower than the hanging nest boxes but between them and the coop. In the RRB is a "planter" that has mealworms as a treat for the girls.
My BSLs are currently in the dog run and I have it closed off. I have let them do the chicken version of Trading Places and the BSLs will generally sit on top of one of the 2 homemade sawhorses or hide out behind the waterer cinderblock. When I open the entire place to both sets, the BSLs (the little girls who are bigger than the comets) usually retreat behind the cinderblock or on top of the coop. They will stay there even after the big girls go to the dog run. The comets love to return to their old hangout and do the chicken version of interior decorating (digging for bugs/worms, eating the little girls food, sitting on the roost bar etc). In both places I have the ability to hang treats--sometimes a zucchini, cucumber, frozen corn, cabbage, grapes, etc. It's really fun to watch one of the girls grab a grape and see 4 or 5 others chase for it! There are 3 hawks in the trees over my back yard so I don't let the girls out of the pen (unless one manages to slip by me when I'm going in and then I quickly retrieve her and return her home).
I would appreciate any suggestions.
Click to expand...
BTW, the bulk of the pen is on a concrete pad (all except the RRB) and I usually put out pine shavings on top of the concrete. The girls frequently rearrange them so I add to them every several days and every 3-4 weeks, I clean the shavings out and put them in compost bins, wash down the concrete and begin the process anew!
 
I think you are doing everything right. Sometimes you have shy pullets and it just takes a little/a lot of extra time for them to become part of a flock. Usually when they begin laying they'll start to act like one of the big girls. In the meantime just check them often to make sure they look healthy and are filling out so that you know they are eating and drinking. And please, keep us updated.
 
janiedoe said:
I think you are doing everything right. Sometimes you have shy pullets and it just takes a little/a lot of extra time for them to become part of a flock. Usually when they begin laying they'll start to act like one of the big girls. In the meantime just check them often to make sure they look healthy and are filling out so that you know they are eating and drinking. And please, keep us updated.
Click to expand...
Thanks. They seem to be healthy and have healthy appetites except for being skittish. They actually fly on my back or let me hold them which the comets aren't particularlly fond of!
 
Big Mama Chicken said:
I have enough room on the roost bars but worried that the BSLs might be picked on if they are on the roost bars. If I do put them on the roost bars, would it be better to put them in first and then let the comets in or vice versa? The BSLs don't sleep on the roost bar in the dog run. One sleeps on the bridge that runs the width of the run and the other sleeps on top of the waterer. They both slept on a broomstick when I had them in a dog crate in the house before they discovered the great outdoors!
Click to expand...
I'd let the older flock pick their spots first, they are used to their sleeping spaces. If there is enough room for the young ones, you can get them on after the others are settled in. I usually get ready to shut the lights off after I get everybody positioned at first, keeps everybody in their spot. After a week of doing this, they will all know where they belong at bed time. Makes for less chaos. :)
 
Big Mama Chicken said:
My oldest used to live in Sparkle City and my great aunt lived in Camden for over 75 years before going to the Presbyterian Home in Lexington. If you travel 95, I'm about 15 miles east of Pedro's sombrero!!
Click to expand...
I used to live in Sparkle City and just recently moved to Lexington. I pass by the Presbyterian Home every week on my way to work.

I was just down there last month picking up some Wyandotte's!
 

Similar threads

B
Appreciate some advice
2
Replies
10
Views
1K
Big Mama Chicken
B

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom