Ali James' Garden Chickens

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Or turn them flat side up and the littles like to run and hide in them.. if you have littles... and eventually they get filled with dirt that way too.. all the kicking and scratching...

Someone here on BYC mentioned about a hen getting stuck in one of these in winter. She was wet, and when she hid in one, her feathers "froze" to the cement and she couldn't get out. Luckily she was found within a day, so though she was very cold, she didn't starve to death. Sorry to be a panic merchant, just something to keep in mind if you get freezing weather Ali

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I have finished my set up now and ready for the girls to arrive. Have a forgotten anything? The feeder and drinker will go out in the morning so they are fresh, and the grit and oyster shell are hooked just under the nest boxes.

That looks fantastic Ali!

I love your dust bath set up, great re-purposing! If you find it is getting wet from the rain where it is, it would probably get more shelter under the coop.

You might want to consider making a wire cage to put around that sapling in the run until it's bigger. The chooks will denude it in no time. Pavers around the roots will stop them digging up the roots too.....or at least slow them down

Only a few hours until you get your girls! I'm so excited for you! Eeeeeeeeeee!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

the grit and oyster shell are hooked just under the nest boxes.

Brilliant sheltered spot for the shell grit. My chooks hate it when it gets wet.

I wonder if there would be any way to attach a branch or roosting bar under the coop for really inclement weather?

Yes! Any time I rake the yard I just dump everything in the run in a big pile & the girls think Christmas has come!

I dump the contents of the lawn mower in the run. They love scratching through it looking for bugs and pecking at the fresh grass

 

[WhoDatChick]

Someone here on BYC mentioned about a hen getting stuck in one of these in winter. She was wet, and when she hid in one, her feathers "froze" to the cement and she couldn't get out. Luckily she was found within a day, so though she was very cold, she didn't starve to death. Sorry to be a panic merchant, just something to keep in mind if you get freezing weather Ali

Oh my goodness.. that’s crazy! Great... now something else for me to worry about .... I can’t imagine one of my gals getting in there though...

 

[Ribh]

Brilliant sheltered spot for the shell grit. My chooks hate it when it gets wet.

I wonder if there would be any way to attach a branch or roosting bar under the coop for really inclement weather?



I dump the contents of the lawn mower in the run. They love scratching through it looking for bugs and pecking at the fresh grass

That would work ~ only we don't have lawn.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Oh my goodness.. that’s crazy! Great... now something else for me to worry about .... I can’t imagine one of my gals getting in there though..

Sorry WhoDat... I can get a bit paranoid. We all know that chickens have the preservation instincts of a toddler though...

 

[Ali James]

Thanks so much for all the feedback - I really want to get this right and be a responsible chicken keeper.

I can definitely think about a roost bar under the run, that is do-able.

Lol about protecting the sapling - the girls are welcome to it!! We've been trying to get rid of it but it keeps growing back!

Re the lawn mower clippings; it sounds like they are safe for the chooks? I have a fair bit of experience with horses, and grass clippings are dangerous for them, colic etc. But ok for the girls?

The cinder blocks - I will watch carefully to see if they pose a problem and will be prepared to block them up if need be.

We are leaving five minutes to go to get them!!!!!

 

[Ali James]

Wow! Today has been a whirlwind and so enjoyable. We picked up the girls this morning and brought them home. The moment we opened the box they all hopped out and began exploring their new digs. I spent several hours over the course of the day just sitting on the log watching them and have already learnt so much.

Let me introduce you to our flock:

Left to right: Charlie (Heritage Skyline), Echo (Bovan Nera), Blue (Blue Rhode) and Delta (Light Sussex)

 

[ValerieJ]

lovely!

 

[Ali James]

Charlie is clearly bottom of the pecking order, she gets pecked by everyone, not nastily, more of a reminder of her place at the bottom rank. She gets pushed off the food, knocked off any perches and bumped out of the way. She just accepts it though and backs down; she is still accepted into the group though. She has the coolest little 'hat' where she has a few longer, swept back feathers on top of her head and a quirkily flopped over comb. Hopefully she will lay us blue/green eggs. Here is a close up: