Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

@igorsMistress thanks! Yes I felt so bad for the little ones as they got pecked while waiting for the treat they weren't used to that but what I try is distract the buffs with worms, the ee's dont like worms yet, and then do treats with the little ones, plus they know now to run from the buffs

Last night all the ee's went on top of the buffs coop to roost, on the top of the doors and roof, the buffs were inside it was funny to watch the buffs reaction, they were never jumpers or flyers like this

Btw May hasn't been as hot as other years does anyone feel the same? Hoping for a bit cooler than normal this summer!

I checked the Ak-Chin Weather last night and noticed that next week it says the temps will start getting hotter.

 

[igorsMistress]

Dogs are amazing and can learn who the "family members" are.
When I was a kid we had a Schnauzer, when we first got chickens and ducks, she wanted to chase them, she learned this was not acceptable. Then the drake started taking advantage and attacking her, she was afraid to go into the backyard, my father had to teach her to protect herself, so the Drake would quit attacking her.
My current dog, a blue heeler, watched the chicks growing up and doesn't even notice them. He's like the three monkeys when it comes to the chickens, No see. hear, no bark.

Of course I couldn't help but torture him occasionally

• nicollee
• Jan 1, 2017

• nicollee
• Jan 1, 2017

Love it!

 

[cactusrota]

If a cockerel has potential for my breeding program I will put him in with older hens, so he can learn some manners. The older girls set those boys straight pretty quickly. The cockerels that don't have potential for the breeding program get separated from the pullets as soon as they become annoying. Then they go to freezer camp.

Yeah, I have a "bachelor pad" pen I use just for the extra cockerels. The shelter entrance is facing out into the desert so if any of those idiots decide to start crowing in the middle of the night it doesn't wake us up..

 

[MagicChicken]

3-4 weeks ago one of my hens "disappeared." I figured she had gone broody somewhere in the yard, but never did find her nest. Today she appeared with one chick in tow.

My other broody has been sitting under the deck for over two months, with no results so far. I'm not about to crawl under there to get her. I know she's okay because she comes out a couple of times a day to eat and drink. Hope she hatches something soon. It looks like she's not going to give up sitting. Sigh.

 

[nicollee]

How long do you think it will take my hens to learn where their new sleeping area is?
They used to roost on the fence, but something kept scaring them into the pool at night,
so we started locking them into the nesting boxes until we could build a taller chicken run to lock them into at night. with a "chicken ladder" to sleep on.
We've been manually putting them on it for almost two weeks now, and they keep trying to go back to the nesting boxes to sleep.

 

[meetthebubus]

3-4 weeks ago one of my hens "disappeared." I figured she had gone broody somewhere in the yard, but never did find her nest. Today she appeared with one chick in tow.

That is such a cute story! Glad she's back I'm a helicopter chicken mama I couldn't give her that freedom, it its good you do! Natural

How long do you think it will take my hens to learn where their new sleeping area is?
They used to roost on the fence, but something kept scaring them into the pool at night,
so we started locking them into the nesting boxes until we could build a taller chicken run to lock them into at night. with a "chicken ladder" to sleep on.
We've been manually putting them on it for almost two weeks now, and they keep trying to go back to the nesting boxes to sleep.

The only thing i know is to keep them in their roosting area all day for a few days and then they'll know but that's usually when little, maybe try not allowing access to that area they like but u don't so you've given them no choice but to look elsewhere or where u do want them



For my ee's they have been difficult for roosting they want the roof to pile on as if they were babies again or the top of the coop doors, they only go in their coop to roost if it's really windy like 20 plus at the time so bc it's 360, I let them go where they want to

But for you my best thought would be to block access to that area they like but is dangerous

 

[MagicChicken]

How long do you think it will take my hens to learn where their new sleeping area is?
They used to roost on the fence, but something kept scaring them into the pool at night,
so we started locking them into the nesting boxes until we could build a taller chicken run to lock them into at night. with a "chicken ladder" to sleep on.
We've been manually putting them on it for almost two weeks now, and they keep trying to go back to the nesting boxes to sleep.

Instead of a chicken ladder, try giving them something with a horizontal platform to roost on. Unless the ladder rungs are 2"x4"s with the 4" side up. I have some birds that don't like roosting on narrow roosts. And they consider the 2" side of a 2x4 to be a narrow roost.

 

[nicollee]

But for you my best thought would be to block access to that area they like but is dangerous

The fence is blocked, so they were sleeping in the nesting boxes, I don't want to block that, or they will start laying in the tortoise den.... they've done that before, and I can't get to the eggs. I will keep herding/moving them to where I want them, it's just we are leaving for a week, and my son will not bother to move them at night.... I really want to come home and find all my feathered friends
are safe and healthy.

 

[nicollee]

The fence is blocked, so they were sleeping in the nesting boxes, I don't want to block that, or they will start laying in the tortoise den.... they've done that before, and I can't get to the eggs. I will keep herding/moving them to where I want them, it's just we are leaving for a week, and my son will not bother to move them at night.... I really want to come home and find all my feathered friends
are safe and healthy.

I thought the rungs might be a little narrow 2x2, but my stepfather, insisted he knows what chickens like, I'll see if I can replace or widen them

 

[cavemanrich]

I thought the rungs might be a little narrow 2x2, but my stepfather, insisted he knows what chickens like, I'll see if I can replace or widen them

2 inches is wide enough. Only reason some peeps keep the 2 x 4 flat side is, during winter chickens cover their feet for warmth. I have nothing wider than 2 inches, (actually 1 1/2" the size of a 2 x 4 )and some of the perches are round branches that are even less than 2 inch diameter.
What you can do to attract your hens to your desired roost, (and you can make it 4 inch flat side) is to place it at the top of the ladder. (above last rung) Chickens always are in search of new heights.
Another thing you may try, is cover the nest box openings half way down with some cloth. This works 2 ways. It gives privacy to chickens when laying during day. It make it less desirable to spend the night. You can always pull cloth up when necessary.