Bed check

[CovenantCreek]

I always do head counts anytime there's enough chickens around to count.

In recent weeks my numbers have been moving around -- one morning I found a Delaware had spent the night with the RSLs. Then she started sleeping on top of the stacked hay. After a long day with the girls locked up away from the hawks last weekend, now I have 3 Delawares and the BR sleeping on the hay. The poor rooster only has a couple girls left in his coop to keep him warm. Oh well....... the RSLs' coop is in the hay shed -- and has a light that comes on around 4:00 AM -- with 8 girls waking up early I should get more eggs throughout the winter.

 

[cajunlizz]

I think I am so happy I don't have to worry about hens running out in different directions . They have LARGE secured predator proof runs and coops ... they either in the run playing , scratching , chasing each other , or eating ... they enter the coop during the day ONLY to lay and right back out .

They do go inside OR under the coop when its raining ...

But I never have to do head count , or tucking them in or anything ....

BIG RED the alpha rooster does that .......... Leads them all in and leads them back out ....


Never have to worry about them free ranging and getting attacked or hurt , ETC. I can leave whenever day or night and I know they are totally safe .

 

[chickiebaby]

My daughter checks every night, by name. She does a head count and then by name. Saves her a lot of anxiety, but, man, it takes forever!

 

[miss_jayne]

i do a visual scan of the roosts. only had one not show up once. she came trotting in when the food was served the next morning.

if i don't see enough of a certain color, i go looking. only the turkeys try to pull fast ones on me generally.

 

[ncCHICKS]

I go in the morning and hug (yes hug) them or the ones who aren't still sleeping and make sure they have fresh food water and maybe give some crickets (we have a thing with fresh crickets in it) Do the same at night and maybe a midnight glare.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I am new to chickens but would not sleep a wink if I didn't tuck them in at night..I wouldn't trust that they were the only thing in the coop--if you know what I mean..Dixie

 

[cyrixlord]

Wow.

I will have to admit to checking on my chickens, it could almost be considered obsessive...

case in point:

this image is taken in almost complete DARKNESS.

I have a night vision security camera trained on the coop and a motion detecting light sensor that tells me when something is amiss in the run area.

Anytime i'm on a computer, I can see what's going on in the coop area. the coop and run have netting and are secured from predators by fencing.

technology is a cruel master

http://tamanaka.com/MainGallery/ImageAndCaption.aspx?ImgID=139

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

Quote:
That's why I decided against the automatic doors. I have one hen that I know would be locked out every night. I always have to find her and shoo her in. Plus I guess it just gives me peace of mind to tuck them in every night.

 

[BayCityBabe]

Opa,
Sorry to hear about your Orp.
We have to tuck 'em in. No fancy door, here. Plus, tenderhearted DD got serious about security when she heard that mink could come up from the river and munch on her babies' heads!

 

[omelette'smom]

So sad about your baby! I'm glad you check on them now even though the weather stinks now! My chickens free range but are usually in by 4:30 because it gets dark sooner. If I'm not at work than i do a complete head count but it takes a bit because of their setup! I count the ones in the run first, count the ones in the second coop and run that is connected, then count the ones in the main coop and hope i come out with 20 or I have to do it again! The coops don't have chicken doors because the run is fully covered and virtually draft free! I leave the run "human door" propped open. I only had one time that all were not in a while ago. i still will check them anyway before just shutting that door. Had our first slushy icy day today and they don't like it!