Birddog's Garage coop

[Birddog1148]

Got 3 of the 6 girls out in the run for a few min today

 

[Birddog1148]

trying to lure them out with wheat bread

 

[Kikiriki]

Wow, lucky girls! You did a nice job! I discovered my girls did not like walking along a bare plank... I used a 1 x 2 to make stair treads for them and they were much happier! The wood can especially be slippery after a rain or heavy morning dew, so it might help. If you paint them white it can help them see where to go in dim light, too. My girls follow a food cup right up the ladder to the coop door. I dump a little in the coop to reward them going inside.

Again, nice job!

 

[Birddog1148]

Thanks Kikkirki!
A few detailed pics of what I did. First mt nest box that is currently blocked off.


And how it did my door to the run. I used a piece of scrap alluminum plate and some pieces of old tung in groove flooring for it to slide in

And installed. I put a string on it and pull it from the door to the coop for now. I hope to build one of those car antenna door openers later.

left the door open to the outside all day and finnaly had to take then out by hand about 4pm. All but one I took out and the last one finally went out after about a half hour. They all came up the ranp on their own to take a nap and didnt go back out after an hour or so so I shut the door for the night. See how they do tommorow.

 

[highpointfarm]

they will explore slowly... They dont call people chicken for nothing lol...

 

[Birddog1148]

They are doing real well now. They were going back inside to nap but now they do it on the cinderblocks under the ramp. They still dont all use the roost inside but I have caught 3 at a time on it. Only had to go into the run 3 times I think to put stragalers into the coop when I get home at 1145 pm. I swear they look like the movie Tyronasourus Rex's when they run up the ramp into the coop now. The ramp has cleats on it now for traction. I took the heat lamp out a while ago and swapped the bulb out for a CFL light I keep outside the coop in the garage and added a mandoor to the side of the garage so I didnt have to open the big door to go in. They are going on 10 weeks tuesday.

 

[Birddog1148]

They have coopmates now, added a temp pen for some meat birds

 

[Sparkyfam]

Just a thought. You may want to consider putting some netting over the top. We found out the hard way that our chickens can clear seven feet easy. They found it funny to perch on the top and tease the dogs..

 

[Birddog1148]

It is covered, to keep out stuff., but thanks.

 

[Birddog1148]

What a difference a day makes, the pic above with the bare earth was yesterday, and the snow pic today. Ohio weather, don't like it? Just wait it will change tomorrow.