Checking-In On Peeps - Post Here To Say Hello!

[3RiversFarm]

We have such a vibrant community here at BYC... tons of active friendly members. Of course, life gets busy, so I was thinking it would be fun to start a thread welcoming some of our peeps we haven't heard from in a while.

If that's you, come say hello and let us know what you've been up to.

(if that's not you, feel free to invite peeps you haven't seen in a while and say hi to those that post here)

Hello! We’ve been busy with 10 new chicks this spring to integrate into our existing flock of 14. The problem we’re having is getting the younger chicks into the hen house at night. They roost in the tree branches and we have to go get each individual chicken out of the tree and carry into the hen house. Last year, our older hens were doing the same thing as new young hens and one night we couldn’t get them in and 2 were killed. After that terrible traumatic night, the rest of them went into the coop. We really don’t want these new babies to have to learn that way! Any advice on teaching them to go into the hen house at night??

 

[cavemanrich]

Any advice on teaching them to go into the hen house at night??

Clip their feathers so they don't go up into the trees.
Glad you are back,,,

 

[ronott1]

Hey guys! Life’s been busy and been dealing with mental health flare ups but we just got a new set of baby chicks so let the endorphins flow!! I will likely have questions for yall soon because I order 6 wtb females and got the freebie. So far I have two potentials for the freebie. A chick that is smaller with coloring of wtb but feathered legs and a large-ish (at least compared to all the others) red chick. we will see. Today is the day they arrives so time will tell.

Congratulations!

 

[ronott1]

Hello! We’ve been busy with 10 new chicks this spring to integrate into our existing flock of 14. The problem we’re having is getting the younger chicks into the hen house at night. They roost in the tree branches and we have to go get each individual chicken out of the tree and carry into the hen house. Last year, our older hens were doing the same thing as new young hens and one night we couldn’t get them in and 2 were killed. After that terrible traumatic night, the rest of them went into the coop. We really don’t want these new babies to have to learn that way! Any advice on teaching them to go into the hen house at night??

Move them in at dusk each night until they learn that the coop is home.

 

[mlholmquist]

Move them in at dusk each night until they learn that the coop is home.

We also found that turning a light on in the coop at dusk works like magic to "call them in". Then once they're settled, we just turned it off for the night. We just used a flashlight set in a corner pointing up into a ceiling corner away from the roosts..

 

[SacredWaves]

Life has been very hectic the last couple years. We have had fox problems (lost 6 girls), health issues, unexpected events, and lost income. Life has ben a mess, and everything seems to be falling apart. My chickens, are still doing well, and other than being fenced in now... they are happy birds. I hope everyone is well, and safe. Have a blessed day everyone.

 

[jennybvcr]

It's been a while but I popped on today because I got an email about raising tame chickens and I thought I'd check in. What a nice thread idea!

I sold my house in May and the three ducks went to the new homeowner - she is young and was so excited to take care of them.

We have been contemplating getting chickens next year. The ducks were fun, but they completely ripped up my yard and my husband was allergic to their eggs! It was kind of a lose-lose in that way.

Do chickens tear up a lawn as badly as ducks do?

 

[cavemanrich]

Do chickens tear up a lawn as badly as ducks do?

Generally, they search out insects, and forage on some of the greens, like dandelion leaves.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Life has been very hectic the last couple years. We have had fox problems (lost 6 girls), health issues, unexpected events, and lost income. Life has ben a mess, and everything seems to be falling apart. My chickens, are still doing well, and other than being fenced in now... they are happy birds. I hope everyone is well, and safe. Have a blessed day everyone.

I hope your luck turns around soon, and things get easier. Glad the chickens are doing well.

 

[ronott1]

Life has been very hectic the last couple years. We have had fox problems (lost 6 girls), health issues, unexpected events, and lost income. Life has ben a mess, and everything seems to be falling apart. My chickens, are still doing well, and other than being fenced in now... they are happy birds. I hope everyone is well, and safe. Have a blessed day everyone.

It sounds like you are Making the best of the situation!

I send you hope for the future