Chicken Themed Birthday!

[Gerritses]

The plan was that chickens would be arriving for my birthday this year, however, we didn't anticipate building our own coop in under a week! We got the keys to our new homestead on 14 August... my birthday is 26 August!

My gifts were very chicken themed (the t-shirt says "Yes, I talk with my chickens"). The food is also a bit of an in-joke as my husband's name is Kasper.

We were originally going to buy a coop but we just couldn't find something that we liked or was big enough and not insanely expensive. Here is our finished coop - I have done zero woodworking of any kind since I was about 12! And all the doors were done 90% by me, I'm so proud! The windows are lined with mesh so can be left open if needed and the floor is lined with vinyl for easier cleaning.

We picked up our 5 Wynadotte girlies yesterday afternoon who spent the day and last night in the nice quiet stable - it was a storm here yesterday and we didn't fancy moving the coop outside in sideways rain. And someone gave us an egg not 5 minutes after they arrived!

Everybody looked happy and chatty this morning and the storm has given way to a beautiful day, perfect for their first day outside!

Meet Mable (pink), Gladys (gold), Mildred (white) and Doris and Betsy (silver). I cannot tell the difference between Doris and Betsy but I'm sure that will come. They are 18 weeks old so hopefully if I spend some quiet time sitting with them they will get a bit braver and less flighty with me. I'm already in love with their little chatty coos and clucks and watching the different personalities (Gladys is a bit of a bully and Doris and Betsy are inseparable!)

 

[BDutch]

Hi @Gerritses , congrats with you’re chicken birthday. Great presents .
Youre chickens have a great (huge) space now. Cant you leave them in the stable?

The new coop looks nice but just big enough as a place to sleep and rather small to stay in for 5 Wyandotte's.

A few tips from a fellow Dutch member:

• The roost has sharp edges wich is not comfortable for the chickens. Better to round the edges a bit (plane and sand).
• Put a wooden slat before the laying boxes to prevent the straw to fall out.
• Make ventilation holes at the highest points in you’re lovely coop on both sides, just under the roof for a healthy air flow (and less smell).
• Put the coop with the openings to the south-east side to prevent rain coming in.
• better: Make a small run with a roof attached to the coop (pop door side). In a way the chickens can get out safe early mornings. This way you can leave the pop door open. Read about how to build a run safe for predators like foxes, marters and rats.
• Do you want them to free range after the chickens get used to the coop? If not, make a large outside run (eg. with hardware cloth and cat netting on top) for safe and happy chickens.
• Check on bird mite (bloedluis) every week in the summer.
• Put a dust bath in a covered area with sand and a little diatomaceous earth to prevent lice and mite problems.
  
  There is a chat thread “peeps in Europe” you can join.
  
  Enjoy you’re chickens and the eggs of course!

 

[N F C]

Congratulations on your new flock!

 

[TwoCrows]

Enjoy this new adventure you are on!