Circle P Coop

[jtbrown]

I love it, that was quick, what a cute set up, they are lucky hens!

 

[oxfordethan]

Things at the Circle P coop were going fine until about 2 weeks ago. Here's a link to our first loss. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=521153 We ended up losing "Nugget" 3 days ago to the dogs also. So I had to rethink my free ranging decision. Every morning I (or my daughter) would go out and open the run so the girls could free range in the backyard all day while we were work. Now my hens are just gonna have to stay in the run until we get home in the afternoons and weekends when we are home and can watch them.

Soooo, we were down to "Noodle" and she wasn't going to supply our egg habit by herself so I bought another hen. I'd like to introduce "Dumplin'".

She's a mutt/mix but apparently a good layer. I haven't been into chickens long enough to appreciate a full-blooded/show/heritage lineage whatever hen. As long as she lays, We're good. We'll see.

Here's an almost "stink-eye" pic of "Noodle". She acted a little strange this morning around Dumplin'. Hopefully, they'll get along fine.

I very happy with using sand in the run and coop. I sprinkle wood shavings on top to help with smell and to absorb moisture. I use a large kitty litter scoop and keep a "poo bucket" that i take to a neighbor once it gets full for his garden. I take a garden rake to the run every few days to stir things up a bit, sprinkle with new shavings and dust the whole run/coop with some DE.

I'm also using "Vanilla Tree air fresheners" in the coop for fly and smell control. Seems to work great. Definately smells better.

 

[krcote]

I thought you might have issues with your dogs

But, as with all things, having chickens is a learning process. I too have to keep mine in a run for the most part. Luckily, chickens don't really have enough brain cells to mind

 

[oxfordethan]

Quote:
...and I am learing alot! I'm gonna bag up some leaf litter to throw in the run for them to scratch through. They'll still get some "outside" time when I can watch 'em.

 

[oxfordethan]

Neither hen has laid any eggs since the all of the craziness. I figure they'll both resume sooner or later. So...while everyone was still adjusting I added a little privacy fence to hide the coop tools in the corner of the fence. I picked up the fence piece FROM THE DUMP when i went to go throw out some stuff. There's a trumpet vine that I've tried to get rid of in the past so I decided to let it go. I picked up an American Wisteria and some kind of honeysuckle bush. The AW may go in front of the coop to provided shade in the afternoon sun and will help block the wind in the winter. I realize that I'm gonna have to make sure they don't go crazy!

I decided to go ahead and add another nest box in case to so there "hopefully" won't be any bickering and in case we fall victim to chicken math and we add another one.

 

[triciakoontz]

Ahhhh - you will live to regret the day you plant that wisteria in the ground!! Also, all parts are poisonous to dogs and birds so why not plant a grapevine - good for everyone!

Sorry you lost your hens to the dogs. Love your coop - great job building it and the privacy wall!!!

 

[amber.lyda]

looks amazing! Sorry for your loss on the girls. I let mine free range as well during the day and i always have to count them when I get home. Scary! I think my only suggestion is with your latch system. racoons and other critters (they will eventually figure out you have "food" in your yard) can open hook and eye locks. They can even figure out small D hooks. I would put in a larger D hook/ carribiner (sp?) or one with a twist lock to keep them out.

 

[oxfordethan]

Quote:
Thanks. Great idea on the grapes. Are muscadines (sp?) okay?

 

[CandiceN]

Nice coop!! Sorry about the losses

 

[Chicken Chat]

Sorry about your girls. As far as the grapes, plant whatever variety you like, any will do. I have 3 different vines planted along the chicken fences. It provides shade and a place to get out of the rain, plus entertainment. They spend hours trying to jump up in order reach the leaves to eat them, plus whatever grapes they can reach is theirs too.