- Jul 5, 2011
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I've been MIA for like a month! Oh, so much catching up to do. LOL
Hubby built an AWESOME new coop in all of 6 days. I was amazed! It's 10x6 for just 10 chickens (we intend to add more next spring).
It has 2 walls always open at the top (with hardware cloth) a couple of inches. Those 2 sides (north and east) are up against a shed and the wood fence so any wind is well blocked. There are working windows on the west side (with hardware cloth) and fold down panels on the south (with hardware cloth). The pop door is self-locking when you close it (a piece of wood falls down to block it from opening) and pulls up again when you pull the rope to open it! It's ingenious, really.There are 4 large (16x16) nest boxes and a large gravity feeder that should hold around 100#!
We had to order non-toxic waterproofer and the roof caps online and they came a week later. We got the floor waterproofed and all the little finishing touches done (latches, ect) at that point and moved the chickens in! The very next day hubby broke his ankle at work (slipped off the trailer of his semi)! Of course, he broke his right ankle so this truck driver can't drive. It's devastating! And the first thing I think is, "thank goodness he finished the coop first!" LOL They expect him to be off his feet for at least 5 weeks and on light duty (no lifting/carrying/climbing) for 3 months! Thankfully worker's comp will be paying medical bills and helping out with lost income until he's healed up! He's such an active guy that being laid up is really hard on him!
Our chickens are about 17 weeks old now and one sex link is really growing that comb! Every day I reach for her to see if she'll squat but no luck so far. My girls don't care one bit about the rain but do NOT like the snow! Yesterday we had a good 3" and they refused to step foot outside the coop until the sun came out and melted the snow on their ramp! LOL They're going to need to get over that....They do enjoy eating the snow, though, and even fight over it and chase each other like it was a treat! LOL
I have a question about roosters. We have one rooster. He's crowed a few times but nothing loud or obnoixious. He's about 17 weeks and I was wondering when he would start really crowing and also when he would act like a rooster. He really acts like another pullet. He's not aggressive or mean and he is not the top chicken. Actually, none of them stand out as the top chicken. There appears to be no pecking order and everyone gets along nicely with no fighting/pecking. Is that weird?
Very nice.
the kids are amazed the popcorn comes on a cob. lol.
