Coop Is Done

[hotsand]

Your picture shows that you have a lot of grassy area to let them roam...how lucky are they? I have a small suburban garden and a large portion of it is brick paved. Still, I do have a kitchen garden area I'm trying to develop which has grassy areas, so hopefully my chicks will be happy

 

[hotsand]

Here is my chicks new shop bought mansion. My first photo upload...seems to have worked ok

 

[Stichxx]

Very Nice.

 

[Teila]

Sorry Stichxx for apparently taking over you thread

My only excuse being that it is raining today and I can't seem to drag myself away from the computer.
hotsand, very rarely would you see my girls on the lawn; too open from aerial predators I think. I have an area that is paved and has 3 ponds, lots of plants .. very tropical. This is where they spend most of their time .. it is not large and they don't wander far. Just my experience but I think they are happier digging around under the plants and shrubs as opposed to being totally out in the open.

 

[hotsand]

Thanks for the chat Teila....sounds good. I hadn't thought to put them on the pavers....but I do have some areas of garden that I have just dug over, and I think they should enjoy scratching around in it before I plant any more stuff there. We too have a pond, and a lot of the plants around the pavers are things like bamboo and palms....the palms are pretty thick, and if they hid amongst them, I'd never get them out again Where do you live? I don't think that there are too many bird predictors in our area. Kookaburra's are never seen in our suburb...there are magpies....but don't think they would cause too many problems. There again, I have never had chooks before, so it's unchartered territory for me.

 

[hotsand]

Teila, I just noticed that you are from Queensland, so we do have the same kind of birds....which birds are the predators in your area for your chooks? I'm totally green as far as that goes.

 

[Teila]

Thanks for the chat Teila....sounds good. I hadn't thought to put them on the pavers....but I do have some areas of garden that I have just dug over, and I think they should enjoy scratching around in it before I plant any more stuff there. We too have a pond, and a lot of the plants around the pavers are things like bamboo and palms....the palms are pretty thick, and if they hid amongst them, I'd never get them out again Where do you live? I don't think that there are too many bird predictors in our area. Kookaburra's are never seen in our suburb...there are magpies....but don't think they would cause too many problems. There again, I have never had chooks before, so it's unchartered territory for me.

My girls' coop is under the back tree in the corner. As soon as I let them out, then run across the lawn and into the paved/tropical paradise where they spend hours. We rent, so the majority of the garden is pot plants; if we ever have to move, I can take my 'paradise' with me, mind you I will need a separate truck. My girls love digging in between or sitting on the pots. You should be able to coax your girls out of any situation once they are used to you. My girls come running when their names are called (only because they think you are going to give them a treat! lolz). I live North of Brisbane in a fairly built up area. I don't think we have a lot of aerial predators but my chickens obviously think we do because they tend to run for cover when anything flies overhead. On the ground, different story, I have seen Cilla take on a number of Doves where food is concerned. I don't think Magpies would be an issue except possibly swooping to protect their nest; I haven't heard of them attacking as such. I only let my girls free range when I can supervise; my biggest predator fear would be one of the neighbours' dogs or cats getting into the yard, I'm not really worried about aerial attacks.

 

[doodles83]

Are you in Indiana? Where did you buy your coop? I'm looking for one.

 

[Teila]

Their favourite perch

and poking around in the garden

 

[hotsand]

Hi Doodles83 (what a great name by the way ) I'm not sure who you are asking the question re chicken coops....but if it was me?..sorry, I live in Australia. Happy coop hunting...I'm sure if I could buy one here you have a better chance in the US. I just did a google search. All the best with the hunt.