Flock/Life Journey's 2019

[MysticUniKitty]

Flock Update:

hasn't been going too great. bloody beaks, baby wel roo got all tangled in fencing and i'm learning Orps can be the meanest things! I have scratches on my legs and my poor marans have some bald spots and the bloody beaks. my hubs wants Mustard for dinner. We're putting the two big girls in "mean girls jail" for a week and then try again. "teens" Bbq and Marans are doing great with the babies, and I made the babies a little huge hiding area that the big guys can't get to better.

But i need ideas!!! I think my inside set up is not ideal, I also think they are bored... what do y'all have set up in the coop for your chickens to keep busy?

I'm also thinking of changing to Sand in the coop instead of the deep litter method. what are your thoughts on that?

 

[Ribh]

Well my girls have a very extensive view & they are quite happy to oggle it for extended periods. Apart from that I have 3 tree stumps set up so they can either sit on them, scavenge around or snuggle against. I am working on a swing & my set up allows them to roost during the day in the coop as it is open. I do use the deep litter method. It's the most effective for eliminating smells & my girls love it whenever I dump a new pile of stuff in. They don't care if it's she oak needles, leaf litter, sugar can mulch ~ whatever, it's all a joy to them. The back end has a load of sand for dustbathing but I find it pretty hard to keep clear of everything else the girls want to rake up. It is large enough that my flyers can get some wing time & play chase~ys.

 

[MysticUniKitty]

Well my girls have a very extensive view & they are quite happy to oggle it for extended periods. Apart from that I have 3 tree stumps set up so they can either sit on them, scavenge around or snuggle against. I am working on a swing & my set up allows them to roost during the day in the coop as it is open. I do use the deep litter method. It's the most effective for eliminating smells & my girls love it whenever I dump a new pile of stuff in. They don't care if it's she oak needles, leaf litter, sugar can mulch ~ whatever, it's all a joy to them. The back end has a load of sand for dustbathing but I find it pretty hard to keep clear of everything else the girls want to rake up. It is large enough that my flyers can get some wing time & play chase~ys.

oh that sounds lovely!! thank you! i might see what old wood pieces i can find around here. I found 3 pallets and looking to see how to incorporate that now

 

[shelbyw]

Flock Update:

hasn't been going too great. bloody beaks, baby wel roo got all tangled in fencing and i'm learning Orps can be the meanest things! I have scratches on my legs and my poor marans have some bald spots and the bloody beaks. my hubs wants Mustard for dinner. We're putting the two big girls in "mean girls jail" for a week and then try again. "teens" Bbq and Marans are doing great with the babies, and I made the babies a little huge hiding area that the big guys can't get to better.

But i need ideas!!! I think my inside set up is not ideal, I also think they are bored... what do y'all have set up in the coop for your chickens to keep busy?

I'm also thinking of changing to Sand in the coop instead of the deep litter method. what are your thoughts on that?

Orpington can be the biggest bullies!! I had a hen that HATED the fact that I got new chickens and she went crazy on them! She got so bad to the point of pulling out my Ameraucana’s tail completely and I ended up having to treat her for 3 1/2 weeks until she had it completely back. My Orpington ended going in a separate pen while the others would roam around the coop and then I finally let her out with the others and she was alright, but still pecked them but not as severe. She ended up showing some weird respiratory signs so she got separated and then a few weeks after treating her, she died. I will never have an Orpington again even though she laid the best eggs.


Also I would find stuff and ideas to put in the coop like a couple swings, different treat ideas and maybe even some chicken toys you can find. Chickens love things like mirrors(at least mine do) and also maybe get one of those little colorful piano keyboard things that you use for kids. I also think sand would be a good option since it would be easy to take care of and I have also read a lot of good stuff on it and even use it for my chicken’s dust bathing area since it helps keep bugs away

 

[shelbyw]

Here are pictures of some of my chickens from earlier Mouse is the one in the tire dusting herself which is a big plus since she usually just uses the dirt near the edge of the run

 

[Ribh]

oh that sounds lovely!! thank you! i might see what old wood pieces i can find around here. I found 3 pallets and looking to see how to incorporate that now

Here you can sorta see how it's set up. The Coop is raised & open so both the roosts & the stairs can be used during the day. The area under the coop is all sand ~ though I have to rake it fairly often to keep it free of mulch. I have 3 tree stumps of different heights & widths angled in a corner. My Campines are flyers & scavengers. They can fly between the roosts & the stumps & they are one reason for the DLM. The run is about 18~20 feet overall for 12 birds & I do have an open run as well but the Campines aren't allowed out there because they are naughty & flighty.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Here are pictures of some of my chickens from earlier Mouse is the one in the tire dusting herself which is a big plus since she usually just uses the dirt near the edge of the run

You have a lovely flock! And set up!

 

[WhoDatChick]

Flock Update:

hasn't been going too great. bloody beaks, baby wel roo got all tangled in fencing and i'm learning Orps can be the meanest things! I have scratches on my legs and my poor marans have some bald spots and the bloody beaks. my hubs wants Mustard for dinner. We're putting the two big girls in "mean girls jail" for a week and then try again. "teens" Bbq and Marans are doing great with the babies, and I made the babies a little huge hiding area that the big guys can't get to better.

But i need ideas!!! I think my inside set up is not ideal, I also think they are bored... what do y'all have set up in the coop for your chickens to keep busy?

I'm also thinking of changing to Sand in the coop instead of the deep litter method. what are your thoughts on that?

Since it is inside I would def try sand.. I have sand in the inside of the coop under the roosts and I love it! I just give it a quick scoop in the morning and all clean! Plus, that’ll give em something to do ... they can dust bathe in it...

 

[WhoDatChick]

Okay... I did it again ... I got three new EE’s today... this is Magnolia and Poppy... I have to get a better pick of Daffodil cuz she has awful twisted toes which I did not notice until I took the pic ... I tried taping them three times but the tape keeps coming off..

 

[MysticUniKitty]

Okay... I did it again ... I got three new EE’s today... this is Magnolia and Poppy... I have to get a better pick of Daffodil cuz she has awful twisted toes which I did not notice until I took the pic ... I tried taping them three times but the tape keeps coming off.. View attachment 1762475View attachment 1762476

They're adorable!!!