Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

One more question: we just finished the coop I'm the Polish run two weeks ago. As I will be out of town for a couple of weeks and my son and his wife will be chicken tending, I have been trying to train the two Polish to go to bed on their own. They slept on outside roosts for 2 months, but it's now in the 40s at night. It turns out Jamie is gate tending and won't let poor timid Martina in at night. See picture below ( I did tell her we built the run and coop just for her after she had to live in a cramped conditions in the run after she was attacked.) So I pick them both up every night and put them on the roost bars.
Questions:
What can I do about the gatekeeping, if anything?
Is it bad for Martina to sleep outside in the (safe) run when the temperature is in the 40s (f)? (By herself - it's so sad).

Awwww - it's rough being a chicken at times! Can you put in a second door? I always have a couple access/egress areas so the gatekeepers don't bully the others.

I have a bunch that like to sit on the stall walls, I have yet to have them go into the Hen House on their own. I have to make the go to bed. Maybe your son can encourage Jamie to go to bed and then have Martina go in afterwards. I took a page out of someone's suggestion (I think it was @Sylvester017) here and now I use a portable solar light in the Hen House and get the stall sitters to go to bed. They will go where there is light. Maybe Jamie will go further into the coop if there is a light source in there. Then Martina will be able to go inside. I remove the light though after I do my evening chores.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

Awwww - it's rough being a chicken at times! Can you put in a second door? I always have a couple access/egress areas so the gatekeepers don't bully the others.

I have a bunch that like to sit on the stall walls, I have yet to have them go into the Hen House on their own. I have to make the go to bed. Maybe your son can encourage Jamie to go to bed and then have Martina go in afterwards. I took a page out of someone's suggestion (I think it was @Sylvester017) here and now I use a portable solar light in the Hen House and get the stall sitters to go to bed. They will go where there is light. Maybe Jamie will go further into the coop if there is a light source in there. Then Martina will be able to go inside. I remove the light though after I do my evening chores.

The light is a great idea! Will see if we can get that done before we leave

 

[Ponypoor]

The light is a great idea! Will see if we can get that done before we leave

Here are some before and after of trimming the chicklets

Post in thread 'Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock'
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-28860926

 

[bgmathteach]

One more question: we just finished the coop I'm the Polish run two weeks ago. As I will be out of town for a couple of weeks and my son and his wife will be chicken tending, I have been trying to train the two Polish to go to bed on their own. They slept on outside roosts for 2 months, but it's now in the 40s at night. It turns out Jamie is gate tending and won't let poor timid Martina in at night. See picture below ( I did tell her we built the run and coop just for her after she had to live in a cramped conditions in the run after she was attacked.) So I pick them both up every night and put them on the roost bars.
Questions:
What can I do about the gatekeeping, if anything?
Is it bad for Martina to sleep outside in the (safe) run when the temperature is in the 40s (f)? (By herself - it's so sad).

It might be a bit of work, but you could put a second pop door in the people door. Then, attach a small roost that sticks out from the white board framing for them to fly up to to go in that new pop door (I wouldn't worry about a second ramp, until they get old and flying up there becomes a problem...and you may no longer have an issue by then)

I would, once that is done, put them in THROUGH the new door for a couple of nights.

Jamie can't guard both doors.

@BY Bob might have suggestions, also - his lead hen, Aurora, will sometimes 'patrol' the door to keep Hattie out. She also, when she is doing her duties - since there is no rooster there, - will make sure everyone is in at night, and 'patrols' in a different way (when she doesn't have a feather across her cloaca regarding Hattie!)

Regarding sleeping in the run...at 40 degrees, they will at the very least need a wind break. BUT - if you can get them going into the coop at night on their own, that is the best option.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

It might be a bit of work, but you could put a second pop door in the people door. Then, attach a small roost that sticks out from the white board framing for them to fly up to to go in that new pop door (I wouldn't worry about a second ramp, until they get old and flying up there becomes a problem...and you may no longer have an issue by then)

I would, once that is done, put them in THROUGH the new door for a couple of nights.

Jamie can't guard both doors.

@BY Bob might have suggestions, also - his lead hen, Aurora, will sometimes 'patrol' the door to keep Hattie out. She also, when she is doing her duties - since there is no rooster there, - will make sure everyone is in at night, and 'patrols' in a different way (when she doesn't have a feather across her cloaca regarding Hattie!)

Regarding sleeping in the run...at 40 degrees, they will at the very least need a wind break. BUT - if you can get them going into the coop at night on their own, that is the best option.

Second pop door is a great idea but probably can't happen before we leave. Son will have to put her away for now

 

[Sylvester017]

Awwww - it's rough being a chicken at times! Can you put in a second door? I always have a couple access/egress areas so the gatekeepers don't bully the others.

I have a bunch that like to sit on the stall walls, I have yet to have them go into the Hen House on their own. I have to make the go to bed. Maybe your son can encourage Jamie to go to bed and then have Martina go in afterwards. I took a page out of someone's suggestion (I think it was @Sylvester017) here and now I use a portable solar light in the Hen House and get the stall sitters to go to bed. They will go where there is light. Maybe Jamie will go further into the coop if there is a light source in there. Then Martina will be able to go inside. I remove the light though after I do my evening chores.

Yes, for 14+ yrs we have a porch light on that gives light near the outside of the coop & run. The coop has windows that let light in also. We leave the low energy light on 24/7 so we dont forget to flip the light switch on/off everyday. The light is far enough away from the coop windows that it is still dim enough to see but dark enough for slumber. "Go to bed" was our phrase for Ginny but she's gone now ~ the remaining 5 hens need no urging for bed. Some hens (Silkies & Dominique) are using the brick steps up to the coop while others flap/jump up the ladder ramp.

These videos give the idea of the amount of light they still have after dark.

 

[fuentemoon]

Gremlin watching for more trick or treaters. Warmest and driest Halloween we have had in many years.

Storm coming in today, very blustery and expecting a bunch of rain, chickens are hiding.

 

[Candiru09]

Never give up! You are his only hope. He is full of pride (he’s a rooster) genetically designed to be a roo. He just needs help from you to be tamed.another thing, don’t embarrass him in front of his ladies. You won’t get too far unless you have him alone without the girls! Patience young grasshopper, you got this!!

I'll try my best!

 

[Sylvester017]

Question: I have 2 Polish who are a little skittish because they can't see well, even when I trim their head feathers. Do the Silkies also have their vision obscured? I am trying to figure out what breed to get them as friends (2 to 3).
I love my Polish but it seems cruel when animals are bred with a genetic trait that makes life harder for them.

You nailed it on the head! I always ask why genetic abnormalities are perpetuated in breeding too. I bred Persian cats in the 1970's w/ not-so-flat faces but the Persian fanciers began breeding for flatter & flatter jaws/faces which sometimes caused Bulldog teeth so I no longer wanted to compete in that way. I couldn't in good conscience continue what I clearly saw as a health problem.

Yes, Polish & Silkies are two of many gentle temperaments ~ both skittish cuz they have a skull to protect. We never had Polish w/ our Silkies but if you do decide on Silkies I recommend at least 2 but 3 even better (we always allow for an unexpected death of one but if all 3 survive the better!). We have both bearded & non-bearded Silkies. Our non-bearded has less vision problems. Bearded feathers tend to grow up into the eyes & are very annoying to the bird.

Our Silkies sometimes trim each other's face crests. The Silkie will put it's head into another bird's beak & the other bird usually obliges to pull out eyebrow or beard feathers. But some Silkies won't allow close face touching so those Silkies we trim so they can see.

Suzu when she was a pullet allowed her crest to get trimmed by other birds TOO much

We never once trimmed Violet's crest/beard... she got other birds to do it for her.