Future Head Hen in Training

[Foster's Freehold]

Yeah, my last flock was decimated by a hawk and coon in one week. Nothing I did helped except for keeping them in and even then, lost my last one.
I'm going to build a hoopcoop composter, whatever the width is x 12 ft, attach it to the coop so they can stay in there if I'm not out in the garden or greenhouse. I'm also going to go on a campaign for the neighborhood murder of crows to move into my pecan trees that are on two corners of my paddock.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

I keep Broodies too,never know when ya might need em

 

[aart]

This reminds me of last years chick integration.
I integrate early and the wall had been down for a few days,
the chicks had wanted to roost in the nests so I closed the nest cover,
and by the 3rd night they were roosting on the main roosts, at about 6 weeks old.

View attachment 1302923

 

[aart]

 

[Foster's Freehold]

Good for them. As soon as I can either a) get some hardware cloth to cover the bottom on the run fence or b) they get big enough they can't squeeze through it, I'm going to open the door to their crate. Fix it so they can get out, but the biggies can't get in. I'll have to add a low roost, but hey, maybe they'll teach the dumb dumb BLRW's to roost in a proper place.

 

[aart]

As soon as I can either a) get some hardware cloth to cover the bottom on the run fence or b) they get big enough they can't squeeze through it

I finally went with option a)....kinda silly as they grow fast enough for it not to be needed after a few weeks.....but it also allowed me to start doing deep litter in both main run and the juniors run, so there's that too.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

OH, anytime you can do deep litter it's a plus lol. I'm a lazy 2nd shift chicken keeper. Work smarter not harder is my motto. That's why I have water and chuck compostables and a little scratch into the coop. If I don't get to sleep until after 2 or 3 in the am, ain't no way I'm going out to the coop at 6 or 7. That's another reason I'm so excited about my big coop, will not have to "make room" for chicks. There will be space just for them, in the area with the big ones so everybody will be ready to mix and mingle if I end up not having a broody. With broody, after a week, I will see how leaving their door open goes.

 

[Folly's place]

Me too; 'keep it simple, stupid' are words to live by!
Overcomplicating flock management isn't happening here. Deep litter, plenty of space, and a good base diet go a long way towards good health and less effort.
Mary

 

[aart]

2nd shift

I hated that shift the most out of all 3.
Been a long time since I worked any shift,
chickens would be hard as hell while working full time,
not sure I could have done it.

 

[Folly's place]

It's doable, but can't be fussy. Mary