fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

Well, the boards didn't work as well as I had hoped. I checked on the flock last night...both roosters and one pullet were on the A-frame roost. Two Sussex were attempting to roost on the boards I'd installed, but looked precarious. I moved them both to the top of the A-frame. Five full-grown Sussex kind of filled up the roost. Oops.

The four Dominiques were in a scrum on top of the bucket feeder. Nope. I moved them to the A-frame extensions.

I woke up at 4:00am, worrying. I went outside to check. Two Dominiques were back on top of the bucket feeder:

I needed an extra roost, but where? And how?


To be continued...

 

[fuzzi]

I laid awake thinking about how to add a roost without making it difficult to access the back of the coop. And how to attach it to the hoop coop sides without damaging the tarp or hardware cloth?

Here's what I came up with:

I added a 2x4 that was about 6' long, approximately 6" from the roost the flock had been using, and about the same height.

I used plumbing straps/hangers to attach the roost to the coop, sliding it between the cattle panel frame and the hardware cloth:

And it's almost level, unlike the previous roost:

I placed some of the pullets on the new roost:

Tamar

Martha's clucking about something:

That's Rahab on the right

After removing some damp straw from the end of one of the bales I put both back in the wheelbarrow, covered them with a shower curtain liner, and secured with a bungee cord and some boards. I moved it farther away from the wall to keep it drier:

I moved the third waterer as it was now directly below the new roost. It got a little dappled sunlight around noon, but not enough to concern me:

Checking out the new arrangement...

Ta da!

I then sat for a little bit, drinking fluids and enjoying the light breeze that flowed through the hoop coop.

Naomi approved.

 

[fuzzi]

Addendum:

At one point as I was working on the roost the entire flock erupted into loud alarm calls.

There at the door were two HUGE dogs!

They were fairly friendly so I shooed them away. They went home to the house next to us. I told the young lady who was just leaving that they were in my yard and "went after my chickens". She apologized, and I suggested they check their fence for an escape gap.

I have considered letting my flock free range for short periods under my watchful eye, but there could possibly be slaughter if loose dogs showed up, even if I were standing there.

Nope, they're staying in the hoop coop.

 

[fuzzi]

Hannah no longer makes squeaky balloon noises, but she's not making typical clucking noises either.

What do you think?

(I can't figure out how to edit the video title)

 

[NanaK]

She's sooo skinkin' cute!

And growing up!

 

[fuzzi]

Partial success, about 10pm:

There was plenty of room on the new roost for the Dominiques, but they were hunkered down on top of the plastic shower curtain liner on top of the straw bales.

I moved them over to the A-frame roost.

 

[fuzzi]

I've been reading scads of conflicting information over in the feeding forum, so I thought I'd survey/ask those of you who visit my thread...

Do you supplement your feed with calcium?

If so, what type?

And when did you start offering calcium?

Thanks.

 

[NanaK]

I like to offer feed with 18-20% protein because I give my birds garden veggies. I like a flock raiser type (about 20% protein) or sometimes I get non-medicated chick feed about 18% protein). My choice is made by the mill date on the bag. I try to buy feed that is less than 2 months old because I've read vitamins can degrade with time. On Nutrena's website they recommend using it up before it is 4 months old. Tractor Supply told me they do not pull it from the shelf until it is 6 months old. I've seen problems at several TS stores that do not rotate feed. I've seen feed that was 1+ years old on the shelf. I will not buy this.

I started offering oyster shell in a separate dish when my first flock started laying. I don't have to refill often but keep it checked and add when it gets low. I buy the big bag and it lasts a really long time.

Layer feed is usually about 16% protein and is probably fine for layers as long as they don't get treats.

Layer is not good for non-layers (pullets, old hens that do not lay) and roosters. Have read in many places too much calcium is hard on the kidneys and can cause gout.

I have a rooster and old hens so this works for me. Also I don't have to worry about chick feed when I have babies as they can eat the flock raiser crumble. So this works for all my birds no matter what I have at the time. Right now I have about 25 birds from 12 weeks to 10 years.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've been reading scads of conflicting information over in the feeding forum, so I thought I'd survey/ask those of you who visit my thread...

Do you supplement your feed with calcium?

If so, what type?

And when did you start offering calcium?

Thanks.

I provide oyster shell free choice regardless of what I feed.

I just put the oyster shell in a cup that's attached to a pole in the run, they will take what they want.

When to start offering oyster shell? They are old enough to put it out for them now, they may pick and peck at it, take a few pieces at first. Even the cockerels might too - it's o.k. if the cockerels eat a few pieces, it won't kill them! I've found that the cockerels/roosters usually leave oyster shell alone after they have "tasted" it once, but sometimes when I refill the little cup, they will make a big deal out of it showing the girls that it's there, so they do pick it up and drop it or dig through it with their beaks. Fun stuff to watch!

 

[NanaK]

I provide oyster shell free choice regardless of what I feed.

I just put the oyster shell in a cup that's attached to a pole in the run, they will take what they want.

When to start offering oyster shell? They are old enough to put it out for them now, they may pick and peck at it, take a few pieces at first. Even the cockerels might too - it's o.k. if the cockerels eat a few pieces, it won't kill them! I've found that the cockerels/roosters usually leave oyster shell alone after they have "tasted" it once, but sometimes when I refill the little cup, they will make a big deal out of it showing the girls that it's there, so they do pick it up and drop it or dig through it with their beaks. Fun stuff to watch!

I've had roosters do this too! lol Tidbitting oyster shell just like sometimes they rearrange the straw in the nest boxes and call them to look. I think they are trying to earn "brownie points".