I started converting my shed into a coop

[Rvl Rookie]

It's working, so far. I found two new eggs in with the little one I left there yesterday.

 

[Rvl Rookie]

Today I put a vent on the sunny side of the coop. It's a metal cold air return type, and it's pretty strong but I also put a screen and some hardware cloth in it. It's about 6" x 18".





Then I started working on the window that I bought at the Restore last week. I covered it with hardware cloth, but didn't have enough screen to cover it for keeping flies and wasps out. I can always add that later though. I didn't take many pics this time, but here's a few;









A couple pages back I posted a pic of a ceramic rooster that I bought, and put on some wood that I'd painted. I finally mounted it over the coop doors.

 

[Rvl Rookie]

Four of my hens feeding this afternoon;

 

[Rvl Rookie]

Someone from another site gave me a rooster today. He has too many, from a straight run of 25 that turned out to be all roosters, so he's given most of them away. They were down to two, and his wife likes the other one best so "Buddy" is mine now.

Here's the new rooster. My biggest hen lightly pecks at him, and when she does he seems to relax and enjoy it.

 

[Rvl Rookie]

I bought two RIR laying hens today. I didn't really need more eggs, but I'm trying to make my flock bigger and more colorful.

 

[BunnyMomma]

Great Job! I enjoyed looking at what you've accomplished in such a short period of time. I especially love that you recycled stuff! You have a beautiful flock and some delicious looking eggs. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Rvl Rookie]

Thank you. I'm really enjoying them.

 

[Rvl Rookie]

I see I haven't updated for a while. No problems, and I think it's the rooster that TkySlyr gave me that's making a difference. They're sticking closer to home, and mostly staying together rather than how they used to split up.

The little Pencil Rock is sitting on eggs now, so in a couple weeks I'll probably have some chicks out there. I was using the area above the nests for storing extra hay, but today I reworked things a bit and built a brooding box so I can move the eggs and hen up there. That way the chicks will be in a safe spot when they hatch, rather than on the floor of the coop.



I got a roll of woven wire from my grand sons friend (he decided not to do chickens), and today my neighbor and Brad unrolled it
so that I can start making the run bigger and more secure.

I also raked out all the old straw, and replaced it. I was going to burn the old stuff, but the chickens were having a great time digging through it.



Here's the chickens at roost time tonight, except for the Pencil Rock who is staying on the eggs.

The two Rhode Island Reds that I got at Jacob's Cave sometimes stay on the lower roost, and the one with the clipped wings almost always does;



The rest go to the main roost. I moved the pool ladder today, trying to make things easier for them and for me. Easier for me to move around and clean, and easier for them getting up there and flying down;

 

[Bullitt]

I am sorry you had trouble with coyotes or something killing some of your chickens. Have you given up on allowing them to free range?

If you want to have chickens that can free range, I would suggest trying Brown Leghorns. They can fly short distances to get away from predators, and their color helps them avoid predators better than the White Leghorn. In addition, Brown Leghorns will lay about 6 eggs a week on average in the first year.

You seem to keep picking up chickens here and there. Maybe sometime you will find some Brown Leghorns and give them a try.

 

[Rvl Rookie]

I still let the free range. but not all day like I used to. I let them out of the coop each morning, usually around 6:30, and they go back and forth between the coop and the run. At first I started letting them out of the run at 3pm, then noon, and here lately I've started letting them out as early as 10am. I know it's more of a risk, but I lose so much enjoyment with them stuck in the run so much.

As you could see in the pics, I don't have white ones anymore. I like having a variety of colors, so that's why I get random breeds like that. If I see brown Leghorns, maybe I'll get a couple of them. Even though I'm avoiding white birds now, I'd still like to get at least a pair of Lakenvelders some day.