I'm going on an adventure!

[RoseHawke]

IT'S FINISHED! Well, maybe not finished, but at least to the point of being functional.

Tonight will be the first night we'll put them in the Big Gray Coop. I expect a free-for-all. I'm thinking I'll probably shut the door of the little coop ahead of time and then gather up chickens. There's a slim possibility that some might actually go in the Big Coop on their own. Pippin has in the past.

I got the ramp up after I took this picture this morning. It's built the same as the exterior ramp, I have them both attached via hooks and eye screws. Then I opened the door to let them explore.

Ivy was actually the first one in, which surprised me, but Amber was already investigating the ramp and was right next to the door when it opened which of course spooked her.

She hopped right back up though after Ivy. Ivy is usually pretty cautious while Amber is very bold. Rain popped in and out a few times, and unsurprisingly shy Skye was the last to see what the fuss was about.

I've yet to see either of the Queens or any of the cochins try the door. They may think the coop belongs to the legbars at this point!

I'll report back tomorrow how the first night goes.

 

[RoseHawke]

As expected, last night was a rodeo, although not as bad as it could have been. No one went in the big coop on their own, even though I'd closed up the other coops. As it got darker they got more confused.

I had Mr. RoseHawke on the inside of the new coop to block off the pop door between chicken deposits while I did a fair imitation of a stalking leopard creeping up on bock-bocking nearly blind-in-the-dark birds. The first, and easiest to shove in the door was Pippin, probably because by this time he's used to getting handled every evening when I was doing the evening sort. He still bites though unless I'm very quick. Then the legbars, then Helena (the bantam buff cochin pullet,) which left Falco the buff cochin bantam cockerel, and Elizabeth and Victoria, the Queens. The Queens have never been handled so it sounded very much like chicken murder was being done. They got so stirred up looking for escape from the big scary human thing that they actually jumped up on the ramp at which point I asked Mr. RoseHawke to "open the door" (lift the piece of ply he was using to block it,) when each looked like she might go in given the chance. And so it was.

That left Falco. He wasn't happy about being all alone in the dark which you would have thought would have made him more eager to go in the coop, but he wasn't having it. I had to corner him.

Then I made sure the auto door was closed and went into the coop to make sure everyone was on the actual roosts and not huddled up in a corner or trying to (unsuccessfully) roost on the sloping roof of the nestboxes. Finally got everyone settled. All told it probably took about 30 minutes to get nine chickens captured and settled into their new digs.

This morning, they were a bit slow to come out; I don't think they realized that funny noise at 6am (which is about 15 minutes before "actual" sunrise although it's light by that time,) was the door opening. They'll soon get the hang of it I'm sure.

I'm keeping the old coops shut up although I suspected there might be a problem with where they lay their eggs. To my surprise and pleasure, someone has already laid in the new nests so that's a plus.

I'm using hemp bedding in the "poop tray" and so far I'm really liking it, although it's only been a day or so. Very absorbent and easy to scoop with a regulation kitty litter scoop. I wish it wasn't so pricey as I can see it being used as actual kitty litter although I suspect it would track like billy-o.

I'm going to have to something about the "human door". It's on the outside of the run, so going in is risking escapees if there's anyone there and with a notion to "fly the coop." I may end up partitioning off a bit inside, just enough to make an entryway cubicle to forestall any problems. This would be the least expensive option.

 

[RoseHawke]

Well, last night everyone went up (hurray!) - except Helena (boo!) Who was in her "usual" spot on the peak of the green coop. So, I had to go pop her through the door before it closed at 5:30. She complained vociferously at being held, but once inside did figure out (despite the fact it's almost full dark at this point,) to flutter onto the ramp and make her way to the roosts.

They're still not aware that that "noise" in the morning means the door is open; I called them out this morning after it had been open for 10-15 minutes or so, but tomorrow I'm going to let them find their own way out.

 

[RoseHawke]

Aaaand - last night everyone put themselves up. We went and checked on them after about an hour, everyone except for Falco and one of the Queens was roosting on the lip of the poop tray. I'd sort of expected this, as when I was building it, it just looked like an attractive place for a chicken to roost. Also, the actual roosting bars are much wider than they're used to at 3", the bars in the little Green Coop are all 2x2's (1.5x1.5 inches.) The lip of the poop tray is only about 3/4", if they persist in using it as a roost, I may change it out for a 2x4, at least that would present a broader surface for their weight.

They also didn't hang around when the door opened up this morning
.

I was "communing" with the chickens for a bit yesterday morning when Amber started stalking around, fairly obviously looking for a place to lay. She wasn't very happy that the green coop was closed off. She'd go up, give the door the eye, hop down, run around the coop, finally go in the Big Coop, stay in there a couple minutes, come out, rinse and repeat. I watched her do this for at least 10 minutes before I had to go do other things. She must have finally grudgingly admitted the Big Coop was the only place available as she did lay in there, albeit under the nestboxes in the corner. Which is fine, admittedly the nestboxes need a bit of tweaking to make everyone happy. Rain had been in previously and had laid in the nestbox, so I now know who lays the funny "torpedo" shaped eggs. (Seriously, it's hard to tell which is the rounded end as both ends are kinda pointed.)