Inherited coop

[jwsmith1959]

No....the hogs are not a threat to the chickens, but maybe to my sanity.

I really hate them. I noticed another pasture or two around that has some evidence of activity.

 

[jwsmith1959]

Well...it's been Friday since I've needed any Mothering from y'all which means everything has been okay.

Now 18+ week old Production Reds are using the whole coop. I caught one roosting the other evening which means the others will follow. I put in some fake wooden eggs in the nesting boxes...and now have found them in the morning under the lean-to where before they gathered at the other protected end.. It has been cooler than usual, so maybe that is it.

They recognize me now and will come out and feed at my feet which I find encouraging. I have been changing their water a couple of times a day (well water...same as what we cook with, but our drinking water is treated). I have been mainly feeding them Grower food with a handful of scratch as a treat. I have a couple of the cheap feeding bars which I wonder if they dislike as they really rather feed off the concrete.

They have been curious of the outside, but am going to wait to try and bring them outside until my wife is home for the weekend.

Thank y'all again for your encouragement and making me feel like a part of this community.

 

[xoshannox1080]

Hate to bring back a zombie thread, but I got sidetracked with the pandemic. I just purchased 6 production reds and added (supposed to be 17 weeks) into my coop today. They seem a bit jumpy and I hoped after 4-5 hours would be roaming around their new home like they were made for it.

I supplied two water stations and two tray feeders. One end of the coop has plywood surrounding it and that is where they have congregated. They are huddling in the corner and one or two are hiding under the lower level nesting boxes. I have about a 4X4 lean-to at the other end. I have 13 boxes with shavings for them and roosts for each box. As I noted in my intro, it has been quite a few years since I had chickens, but I have been reading this site since I joined....I just have not had anything to talk about yet really.

I am supplying a photo to give you an idea of the coop I am working with. I know just to leave them alone for awhile, but was curious as to the proper time frame for them to attempt to explore a bit. As luck would have it, we have rain and possible storms for the next day or so. The coop is well covered and there is the lean-to at the one end for extra protection.

View attachment 2616561

I've cleaned it up considerably since this photo was taken. lol

What should I expect in the next day or two as far as flock behavior, etc.

View attachment 2616603

 

[gimmie birdies]

I am not a shavings person, but just watch so you know they are not eating shavings.

 

[Krugerrand]

No....the hogs are not a threat to the chickens, but maybe to my sanity.

I really hate them. I noticed another pasture or two around that has some evidence of activity.

Do you know hogs to not be a threat to chickens? I don't have them in my parts of the world. But, they're smart, strong, aggressive omnivores - so I would have assumed they'd be glad for a chicken dinner. I tried to do some quick research in the Predator section, but I couldn't find a clear answer quickly.

 

[3KillerBs]

Do you know hogs to not be a threat to chickens? I don't have them in my parts of the world. But, they're smart, strong, aggressive omnivores - so I would have assumed they'd be glad for a chicken dinner. I tried to do some quick research in the Predator section, but I couldn't find a clear answer quickly.

I was looking that up myself and likewise found nothing.

I have to assume that, as omnivores, a pig that can catch a chicken would eat it.

 

[Smashlee83]

I live in the same area, just a few miles down the road and we have a wild hog problem. For whatever reason though, they have never bothered my chickens or even dug near their enclosure. Racoons however...

 

[McChooky]

Wild hogs will eat chickens if they can catch them.They'll also destroy a coop to get the feed.

 

[jwsmith1959]

Wild hogs will eat chickens if they can catch them.They'll also destroy a coop to get the feed.

Wild hogs are like most Omnivores and will anything they can overpower. I have heavy duty chain link over the bottom four feet of the coop that is buried about 6 inches and I shoot every one that I see on sight. My latest loss came from something stealthier.

Good luck to everyone.