Maine

[MistyMae]

Thank you all for the great tips and pointers!! Love this board, it has been a huge help!

 

[woods79]

Woods, How big is your coop? How many birds total? You might want to do multiple feed and water stations for a while, and if they are on pellets, perhaps even scatter the feed on the ground a bit (not all of it, but a hand full here and there..)

the coop is 8 ft x 8 ft the entire building is 8 x 12 it is a a full building not some little coop. the out out door run is 8 ft x 12 ft as well. they have roost in and out to get on. I did put a food try out side and will dig another one out tomorrow to put in side.

The funny thing is I put a split log that was full of ants and the new girls had no interest, just wanted to guard that food tray, my 8 Orpingtons were all over it and had a nice ant buffet so I know they got a good snack today.

 

[lazy gardener]

Coop size is good, but in theory, the run is only big enough for 10 birds. I don't know if that is contributing to the territorial issues you are seeing. Do you let them out to free range? Hopefully, they'll settle down soon, preferably before weather turns.

 

[woods79]

As for run size, we did not plan on the 7 extra hens, They are laying and if we did not take them my aunt was going to slaughter them and not use the meat, could not let that happen. No I can not free range we have less than a 1/2 acre of land in town with no tree cover or wood line, the river is not to far a way and we have hawks and eagles heavy in the area.

 

[buckabucka]

I like the idea of a full water jug in the dog dish with a hole in it. Maybe some small rocks in the bottom would keep it stable? I cannot just put a gallon jug in without holes, because my flock is large and they would run out of water (I am gone much of the day).

Woods, it may just be a matter of time with your new hens. I let mine get to know each other through the fence for at least two weeks, but there are always squabbles and fights over food when I first integrate them. I put extra feeding stations around and a few places to hide (something they can run behind). It takes some time.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

The funny thing is I put a split log that was full of ants and the new girls had no interest, just wanted to guard that food tray, my 8 Orpingtons were all over it and had a nice ant buffet so I know they got a good snack today.

Only a few of my birds are major ant eaters, the rest turn their beaks up at it.

I put out multiple water stations when the weather allows (ie not during winter) - 5 of them between the coop and run, and 2 food stations (in the coop to minimize feeding things I don't want to feed) plus sometimes a flock block in a different section of coop. The flock block goes quickly, but I like to throw one in there if they're going to be confined for a while (ie blizzard).

I still have scuffles - the guineas are notorious for being bullies - but allowing a lot of room and a lot of food/water stations really minimizes the impact.

I'm about to head outside to start pulling up the flower beds for winter prep, and I'll let the biddies out. They almost never fight when allowed to free range. I'll be keeping a close eye on them, though. Lots of hungry predators this time of year.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Woods, How big is your coop?  How many birds total?  You might want to do multiple feed and water stations for a while, and if they are on pellets, perhaps even scatter the feed on the ground a bit (not all of it, but a hand full here and there..)
Liz, It would do that, but when they drank it down so level would be same in jug and bowl, I think the jug would be apt to tip over, causing a spill.  I go to great lengths to be sure not to spill any water in my coop, especially when the weather gets below 20* in there.  With my flock on FF, they don't drink as much water as they would if on dry feed. I'm checking on them before the water level ever gets very low anyways, and it's no bother to top it off.  Usually, when I go out mid day, I carry an extra jug with me and just switch out the jugs.  Sometimes it stays warm enough in the coop so I can even just leave the second jug to swap out later.  If I get them on horizontal nipples this fall, I may use the dog bowl to keep FF in, and then I'll never have frozen FF!  Will put an aquarium heater in the nipple bucket.

I was thinking about switching to nipple waterers but haven't decided yet, let me know if you do and how they take to it

 

[lazy gardener]

Ants! Before we had our yard work done, the back yard was completely covered with ant nests. Mid summer, all of the queens would just come boiling up out of the soil, and the sky would be FULL of them. I always made it a point to open up the nests before then. I'd grab a shovel, and the entire flock would come on the run. Rip open one nest after the other, and it would be full of ants, eggs, larvae, and lots of queens yet to take flight. The hens would go ape over the bounty. Hubby would come home from work and see the carnage I'd just wrecked on his lawn. Not a happy camper. But, he'd just shake his head, and wander into the house. You have to understand, that this man and I have irreconcilable differences when it comes to our outside property. He's a lawn man. Loves his lawn, does a great job keeping the lawn mowed. I continue to encroach on his lawn with my gardening, orchard and chicken activities. So... holes in his lawn... an insult to his sensibilities. I got away with it by telling him that the ants would kill the grass. Sensible, yes???

 

[DwayneNLiz]

And the chickens fertilize the grass

 

[lazy gardener]

And the dog enjoys those little bombs.