Mean, mean "Attilla the Hen"

[FiddleChics]

@Mixed flock enthusiast That's a neat setup you got there. I noticed you have heavy duty stock wire? Do you have large predators where you are?

EDITED it... I am new to BYC and just noticed that was't directed at me. I'm sorry.

Thank you! We have a lot of foxes, raccoons & possums... and not too far away - there's coyotes. So when I was setting up the coop, I knew one of the biggest mistakes is under estimating the predators. So my husband & I put up welded fabric wire on all the walls and roof of the big, extended back run. We also put down 3 feet - totally surrounding the coop on the ground. I would never want anything bad to happen to them - that was due to my error, so I took every precaution I could think of.
My coop is 14' x 6' and the back run is 30' x 28'. My chickens do not free range so I wanted them to have plenty of safe space. I also have grow/fodder boxes that I rotate so they get to scratch & peck at greens each week.
Here's a pic of my coop - and run: hard to see, but the run goes all behind the coop too:

This is the back run 'people door' (big enough for me to get the wagon in). The XL dog crate (aka the penalty box for Attila the Hen) is set up on the far wall.

And here's the coop, with the attached, enclosed run.

 

[MomJones]

Thank you! We have a lot of foxes, raccoons & possums... and not too far away - there's coyotes. So when I was setting up the coop, I knew one of the biggest mistakes is under estimating the predators. So my husband & I put up welded fabric wire on all the walls and roof of the big, extended back run. We also put down 3 feet - totally surrounding the coop on the ground. I would never want anything bad to happen to them - that was due to my error, so I took every precaution I could think of.
My coop is 14' x 6' and the back run is 30' x 28'. My chickens do not free range so I wanted them to have plenty of safe space. I also have grow/fodder boxes that I rotate so they get to scratch & peck at greens each week.
Here's a pic of my coop - and run: hard to see, but the run goes all behind the coop too:

This is the back run 'people door' (big enough for me to get the wagon in). The XL dog crate (aka the penalty box for Attila the Hen) is set up on the far wall.
View attachment 1801831

And here's the coop, with the attached, enclosed run.
View attachment 1801832

Oh. My. Gawd that is one impressive setup you have. I love the paint and decor too. I thought we had the best built chicken run ever until just now. Yours is so predator proof I bet a bear couldn't get through. And it's lovely! Good job.

 

[aart]

Near mid-night check... and Attila is in her cage inside the coop, and the Alpha hen is sweetly sitting on the roost with all the little chicks clustered near her!!!! So, everyone hopefully is adjusting without the stress of Attila the hen attacking them!

I will do this for the next 3 days - and hopefully the blinders will arrive, and we'll give Attila another chance! Here's a photo of the roost - with the Alpha hen & the 10 chicks, and part of the cage with Attila in...

Great....and good plan!
You're doing a great job managing this issue, hopefully Attila gets with the program.

 

[FiddleChics]

Oh. My. Gawd that is one impressive setup you have. I love the paint and decor too. I thought we had the best built chicken run ever until just now. Yours is so predator proof I bet a bear couldn't get through. And it's lovely! Good job.

haha... It's my happy place - it truly is, thank you so much @MomJones. My husband laughing said as we were building it... "El Chapo couldn't get in here!" lol but -they are my sweet pets (in addition to our egg providers) - and I protect them like my kids! I figure too, if I have to clean, and pick up chicken poop... it might as well be in a beautiful place if I'm going to spend a lot of time there! And, I'd rather be "playing outside" - doing chores, painting, gardening and working around - instead of inside doing house work!!! hahah

 

[FiddleChics]

Great....and good plan!
You're doing a great job managing this issue, hopefully Attila gets with the program.

Thank you @aart! I'm so glad there's BYC - because I don't know who I'd talk to! I don't know anyone in my area with chickens! But it's Day 2... and this morning Attila was a bit astonished that this whole scene is continuing. She was NOT happy when I carried her out to the crate in the back. But I'm holding to 'tough love'... and hoping that today - it'll sink in -& she'll straighten up and fly right... and the 'pinless peepers' will arrive - Amazon Prime - tomorrow!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

EDITED it... I am new to BYC and just noticed that was't directed at me. I'm sorry.

Thank you! We have a lot of foxes, raccoons & possums... and not too far away - there's coyotes. So when I was setting up the coop, I knew one of the biggest mistakes is under estimating the predators. So my husband & I put up welded fabric wire on all the walls and roof of the big, extended back run. We also put down 3 feet - totally surrounding the coop on the ground. I would never want anything bad to happen to them - that was due to my error, so I took every precaution I could think of.
My coop is 14' x 6' and the back run is 30' x 28'. My chickens do not free range so I wanted them to have plenty of safe space. I also have grow/fodder boxes that I rotate so they get to scratch & peck at greens each week.
Here's a pic of my coop - and run: hard to see, but the run goes all behind the coop too:

This is the back run 'people door' (big enough for me to get the wagon in). The XL dog crate (aka the penalty box for Attila the Hen) is set up on the far wall.
View attachment 1801831

And here's the coop, with the attached, enclosed run.
View attachment 1801832

Lovely setup you have there! Your chooks are so lucky to have you! You mentioned the hassle of shifting Atilla around, I felt the same. Getting Vespucci out and in every morning and night was a hassle! I will say that I became more fond of our roosters during this whole process (which was only a month ago!). The roosters are my daughter’s idea and I’d get a little cranky making her vision happen when I feared Vespucci would never get with the program. So, appreciating Vespucci a little more was a good thing! He was very well behaved about all of my not so appreciated handling.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

@Mixed flock enthusiast That's a neat setup you got there. I noticed you have heavy duty stock wire? Do you have large predators where you are?

Thanks! The stock wire arches were mostly for speed, cost, stability, but we do have many predators. Coyotes and bobcats are our biggest so far, we’ve lost chickens, ducks, and guineas to those during free-ranging so only the guineas are out all day. Dogs are always a possibility, and I think they would be the most damaging of our potential predators.

 

[FiddleChics]

You mentioned the hassle of shifting Atilla around, I felt the same. Getting Vespucci out and in every morning and night was a hassle! I will say that I became more fond of our roosters during this whole process (which was only a month ago!). The roosters are my daughter’s idea and I’d get a little cranky making her vision happen when I feared Vespucci would never get with the program. So, appreciating Vespucci a little more was a good thing! He was very well behaved about all of my not so appreciated handling.

Thanks @Mixed flock enthusiast! I took heart from your words, and went out - just now, hoping maybe Attila would be more repentant about her poor behavior, & hoping that I'd find her more accepting of this "tough love" thing. As I walked out to the coop, I felt bad for her... because all the other girls came running over, excited, when they heard me open the door... waiting eagerly at the fence for me... She use to be one of those happy, little chicks - just last year.
So I went into the run, and she was all puffed up and her neck feathers were sticking out and she was growling. Ugh! I don't think she's learning. I talked nice to her, but she just continued being cantankerous. I DREAD having to go in and pick her up tonight to put her in her cage inside the coop when she's like this... I may just tarp her cage and leave her in there.
I did put a box w/ straw in there, but she isn't laying on it. I didn't want her to have to make an egg... and have no where to put it? But I'm going to take it out now. She hasn't been able to sneak into the nesting boxes either at night...(which she HAS been doing) so hopefully, if she's broody - this'll nix that too.View attachment 1802481

 

[FiddleChics]

Here is Attila this afternoon... Ugh. Not much progress...

 

[aart]

I wonder if part of her problem is she's still 'feeling broody'.