MJ's little flock

[LaFemmeKatia]

It's Wednesday here and I thought I would get a nice shot of my mug with my chooks in the background.

I was sitting on my mushroom stool leaning further and further back to get a good shot when....View attachment 2731162
Over I went.
Luckily I didn't break my mug (or anything else) and, on the plus side,View attachment 2731164 I was in a good position to take a better photo!

That IS a good photo! You suffer for your art!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

I have found some Tea Pets on-line that I thought my chickeny friends might like.

View attachment 2731188
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002742656497.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.251c2e0e4V4IQy

Do you think that they are Barred Rocks?

I have found some Tea Pets on-line that I thought my chickeny friends might like.

View attachment 2731188
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002742656497.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.251c2e0e4V4IQy

Do you think that they are Barred Rocks?

I LOVE these!

 

[MaryJanet]

I have found some Tea Pets on-line that I thought my chickeny friends might like.

View attachment 2731188
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002742656497.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.251c2e0e4V4IQy

Do you think that they are Barred Rocks?

I love them!

 

[MaryJanet]

Is the new run working out well MJ?

So far, so good, although the wildbirds are creeping under. That's not a long term problem because I'll be having the apron paved to prevent foxes digging in. This weekend I'll place bricks around it at ground level, which I hope will stop the birds until I can get the paving guys booked in. For a change, I'm feeling grateful to the wildbirds for showing me where the weaknesses are.

Other than this, the hens have already learned to be confident going through the pop door. And I'm happy no hawks can grab them.

I can see myself drawn into many weekends of working on it and that's a very happy thought!

 

[MaryJanet]

That looks rather pretty MJ and rather posh.

I'm sorry to say I'm regretting the purchase because the gold rim on the cup was very poorly applied. It was obviously not made with care. Ah well, live and learn and at least there's some pink in the collection now.

 

[MaryJanet]

Well, my dad didn’t get back to me on which recipe, so I took the one with the latest date. I don’t have the ability to print to PDF on a personal device and I’m too cheap to pay $10 a month for the service I’ll never (rarely) use. So here’s a screenshot. I hope it reads OK. Apparently they are crumpets, not a hybrid. But I remember him talking about them being like halfway between a crumpet snd an english muffin.
View attachment 2505829

I'm just putting this reply here so I remember to make crumpets this weekend

 

[MaryJanet]

Oooh, blue! Can't wait to see them in action in the Funrun. I'd be interested in your review of them too MJ.

So, I've had them for some time now and they are excellent. There's no slime because the sun can't get in. The hens are very comfortable using them too.

The handle on top can be tricky for my weak hands, so I flip them over and carry them by the tray, even when they're full.

The usual water diligence may be more demanding than water systems connected to the mains, but even though I'm a hectic person with more professional commitments than fit into my schedule, I don't find daily 10 minutes of empty, swill, wipe, refill and replace particularly onerous. Quite the opposite, I find humble chores like that one to be very grounding and good for me.

So I'm giving them four out of five, with that one point deducted for the awkward handle on top.

I recommend them and will be getting a couple more for food as the existing feeders age out.

 

[MaryJanet]

So, bearing in mind the tidying up starts on Saturday, here are a few snaps. Nothing in the run is in its permanent position yet. It's all still jumbled.

I took this one while standing beside the pergola. The clothesline and the concrete to the left will eventually be removed. You can see the pop door open and the wide doors open on the right

In this photo, I've walked forward and turned to the right and you can see the wide half doors open and the puppy play pen panels across the front of the jacaranda. I did that so the hens could become accustomed to using the pop door, which they have, so tomorrow morning I'm going to try shepherding them through the pop door instead of the big doors. This will be a big change for them because they've been using the big doors since January. Maybe the pop door gives you a sense of perspective? Mary is quite tall, up to my knee, and she gets through it easily.

In this snap, you're looking through the big doors at the little coop where folks lay their eggs, an old bin on its side (potential nest but no one uses it), and a pile of big logs and tree stumps in the back corner.

Remember, nothing is in it's proper place yet.

In this shot, you've moved into the run and can see the old tables that provide some shelter from the Sun and rain.

In this snap, I've rotated to the left and you can see both tables and the far left corner of the run. That's the corner where the roost will eventually be located

In this one, the pop door is visible on the left and the big coop beyond the run. And my seat!! The upturned milk crate.

Next photo, I'm standing in the front left corner, looking past the milk crate and tables at the back of the run. The top left corner of the run is where the roost will be

Here, I've stepped forward and looked back across the little coop. You can also see a few more stumps and logs around the old tables for a little more privacy for the hens and a sense of security.

In this one, I'm in the corner where the roost will be. You can see an old laundry basket on its side. That's another potential nest that nobody uses.

Lastly, I'm in the back right corner of the run, looking at where the roost will be. In this photo you get a sense of the space between the run and the back fence. This space will prevent the terrier who lives over the fence from digging into the run. It will be paved eventually.

And that's all for now!

 

[Ribh]

I'm just putting this reply here so I remember to make crumpets this weekend

We will expect photos you know so I hope you have your phone sorted.

 

[Ribh]

So, bearing in mind the tidying up starts on Saturday, here are a few snaps. Nothing in the run is in its permanent position yet. It's all still jumbled.

I took this one while standing beside the pergola. The clothesline and the concrete to the left will eventually be removed. You can see the pop door open and the wide doors open on the right

View attachment 2732560

In this photo, I've walked forward and turned to the right and you can see the wide half doors open and the puppy play pen panels across the front of the jacaranda. I did that so the hens could become accustomed to using the pop door, which they have, so tomorrow morning I'm going to try shepherding them through the pop door instead of the big doors. This will be a big change for them because they've been using the big doors since January. Maybe the pop door gives you a sense of perspective? Mary is quite tall, up to my knee, and she gets through it easily.

View attachment 2732561

In this snap, you're looking through the big doors at the little coop where folks lay their eggs, an old bin on its side (potential nest but no one uses it), and a pile of big logs and tree stumps in the back corner.

View attachment 2732565

Remember, nothing is in it's proper place yet.

In this shot, you've moved into the run and can see the old tables that provide some shelter from the Sun and rain.

View attachment 2732566

In this snap, I've rotated to the left and you can see both tables and the far left corner of the run. That's the corner where the roost will eventually be located


View attachment 2732568

In this one, the pop door is visible on the left and the big coop beyond the run. And my seat!! The upturned milk crate.


View attachment 2732567

Next photo, I'm standing in the front left corner, looking past the milk crate and tables at the back of the run. The top left corner of the run is where the roost will be

View attachment 2732569

Here, I've stepped forward and looked back across the little coop. You can also see a few more stumps and logs around the old tables for a little more privacy for the hens and a sense of security.

View attachment 2732570

In this one, I'm in the corner where the roost will be. You can see an old laundry basket on its side. That's another potential nest that nobody uses.

View attachment 2732571

Lastly, I'm in the back right corner of the run, looking at where the roost will be. In this photo you get a sense of the space between the run and the back fence. This space will prevent the terrier who lives over the fence from digging into the run. It will be paved eventually.

View attachment 2732572

And that's all for now!

That was excellent. Your description gave a good feel of the space. It's wonderful!