MJ's little flock

[BDutch]

Bob, you wanted to see the pullets' run. I've just put it together. They haven't used it much yet, but they will in time.

Edit: I didn't do it on purpose, but it turns out that if I open the coop door and the human door to the run, they can be attached to each other. That means the pullets can be excluded from their coop and contained within their run at any time. So now I can do my pullet chores in the coop before dark.

The panels are sold as rabbit panels where I live.
I tried to use/used them for chicks to give them outside space on the grass. As you know ‘the grass is always greener outside of the fence’ and the puppy fence is way too low to keep them inside.

My chicks where bantams and could fly a bit.

 

[MaryJanet]

There was at least one enjoyable dirt bath happening!

It wasn't long before they all cracked on

 

[MaryJanet]

The panels are sold as rabbit panels where I live.
I tried to use/used them for chicks to give them outside space on the grass. As you know ‘the grass is always greener outside of the fence’ and the puppy fence is way too low to keep them inside.

My chicks where bantams and could fly a bit.

Fair enough, the panels would be hopeless at containing chook who can fly.

 

[BY Bob]

It's a few hours later and all 3 are using the run. They've explored across to the woodshed but not along the side or back.

I'm just uploading a video of the pullets enjoying themselves.

Edit: the video.

Wonderful!

 

[BY Bob]

Fair enough, the panels would be hopeless at containing chook who can fly.

I think many chickens can fly better than they give themselves credit for. My six foot fence has kept in leghorns that could easily fly over if they really want to. The focus on their food being on the ground I think can limit their thoughts of going up.

 

[RoyalChick]

Fair enough, the panels would be hopeless at containing chook who can fly.

I used puppy panels before I got the Chicken Palace. My Avatar is Diana who was the first to fly up and perch on top - which she did to examine my head while I bent over inside the run.
After that they all learned to go on top and sometimes they went down on the run side and sometimes not. But mainly they stayed close to home.

 

[BDutch]

I think many chickens can fly better than they give themselves credit for. My six foot fence has kept in leghorns that could easily fly over if they really want to. The focus on their food being on the ground I think can limit their thoughts of going up.

My chickens jump easily on and over 1,50 m. If they panic they fly much higher. If they see a dog my Dutch bantams fly over 2.5 m high fence to the neighbours.

 

[MaryJanet]

It's interesting that the puppy panels have been in use off and on since Janet arrived and no one has ever perched on them or hopped over. I'm sure some of the chooks could if they wanted to, especially the agile little pullets. After Bernadette's attempt to jump up to the beam the other day, for sure she could jump out. But she hasn't even tried yet.

 

[MaryJanet]

A moment ago I saw sparrows and a magpie drive a hawk off! Amazing how the different birds worked together to chase off a predator.

 

[MaryJanet]

A pullet update is overdue I think.

A couple of days ago I became worried about the Australorp's and the Brahma's poop, which had been consistently loose for too long to ignore, so I started adding probiotics to their water. I'm pleased to say digestion is improving and pain poses have completely gone.

The Australorp and the Brahma have much more energy and are nowhere near as listless as they had been since moving in.

I'm also pleased that Bernadette and the Australorp are growing new tail feathers.

And Bernadette and the Brahma have vastly improved face colouring. The Australorp has also improved in her colouring but not to the same extent as the other two.

Pecking is almost non-existent.

So everything is tracking well. They have vet appointments on Friday morning.

I continue to worry that Bernadette might have Mareks. Sometimes she lifts her feet excessively high when taking a step. I wonder if it's an expression of neuro-degeneration.

And if she's got it, so have the other two. That's how Mareks works if I'm not mistaken.