MJ's little flock

[RoyalChick]

That's so helpful.

Thank you!

It really is @Somewhere_In_The_Clouds - I just don’t trust myself to be able to identify and remember in future!

 

[MaryJanet]

It really is @Somewhere_In_The_Clouds - I just don’t trust myself to be able to identify and remember in future!

I tend towards inattentive to the chicken lexicon too. It's good to know where I can find an explanation in case anyone asks.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

It really is @Somewhere_In_The_Clouds - I just don’t trust myself to be able to identify and remember in future!

All good Genetics, colours, and patterns are just plain confusing sometimes (most of the time...).

 

[MaryJanet]

Joyce had her last post-op checkup this morning. She was full of beans and rather chatty. There were no signs of ovulation so now she's back to normal life, which means she'll be trundled off to the vet only if she gets sick.

She was delighted to be home again! She said chup chup chup chup chup chup chup chup except while tanking up on tucker and water.

 

[ManueB]

Progress can be made on the inside of the roost now the roof's on.

There are four easy lift, easy clean floor panels for catching poops.

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How many floor panels?

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Each one is slightly different, which means they have to be put back in the correct order. So I decided to number them.

The roof from within. Hot air will rise and vent under the corrugations of the polycarbonate.

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Handy hooks under the floor joists.

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Although it's winter, both perches were scalded with fresh boiled water four times in case of mites.

A flat timber perch on one side.

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A branch on the other.

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And the log ladder for climbing up.

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Jobs that still need doing

1. Make a high perch for Janet
2. Tidy up
3. Spread sifted sand on the floor panels to prevent poops from sticking to them.
4. Carry the hens (minus the red marauders) in each night until they consider it bed.
5. See how Mary copes with the log pile ladder. If it's a problem for her, make a sturdy, wide traditional ramp with spaced battens, hinged to the leading floor joist for night time drawbridgery to keep any mousies from bothering the hens while they sleep.
6. Carry the marauders into the little coop each night until they consider bed.

Nearly there.

Very nice ! You must be really happy to finally see the end of this project!
I’m curious to know (sorry if you mentioned it before) what is the material used for the floor panels ? And also, how high do they have to climb on the log ladder, and do you expect them to use it down, or to fly ?

She said chup chup chup chup chup chup chup chup except while tanking up on tucker and water.

 

[MaryJanet]

Very nice ! You must be really happy to finally see the end of this project!
I’m curious to know (sorry if you mentioned it before) what is the material used for the floor panels ? And also, how high do they have to climb on the log ladder, and do you expect them to use it down, or to fly ?

The floor panels are ply. 3 ply I think, and specialised for marine environments because we're so near the beach.

It's quite a climb. I haven't measured it, but it's up to my waist. Maybe some will climb down and others will jump/fly? I've cleared a landing strip just in case.

Speaking of high coops ...

 

[BY Bob]

Katie and I had a spontaneous photo shoot.

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Take a bow, Katie.

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She is stunning.

 

[BY Bob]

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Joyce had her last post-op checkup this morning. She was full of beans and rather chatty. There were no signs of ovulation so now she's back to normal life, which means she'll be trundled off to the vet only if she gets sick.

She was delighted to be home again! She said chup chup chup chup chup chup chup chup except while tanking up on tucker and water.

So very glad to hear that.

 

[BY Bob]

The floor panels are ply. 3 ply I think, and specialised for marine environments because we're so near the beach.

It's quite a climb. I haven't measured it, but it's up to my waist. Maybe some will climb down and others will jump/fly? I've cleared a landing strip just in case.

Speaking of high coops ...

Man that is up there! Lucky they don't get nose bleeds.

 

[MaryJanet]

She is stunning.

And she's very sweet natured too. And she's the most flighty hen of the flock which sometimes annoys her Aunty Ivy.

So very glad to hear that.

It's a relief to know she's well enough for no further post-op ovulation checks. Her partner in crime spent 2 hours on the nest dreaming of eggs yesterday, so I'm thinking she might be laying internally. So I'm expecting Christa's reproductive health to fail next.

Man that is up there! Lucky they don't get nose bleeds.

Is it a converted water tower or something? I can't imagine why someone would build such an inconvenient coop - how to clean the poops out? Although I daresay the hens love being up so high at nighttiime. Remember how much my crew loved roosting in the rafters? Janet's still doing it.