MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

It looks wonderful, and carefully thought. Can I move in with them ?

Yes, remember: just turn left at New Zealand and listen for Christa's morning shouting. You should be able to hear her somewhere around Sydney.

 

[LozzyR]

Yes, remember: just turn left at New Zealand and listen for Christa's morning shouting. You should be able to hear her somewhere around Sydney.

When you hit Sydney, hang another left. I’ll wave as you go past.

 

[Fluffy_Moth_With_Silkies]

This is amazing! I got my first flock a while ago. Make sure that you don't use chicken wire for the coop. This will let things like raccoons and rats, maybe even foxes, in. Use 1/2 inch hardware cloth for everything. If you have a coop with chicken wire, that's ok, but make sure that it is predator safe, or at least as safe as it can be with chicken wire. You might also want to put 1/2 in hardware cloth 3 inches down around the coop, to protect from moles and things like that. You should give them a space to take dust bath, and have grit in there in a separate container. If you have any more questions, I have time to spare.

 

[RoyalChick]

Followed by a lucky guess 2 on the NYT wordle!

The answer is in the spoiler. Don't look until you're ready.

Spoiler: NYT wordle lucky 2

View attachment 3619361

I'm quietly amused by the thought of a stern choir

Well done! I just did the same NYT one. Took me three.

Wordle 798 3/6





A chicken at little risk of imminent starvation. Bernie. It is amazing to me that she finds that much to eat. That is mostly, or maybe all, foraged food.

 

[BY Bob]

We made a ramp today. I used @Perris 's idea and installed non-slip under the battens.

View attachment 3619685

The long planks are spaced about 0.5cm for good washing.

It's hinged to the roost to go up overnight. I don't have a lux-triggered lifter but I may get one in time.

View attachment 3619686

Sand has been spread over the floor panels for ease of poop removal and, thinking of @BY Bob 's Hattie and @RoyalChick 's Pigletine, I've provided food and water for snacking.

5 of my dearest darlings have been carried in to sleep their first night in their fancy new roost.

View attachment 3619688

Only one photo because I thought even one flash was too many but couldn't resist recording the moment. I hope they dream of endless fields of tasty lettuces with mealworms inside

So nice. It looks wonderfully comfy.

 

[RoyalChick]

We made a ramp today. I used @Perris 's idea and installed non-slip under the battens.

View attachment 3619685

The long planks are spaced about 0.5cm for good washing.

It's hinged to the roost to go up overnight. I don't have a lux-triggered lifter but I may get one in time.

View attachment 3619686

Sand has been spread over the floor panels for ease of poop removal and, thinking of @BY Bob 's Hattie and @RoyalChick 's Pigletine, I've provided food and water for snacking.

5 of my dearest darlings have been carried in to sleep their first night in their fancy new roost.

View attachment 3619688

Only one photo because I thought even one flash was too many but couldn't resist recording the moment. I hope they dream of endless fields of tasty lettuces with mealworms inside

Looking lovely.
Non-slip like that carpet underlay stuff?
And why do you hinge it up? The whole thing is open. Or is that in case you need to get under?
Sorry - this comes across like an interrogation - I am always interested in construction projects for chickens, so just want to understand.

 

[BY Bob]

I was painting a ramp yesterday and was thinking that painting the ramp may not be good because of paint chipping, but, its too late. I'll just have to keep my eyes peeled hopefully instead of the paint! My goal to make antislip last season was to sprinkle sand on top of a light coat of paint. I got paranoid that some of the sand with paint will flake off and they'll eat it Didnt think things through. I put this ramp to the side and for a week did everything to get any extra sand off. Even leaving it in the rain, ect.. It's now suitable. I need some of that anti slip material that Maryjanet has is where I was goin' with this rant, lol. Fortunately , this painted ramp is for a second coop that will house 2 hens, one that is disabled and cant use the ramp anyway

That is a good looking coop. Very nice paint job.

 

[RoyalChick]

I was painting a ramp yesterday and was thinking that painting the ramp may not be good because of paint chipping, but, its too late. I'll just have to keep my eyes peeled hopefully instead of the paint! My goal to make antislip last season was to sprinkle sand on top of a light coat of paint. I got paranoid that some of the sand with paint will flake off and they'll eat it Didnt think things through. I put this ramp to the side and for a week did everything to get any extra sand off. Even leaving it in the rain, ect.. It's now suitable. I need some of that anti slip material that Maryjanet has is where I was goin' with this rant, lol. Fortunately , this painted ramp is for a second coop that will house 2 hens, one that is disabled and cant use the ramp anyway

I like the look of that! FWIW I suspect a few flakes of water-based paint wouldn’t harm a chicken. If it is that nasty oil-based stuff I would be more worried about fumes than ingestion.

 

[BY Bob]

Well done! I just did the same NYT one. Took me three.

Wordle 798 3/6





A chicken at little risk of imminent starvation. Bernie. It is amazing to me that she finds that much to eat. That is mostly, or maybe all, foraged food.
View attachment 3619730

You should not be amazed that she finds that much food. Just look at the target rich environment you provide. Then pair that with a chickens ability to hunt, forage, and fill themselves and this is what the outcome should be.

 

[RoyalChick]

Great coop! I love that shade of blue.

The non-slip came from Ikea. They sell it as an underlay for rugs. When I saw Perris had used it, I recalled there was a roll of it in the cellar going to waste.

Would your chicken with a disability do better with a staircase of shallow stairs?

Sorry. Should have read ahead. I have a roll of it taking up space in the attic. Mine have ladders rather than ramps but watching them use them I think they might prefer a ramp.
That said, they all definitely find the staircase the easiest because they can hop gently.
On my to do list is to replace one of the ramps with a staircase.