MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

Generally no, they cannot tunnel in.
However, now I have the electric fence I leave the door open for most of every day when I am home so that the Princesses can enjoy their garden.
I have seen a mouse just calmly hop in through the open door!
I will restart trapping at night soon. As long as they don't settle in and get comfortable and raise children I am OK with the odd one visiting.

That's how I feel too although I'm pretty sure the mice are raising families.

Unfortunately they can tunnel in through the sand at my house.

So I'm implementing a food-reduction strategy by slowly reducing the open tray feeders and spillage, and ramping up the treadle feeders.

Sadly for the hens, I'm also going to remove all the logs from the run because they provide cover for the tunnel openings.

I've been tipping the day old chicken water into tunnel openings when I refresh the drinkers and water jars. That works until new tunnels are dug. And that's how Blossom came face to face with a mouse yesterday!

 

[BY Bob]

37kph, which is not much for Americans who are used to tornadoes, but it was a lot for me. The old house was rattling and dust got in my eyes and it kept going for too long. The chickens were blown off course and were staggering around the backyard.

Those are tropical storm force winds. That's quite a blow. I hope there was no damage to your house.

 

[MaryJanet]

Those are tropical storm force winds. That's quite a blow. I hope there was no damage to your house.

No, there was none. All the damage was to my frame of mind

 

[BY Bob]

No, there was none. All the damage was to my frame of mind

I hope you are feeling more comfortable. We get storms like that more frequently here but I'm never completely comfortable when they are going on. There are lot's of wind breaks in my yard and the chickens will sprint between them when it's windy like soldiers running between cover. It can be entertaining to watch them. No matter what they want to be out of the complex whenever possible regardless of the weather.

 

[ManueB]

No matter what they want to be out of the complex whenever possible regardless of the weather.

We have a lot of wind, especially swirling wind. Though they are not as strong as in many other places, because we are located on a mountain crest we are very exposed. Over 0/32, the chickens will almost always choose to shelter under the laurel tree rather than in the run or inside. However, we had two very bad experiences when we had to bring them out of under the tree and carry them in the coop when it was already extremely bad. So now I consider that if it's dangerous for me to be outside, it's dangerous for them and I lock them in for an hour or so, before it gets worse and makes it terrifying to have to go out and bring them back in.

 

[MaryJanet]

No matter what they want to be out of the complex whenever possible regardless of the weather.

Same here. The hens say being out under any weather is preferable to staying in.

 

[MaryJanet]

We have a lot of wind, especially swirling wind. Though they are not as strong as in many other places, because we are located on a mountain crest we are very exposed. Over 0/32, the chickens will almost always choose to shelter under the laurel tree rather than in the run or inside. However, we had two very bad experiences when we had to bring them out of under the tree and carry them in the coop when it was already extremely bad. So now I consider that if it's dangerous for me to be outside, it's dangerous for them and I lock them in for an hour or so, before it gets worse and makes it terrifying to have to go out and bring them back in.

Very wise.

 

[BY Bob]

We have a lot of wind, especially swirling wind. Though they are not as strong as in many other places, because we are located on a mountain crest we are very exposed. Over 0/32, the chickens will almost always choose to shelter under the laurel tree rather than in the run or inside. However, we had two very bad experiences when we had to bring them out of under the tree and carry them in the coop when it was already extremely bad. So now I consider that if it's dangerous for me to be outside, it's dangerous for them and I lock them in for an hour or so, before it gets worse and makes it terrifying to have to go out and bring them back in.

That seems very smart. Do you have good advanced warnings of upcoming high winds?

 

[BY Bob]

Same here. The hens say being out under any weather is preferable to staying in.

It rained very hard here on Tuesday. In the complex there is a lot of rain proof area to relax in. They were all huddled in Hattie House under the magnolia tree with barely enough room for all of them to fit in it.

 

[MaryJanet]

It rained very hard here on Tuesday. In the complex there is a lot of rain proof area to relax in. They were all huddled in Hattie House under the magnolia tree with barely enough room for all of them to fit in it.

Another snap!

Yesterday was perfect. No wind. Steady, light rain most of the day and the day was long with lots of daylight. The ground had a thorough soaking and many poops accumulated under the back porch!