My coop and "coop" kids

[Chamelle]

Love the coop! I can just smell it! New lumber and fresh shavings. Can't wait to get my own brand new coop. We're converting part of a ratty old metal storage shed to a coop for now.

What's the bell for?

How old are the 'big' kids?

 

[highmountainchick]

Well if you can believe it or not, I am "training" the hens to come a running when they hear me ring the bell. I ring it at night when I want the hens in and we feed them their scratch at this time. Kind of a Pavlos dog kinda thing. so far we have a 50/50 percent success rate. Half of the hens come running and the other 50% ( all BO's by the way) refuse to come in and we end up chasing them around the yard to get them in. LOL

 

[Justino]

is that fence digging proof? like is it burried a lil so they cant dig out?

 

[highmountainchick]

No, the fence is the Premier Poulty Net, 48" high. We like to move the perimeter around to different configurations every few weeks to confuse the hens and keep them on their toes and give them some new grass to nibble on. We have a Kube charger on the system for my dry high moutain soil conditions. So far no bears, wolves, foxes, coyote, racoons, marmets, moutain lions have charged or bothered the hens ( or us)!!

 

[RobinEgg]

great coop looks big, I like the recycled bins.

 

[Cetawin]

Veyr nice coop. Great way to recycle for those nest boxes. Excellent idea!

 

[Standard Hen]

That is really nice and the nest boxes came out awesome. I think the bell is a great idea, it sure beats standing out there clucking like a chicken. I bet in no time they will know that sound by heart!

 

[AtRendeAcres]

 

[55885100]

nice

 

[Chamelle]

Quote:
I absolutely believe it! I've been (kinda) doing the same with mine since they were wee guys in the brooder. I would put some kind of treat in, or hold it in my hand and yell "CHICKENS!!", and they would all zoom over to me. Now I can get most of them to come running across the yard to me. They're smart though, and there are always those lazy ones who will wait and see if I REALLY have something worth running over for. Those guys hang back to see how excited the rest of the chicks are.

I love the idea of the bell.