Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[Bens-Hens]

"Mmmmmmmm Blues" I love blues!

Gorgeous trio you have.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Still no egg [not so patiently waiting lol]

In Rooster box news, we have had a small advance, forced by the issue of early morning teen crowing that seems to be getting longer and stronger (funny that!)

In my construction thread, someone mentioned the floor vent will let light in, I think it will also let sound out. I dug through the scrap bin and found a piece of stainless sheet off cut and bent up a little deflector thing. Also, thinking of light, I figured any light that did get in would glow with the white conditions inside, so I grabbed two $4.40 matte black paint cans and splashed some around. Hopefully this dampens any stray light. Failing that, I will give them a mirror ball and some colours chalk to keep themselves busy.

Pics and detail below.

Here is the tray, had to do a quick job on the way out, but for what it has to do I am sure it's just fine. Just re-used a little hinge on one end so it can drop away for cleaning.


I sprayed the inside with matte black (still wet here so looks glossy) This should dampen the light path, yet still allow good air flow.


Inside the disco-tech


The floor vent cover in the lowered position


Two little screws holds it closed. The back of the box will be against a fence, so any escaping noise should be softened before reaching the neighbors bed rooms


Same roost, but took the channel out, and cut some wood blocks instead so it's easier to get in and out.


I have some wood chips to coat the bottom when the paint is dry and the fumes have left. All going to plan it should be usable tomorrow night.

Yet to come back to make some legs or a frame, but I really need to keep these boys quiet until we can process them, plus get the two younger 'keepers' used to staying in there.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Threw some blue gum chips in there, roost back in and five of the six roo's.

I was running late and was finding it hard to make out who was who in the coop, plus we have not marked the BA was doing the crowing. So we stuck all three BA's in there, plus the two Arau's we plan to hold onto (as long as we can)

Barny the Barnevelder, the only remaining roo has all the girls to himself tonight!

This pic was nearly done, plenty of room.


Just left the box up near the house so we can hear them in the morning and gauge noise levels and time the culprit starts up. I did try test it with the two kids in there, but they would say 'cockaadoodledoo" quietly when the door was open, then scream their guts out when it was closed....inconclusive results lol I climbed in there, was talking away. Plenty of air, had to seal up some edges as light was getting in. Alicia said she could hear me standing next to the box, but it was muffled.

Have not had a chance to put a temp probe in it yet, will get around to that when I am home in the middle of the day.

Just have to make some sort of stand now, then it will get moved down to back when I am confident it does the job.

Still no egg

 

[Wrightsx4]

Looks like your box is about ready- Yay! Good job - it (of course!) looks fabulous. I hope you're able to keep your roos long enough to get another generation from them. Mine would never see daylight - especially my ee - he crows all day...loudly. Good thing we have no close neighbors!
Had our first homegrown chicken dinner last night. Not nearly as beautiful a plate as a roast bird but it was delicious. I took Nova's advice and used my "older" roo meat for shredded chicken tacos. The stock juices from the slow cooker will be saved for another meal. I was worried about the kids' willingness to eat their own chicken, but as we were eating my daughter Kendahl asked how old the young roosters need to get before we butcher them to have a roast chicken dinner. Lol - I guess we're over that hurdle.

 

[Bens-Hens]

I was surprised at how our kids accepted it. Especially after the tears when one died of MD.

Thanks for the work on the box.

As for the crowing, they can run around like normal during the day, we just don't want them waking up the neighbors at 5 am with a 'show of force' lol. Once everyone is awake we hope it won't be a problem. Someone else was sort of hinting at it being cruel to lock them in a box all day, we will let them out at about 7:30 or 8 am and let them have a normal day, back in at bed time.

See how it goes, hopefully we can get a couple of hatches from them before we have to do something long term, aka eat them.

 

[Bens-Hens]

First night down.

I would call success, but not 100%, perhaps high 90's

We left the box up under out patio. We could not hear crowing from our room, but if we opened the glass door it was clear as day. I would doubt the noise level at the moment would reach the neighbors to upset them, we will have to wait and see how much louder it gets when the boys are full grown.

When we put them back in with the girls, just before the morning school run, so just before 8 am. There did not seem to be any issues, they didn't even rush to food or water. Just walked around like normal. I am sure I hear one of the boys say "How you dooooooin'" but I may have been mistaken. Have only heard a couple of little crows since then too.

I will update down the track once the box has more use on it, or when I get around to making permanent legs.

Our three BA's (the Tea brothers) may be processed soon, as one of them is the one making the noise (they all look the same now so it's hard to pick) They are not quite full size yet though. We will see, maybe another week. 6 teen males are really eating a lot of food!

 

[ozexpat]

First night down.

I would call success, but not 100%, perhaps high 90's

We left the box up under out patio. We could not hear crowing from our room, but if we opened the glass door it was clear as day. I would doubt the noise level at the moment would reach the neighbors to upset them, we will have to wait and see how much louder it gets when the boys are full grown.

When we put them back in with the girls, just before the morning school run, so just before 8 am. There did not seem to be any issues, they didn't even rush to food or water. Just walked around like normal. I am sure I hear one of the boys say "How you dooooooin'" but I may have been mistaken. Have only heard a couple of little crows since then too.

I will update down the track once the box has more use on it, or when I get around to making permanent legs.

Our three BA's (the Tea brothers) may be processed soon, as one of them is the one making the noise (they all look the same now so it's hard to pick) They are not quite full size yet though. We will see, maybe another week. 6 teen males are really eating a lot of food!

Sounds like the box will do its job.
A baffled vent may get you another 3-6% - the sound still has a fairly direct path - 2 90degree bends.

Amazing job though. i would score it a victory!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Hahahaha

Cheers mate. I figure I can always add some dog legs to the side vents for more shoosh factor. It's a solid platform to work from.

I grabbed a could of phone pics today, I will put them up after dinner tonight.

 

[Bens-Hens]

OK, I failed at uploading pics last night. Been a big day today and only just got in.

Update:

Rooster box seems to be doing it's job. I will make some more deflectors to add some more sound proofing, but it's working.

Today, we processed the two biggest roosters, Alicia and the kids joined in for the plucking phase. Kids were very good, lots of questions but they seem happy to know 'how things work'. They were the only two rooster we had seen or heard crowing. Two hours later, we hear the next two crowing. Was almost like they they knew it was their turn to step up to the plate.

Everyone else is happy. No eggs yet, but getting a very definite squat from our RIR Rosie and BA Luna. Luna's ears are getting redder so not long to go now I think. Te two LS seem far behind in colour and pelvic distance, but other than that they certainly look the right shape and size.

A few snaps.

Was trying to sneak up on Sunny, Luna popped in.


Un named roo, both these boys are becoming real lookers. Not very large though.


Baby with her light feathers and fluffy cheeks!


Amy Wyandotte, avoiding the paparatzie


Curly is also looking lovely.



Down to 10 pullets and 4 roo's.

 

[NovaAman]

Well, I must say, I am glad your kids were willing to help with the dinner preps. I can't do it yet... I do have several that will be heading to the processor soon...

I think, if you could get away with doing it, you probably have a turn over on the cockerels for dinner. That is really the only reason I let the girls set eggs here. Replenish the egg laying flock, and replenish the freezer. I like know what my birds were doing and how they were living their lives. Nice, free, in the sun and happy in their chicken living lives. May not be as "big" as a store bought roaster, but they are raised better, the way nature intended.