Peeps in Europe!

[BDutch]

[].....so it looks good to the hens while they are inside!

Suppose I’m not a girl lol.

Finally no broodies over here. But not much eggs either.

 

[AnnaWolf]

So I've almost finished the bigger coop and apparentley i am also not a girl bit i really like the look of it. Have to finish 1 more wall. The girlfriend of my dad had a fox attack and had a lone surviver. So i gave Sulla to her, wich was a perfect timing becouse my broody hatced 7 chicks. And 3 of those will when older go also to her. She will try and brood some crooses betreen a EE and a Dutch booted bantam, so i will maybe have some bearded with feathered feets and a possibole blue egg layer for now i have these nice 7

 

[Papa John59]

Done at last! After much delay, a complete re-framing of the door and waiting for scaffolding to be sat up, Saturday the coop was moved into its' new place! We finished the roofing right before a major rain storm and I'm talking only a few minutes. The hens all came running into the run as I was attaching their entrance ladder to the coop. They stopped, looked at me, looked at the ladder and slowly they approached the coop. Oh you talk about chickens being loud! It's like they noticed everything and D1 says, "Oh they don't like it!" We stepped back and they slowly approached the ladder and became quite. They just stood there, felt like an hour, but of course was only a minute or two. D1 picked up Reasi (our Amrock) and placed her in the door. The other two just lost interest and went to the feeder. Reasi clucked once or twice and slowly made her way inside more. She made an inspection of the coop and then all hell broke loose! She was so loud D1 covered her ears. The other two stopped eating and ran to the ladder, looking inside as Reasi came to the door and as if to say, "get in here, now!" the other two made their way up the ladder and inside. Total quite then slowly a cluck or two, some scratching, wing flapping and an inspection. A moment later, all three came marching down the ladder, and went back to their normal routine.

BUT I have a problem now. We went outside to ensure that they were in the coop before the door closed (timer sat for 21.00) and they were all three trying to sit in the nesting box. Again, last night they were there. An inspection this morning showed no activity on their roost! Why will they not use the roost now? Any ideals?

 

[AnnaWolf]

@Papa John59 Maybe you have to show your chickens were they are suposed to sleep. Put them on the roosting bar. I have had to this with my cohin when i moved the coop. She understood after 4 days, with my more brighter chickens i didn't have this.
Is your roost higher than your nestbox? That could also be it

 

[abpatchy]

Done at last! After much delay, a complete re-framing of the door and waiting for scaffolding to be sat up, Saturday the coop was moved into its' new place! We finished the roofing right before a major rain storm and I'm talking only a few minutes. The hens all came running into the run as I was attaching their entrance ladder to the coop. They stopped, looked at me, looked at the ladder and slowly they approached the coop. Oh you talk about chickens being loud! It's like they noticed everything and D1 says, "Oh they don't like it!" We stepped back and they slowly approached the ladder and became quite. They just stood there, felt like an hour, but of course was only a minute or two. D1 picked up Reasi (our Amrock) and placed her in the door. The other two just lost interest and went to the feeder. Reasi clucked once or twice and slowly made her way inside more. She made an inspection of the coop and then all hell broke loose! She was so loud D1 covered her ears. The other two stopped eating and ran to the ladder, looking inside as Reasi came to the door and as if to say, "get in here, now!" the other two made their way up the ladder and inside. Total quite then slowly a cluck or two, some scratching, wing flapping and an inspection. A moment later, all three came marching down the ladder, and went back to their normal routine.

BUT I have a problem now. We went outside to ensure that they were in the coop before the door closed (timer sat for 21.00) and they were all three trying to sit in the nesting box. Again, last night they were there. An inspection this morning showed no activity on their roost! Why will they not use the roost now? Any ideals?

sounds great John! And I am sure they will come around. It was all new to them.

Maybe you could post a picture of your set up...

 

[BDutch]

Great work John. First thing that crossed my mind was the height of the roost too. Or maybe the new roost is too round?

I have been upgrading my old coop a little. No major works but a fungus paint that works as conservative and blackened the wood. The chickens don’t care. And I haven’t used it on the inside .
The fungi (xhylo) is 100% natural.

This is how it looked like new from the shop. Too small for > 4 tiny bantams.

After 8 years (with a new roof and extension)

After 8 and a half years:

The black fungi (xhylo) is 100% natural. And after drying I have to paint/spray it with linseedoil (lijnzaadolie)

 

[Papa John59]

@AnnaWolf
I was thinking the same, but not me! I guess D1 will be climbing in for the next couple of nights. That, plus covering the nesting box up before they retire inside. And yes the roosting ladder is higher than the box. And yes, I have a few slow learners also.

@abpatchy
I'll get some new pics up as soon as possible this evening.

@BDutch
Nice set up and no the roost is not to small, in fact, it is the same roost from the old coop, just built it into a ladder with a second tier. Maybe the tier setup is what the problem is.

So last night we did not check on the hens to make sure that they were inside the coop before the automatic door closed. The two nights before was no problem so we ASSUMED that everything was fine. How wrong we were! So there we are, all settled down (21:30 hours) watching a movie when we hear a screaming chicken. I'm talking the loudest sounds from a chicken as possible. I thought a fox was inside! So we ran outside and our Leghorn "Belle" is outside and the door is down! I swear she knew she was locked out and I think it scared her. So my son opened the door and she ran up the ladder and slipped under the door before it was completely open. Just like three old women, the other two were laughing at her and letting her know that. There they stood, the other two in front of her and letting Bella have it. Too funny!

Now we have the old coop sitting on the other side of the garden, sitting out of the way. OS (only son) asks what we are going to do with it. "Why?" Now he wants to raise quail as a friend of his has 17 new chicks and are looking to give them away. Wifey and I are not too sure about this adventure, but we told him that HE needed to research it and let us know what he learned about raising quail. Anyone know anything about quail? All I know is that they taste good!

OK everyone stay safe and healthy!

 

[AnnaWolf]

@Papa John59 I hope they will catch on soon for D1. I only know wild qail, and they really can and like to fly. So I suggest a closed pen for them. I love the taste of qail and their eggs

 

[BDutch]

Yesterday evening my youngest chicken didn't come home to roost inside the coop. I saw her on the roof of the coop not long before closing time. A thorough search around the coop area had no success. Probably she found a ‘nice’ place outside in the trees or bushes.

 

[Papa John59]

@Papa John59 I hope they will catch on soon for D1. I only know wild qail, and they really can and like to fly. So I suggest a closed pen for them. I love the taste of qail and their eggs

The same with me AnnaWolf, I only know them from hunting them. Never really cared for the eggs though. Right now, he is still in the "can I do this and researchnig" phase. But I think he is realizing all the time needed and with his life goals, he has no time right now.