Peeps in Europe!

[Erba]

Accidents happen, and maybe the Verein should put one of those stops that grab it, and you have to use your foot or really pull the door to release it, so it doesn't happen again.

 

[abpatchy]

Accidents happen, and maybe the Verein should put one of those stops that grab it, and you have to use your foot or really pull the door to release it, so it doesn't happen again.

We are a small Verein...not a lot of funds. It is my fault...I should have been more careful.
Yesterday was just a really bad day...
found out that the water turn off in my garden needs to be replaced... about 30 Euros...
then the window...
then my husband got an email that my timer with a light sensor (for the coop doors) we ordered is on back order. They didn't say when it will be back in stock. I was so looking forward not having to change the time every couple of weeks.
But the window sucks the most...

sorry guys.. just had to let off some steam... thanks for listening.

 

[AnnaWolf]

Ok i had to do some catching up. I am glad to be on this thread with you you al have such nice state of minds. I also like to be prepared where i can, and know how to do stuff.
I have made me onother coop better positoned, slightley bigger, better cleaneble. Not finished yet so no pics. I have to make me onther door and a nestbox. I wanted to move my old outside nestbox but Ginny has gone broody in it so change of plans my old coop is going to be my broody house, but i want my nestbox back. Ginny thinks its hers. When its dark i will move her out and into the broody house

 

[BDutch]

@abpatchy
Just an idea: A few years back I bought 2 second hand windows of that size for a bottle of wine and 5 euro. (Marktplaats)
And I bought my Chicken guard from a Belgium supplier. Not cheap, but cheaper as a Dutch supplier and they give great service: www.kippendeurtjes.be

 

[abpatchy]

@abpatchy
Just an idea: A few years back I bought 2 second hand windows of that size for a bottle of wine and 5 euro. (Marktplaats)
And I bought my Chicken guard from a Belgium supplier. Not cheap, but cheaper as a Dutch supplier and they give great service: www.kippendeurtjes.be

I was told that plexiglass would be ok to replace it with. So we'll see when the insurance guy gets back with me what I am going to do.
The timer needs to operate more than just doors... it's for lights as well.... and it needs to operate a motor that opens 4 chicken doors at the same time. I have 4 stalls in my coop.
We contacted them yesterday and they said it would be about 2 weeks. I can live with that.

Just a little funny story. I was trying to take a close up picture of one of the chicks. The camera really close to the ground. When all of a sudden another chick came from the back... thru my arms and started picking on the red recording dot. So funny!

Hope all is well with everybody!

 

[BDutch]

Red really is a thing for chickens. Try red nail polish next time if you are going to feed the chickens.

 

[abpatchy]

Red really is a thing for chickens. Try red nail polish next time if you are going to feed the chickens.

oh no!!! Do you know how many chicks I have at the moment? I think they would eat me alive... starting at the fingers.

 

[Papa John59]

You ladies make my day, with all your craziness! These new working times are driving me crazy and keeping the kids on their toes. They don't know if I'm coming or going. Someone got the ideal to reduce the number of people in the productions halls, they would go to shifts. That's all fine as they have done it forever in one of the halls. BUT then someone said that well there are too many people in the offices, even with 40% of them working from home (wish I could). So the rest of the office workers have also gone on shift work. Only our buyers are working their normal hours. Well there are two of us in one office and the boss is in the adjoining office. The boss and Nr. 2 boss have gone on shift work. Because I am semi-retired/semi handicapped I only work 5 hours a day. I have to work and talk with both of them during a normal day, at different times. Well guess who gets the crazy hours? Some days I go in at 12.00 noon and then the next day I may go in at 17.00, depending on the paperwork and the orders. And in the warehouse/logical department where I work, those who are on the late shift, have NO work after 18.00! But they have to sit there until 22.30, being bored!

But I have time to read about broken windows, red toe nails and @AnnaWolf enlarging her coop! Speaking of coops, Daughter Nr 1 and I started ours! We have measured out the wood, made the design on CAD (I teaching her CAD also) and yesterday, she started painting! I never knew she would get more paint on her then the wood! But she did! So hopefully, tomorrow we can start using the hammer & nails. I found the automatic door opener I want, but they can not start shipping until 28 May or so! https://www.omlet.de/shop/hühnerzucht/automatischer_tueroeffner_huehnerstall/
So I think I will talk with one of our engineers and see if he can make a DIY project for me.
So time to get ready for work. Enjoy your weekend, stay healthy and keep on loving your birds!

 

[Papa John59]

Oh what a weekend! Nice weather and such. We got started on the coop! The floor and the two main walls are up....and its squared up! Yesterday, at the urging of my two daughters, we transported our three girls to a nice meadow and let them free range in a new area for about an hour. They were very well mannered and when it was time to head home, they were no problem getting them back in the cage. I did noticed that they stayed within 2 meters of each other and were always watching us. But they seemed to enjoy it as well as D1 and D2 did.
It must have been a great treat for them as this is what was waiting for us today, D1 came in with this monster! So now D1 wants to take them back to the meadow on Sunday again. We will have to see, mainly on the weather.
Wishing everyone well!

 

[abpatchy]

wow! Big egg! Probably a double yolker though. I am sure they enjoyed being able to scratch and pick. You have some well behaved chickens @Papa John59

well, I sold some chickens this past weekend. I had an add on Deine Tierwelt but only one guy called and he wanted laying hens. Nope, they won't lay for a while... they're only 10 weeks old.
Well, then I looked into adds on ebay-kleinanzeigen for people looking for chickens. Found this guy who wanted Sulmtaler but he was very far away. But I thought, you got nothing to lose. So I wrote him. First he said no.. too far. Next day he wrote back and said I'll take them! Hens and a rooster! While I was still writing back and forth with him a lady called wanted the hens and also a rooster. Sorry, hens gone... but you can have another rooster.

He is still pretty new to chickens and but wanted more hens (I had told him just 3 hens for the rooster is probably not enough). So I decited to give him a younger hen that was pretty light in color. So on Saturday this man drove 5 hours with his father to pick up 4 hens and a rooster. Later the lady came buy and bought the other rooster. The Bielefelder rooster is also sold to be butchered. He will leave sometime this week. 80 Euros (for basically chicks, well young teenagers) plus 12 for the Bielefelder. It paid for the feed for the other chicks for about 6 weeks. Can you believe they eat about 25kg of feed per week?

It's amazing how those older chicks leaving has changed the whole dynamic of the flock. The younger chicks are a lot more bold. The older chicks who used to pick on the younger ones have become more "nice". They are not a big group anymore.

And yay!!! The gras I sowed is finally popping up! It's starting to get green!