AmCo540
In the Brooder
- Apr 27, 2015
- 10
- 0
- 24
About a week ago, I went out mid-day to talk to the girls (I love that this opening is not going to make me sound like a nut on BYC). One, although they hadn't been given free-range privileges yet, greeted me about 50 steps before the run. She was OUT! Wait - wait - I don't let them out yet - they're finishing up their coop/run-groundation so they know it's home! I hiked up to the run, calling her as she ran after me (this is a good sign for when I do let them out - hooray!).
Get up to the coop - the other 6 girls are chilling - no signs of stress, no feathers flying - happy girls thinking I've come to bestow a 2nd breakfast on them. I checked the door - pretty darn snug. I checked the coop hatch - tight tight tight. I walked the perimeter and found a tiny tunnel - maybe 2 inches deep and 4 inches wide. This was the only option for exit. I couldn't figure out what made the hole and hearing the horror stories of headless chickens - I panicked. I covered the hole with some more chicken wire, threw an extra roosting pole on top of it, and had to run back o the house to get back to my day job before anybody noticed my virtual presence was missing.
Hubby loaned me his game cam to set it up and on the very first night, we saw the fluffy-tailed culprit - a SQUIRREL. We figured he liked the extra grain the girls tend to spill when they're super-excited for dinner and took advantage of what he thought was lax security. Filled the hole, used an extra straw bale to deter re-digging, and left the game cam up.
It's been super hot and humid here, and when I go to put the girls to bed, they tend to like the golden-retriever mentality. About 4, every night, will REFUSE to put their heads in the box. Body in the box...tail in the box....feet in the box....head OUT of the box in all it's chicken-glory. We've solved the squirrel dilemma, ok - we'll experiment. They have plenty of roosting sticks in the run - 6-8 feet up and are big enough to have a chance to run for it. I expected to see the squirrel come back, but hadn't necessary anticipated what I've seen over the past few days on the game cam. It's hung outside of the coop, pointing down over the previous dig-site.
Here's a sampling of the 'visitors' my popular ladies have had.
These are not my dogs and I don't recognize them.
Fluffy-tailed grain-thief who's upset with a hay bale.
And the one that has solidified my choice to anger 7 Red Stars each evening by making them keep their heads inside....possum!
Now to start improvements on the coop to ensure they have all the ventilation, roosting, and nesting space they want since they're grounded every night for the rest of their lives!
Get up to the coop - the other 6 girls are chilling - no signs of stress, no feathers flying - happy girls thinking I've come to bestow a 2nd breakfast on them. I checked the door - pretty darn snug. I checked the coop hatch - tight tight tight. I walked the perimeter and found a tiny tunnel - maybe 2 inches deep and 4 inches wide. This was the only option for exit. I couldn't figure out what made the hole and hearing the horror stories of headless chickens - I panicked. I covered the hole with some more chicken wire, threw an extra roosting pole on top of it, and had to run back o the house to get back to my day job before anybody noticed my virtual presence was missing.
Hubby loaned me his game cam to set it up and on the very first night, we saw the fluffy-tailed culprit - a SQUIRREL. We figured he liked the extra grain the girls tend to spill when they're super-excited for dinner and took advantage of what he thought was lax security. Filled the hole, used an extra straw bale to deter re-digging, and left the game cam up.
It's been super hot and humid here, and when I go to put the girls to bed, they tend to like the golden-retriever mentality. About 4, every night, will REFUSE to put their heads in the box. Body in the box...tail in the box....feet in the box....head OUT of the box in all it's chicken-glory. We've solved the squirrel dilemma, ok - we'll experiment. They have plenty of roosting sticks in the run - 6-8 feet up and are big enough to have a chance to run for it. I expected to see the squirrel come back, but hadn't necessary anticipated what I've seen over the past few days on the game cam. It's hung outside of the coop, pointing down over the previous dig-site.
Here's a sampling of the 'visitors' my popular ladies have had.
These are not my dogs and I don't recognize them.
Fluffy-tailed grain-thief who's upset with a hay bale.
And the one that has solidified my choice to anger 7 Red Stars each evening by making them keep their heads inside....possum!
Now to start improvements on the coop to ensure they have all the ventilation, roosting, and nesting space they want since they're grounded every night for the rest of their lives!
