post your chicken coop pictures here!

[bigmrg74]

I've found my chicken thief!!!!

kill the fox!!!!! He was climbing my fence when I went out to lock the girls up....

I hope you have his pelt stretched out to dry right now.

 

[Sylvester017]

I love you way of letting the hens do what feels good to them! i wonder if they really like an enclosed space to sleep. My coop is pretty open for now, I think I'll cose it in the front or near the top front. I've got a little time. But I am hoping to put them outside after two or three weeks. It's 80 here today but I don't know what March will bring. Could get cold. I'm in zone 10. Pretty warm most of the year except for a few chilly nights.

At first we didn't let the pullets free-range. We were so nervous about the Cooper's Hawk, Crows, wild Parrots, Red-tailed Hawk, and stray Cats. Eventually we started letting our chickens out for a few minutes, then a couple hours, then all day & we found the girls remarkably savvy about hiding from predators & some of the hens actually chased off the neighborhood cats that were unfortunate to get into the yard because they were throttled from certain sentry hens. Even the Silkies were good at sounding the barnyard alarm when the Hawk came into the yard. We placed a lot of shelters, doghouses, popup canopy, & plants for the girls to hide/snooze under. The Hawk can be 5-feet away from them but won't chase them while they stay undercover. A lot of shelters spaced around the yard have kept them safe & predator savvy. We discovered the Crows never bothered our hens. The Crows actually will chase off the chicken Hawks in the area. The Crows will sit on telephone poles & the roofs of our buildings & never bother the chickens. Other ppl said the Crows were actually good to have around - who knew? Everyone's situation is different & you'll get a feel for what will work for you & your chickens. The main thing is that they be secure from night critters like Raccoons, Rats, 'Possums, Weasels, and day critters like stray Dogs, Coyotes, Foxes, Wild Pigs, Snakes, Bobcats, etc. In the city my main worry is clever city Raccoons - they're nasty critters & kill chickens for the sheer frenzy of the chase.

 

[Sylvester017]

I've found my chicken thief!!!!

kill the fox!!!!! He was climbing my fence when I went out to lock the girls up....

Dam* predator fox! Predators is why we're tearing down the chainlink to put up block wall & iron bar fencing around the property & ordering a more solid coop. Will post pics of before & after when it's all done!

 

[gilcamp4]

So sad for the loss of your leghorns.

the Reds should lay beautifully, right? I'm expecting 5 bantams hens from Cackle on the 25 th. They better get here safely!! My postman is aware of the order so I hope that helps. And no snafus!!

our post office called us and we went to pick them up, all our peeps made the mailing part, but one was a loud mouth from get go, lasted one week and died, we have 3 that when the others got feathers they lost everything yes bold, now 1 1/2years later they have fuzz, i called the company we got them from and they told me the next time i order they would give us 2 free, no not going to happen, i see how nice my sexlicks i got from tsc are and the others do not look near as nice, i will never get peeps from this co again, they are the best i was told but to look at my group they are the worse.

 

[TJordan]

Dam* predator fox!  Predators is why we're tearing down the chainlink to put up block wall & iron bar fencing around the property & ordering a more solid coop.  Will post pics of before & after when it's all done!

Tell me about that... Our project starts this weekend..remove chain link fence, install 8' privacy with 1' in the ground with chicken wire buried with it, 2' hardware cloth running up and out from fence, building a safer run including bird netting over it for the hawks and eagle in the area, building (FINALY!!!) my well overdue new coop with easier egg access lower stand so I don't have to get a ladder to get into it... Yes I look funny getting eggs right now... I climb into a little 4'x5'x4'tall coop every day with only one main door. It's on a 3.5' stand so I need a step ladder because I'm only 5'2" as it is....

Is it bad that this is ALL I really want for valentines day? I would love a few chicks to replace my lost girls and a fox skin but all in due time

e

 

[TJordan]

our post office called us and we went to pick them up, all our peeps made the mailing part, but one was a loud mouth from get go, lasted one week and died, we have 3 that when the others got feathers they lost everything yes bold, now 1 1/2years later they have fuzz, i called the company we got them from and they told me the next time i order they would give us 2 free, no not going to happen, i see how nice my sexlicks i got from tsc are and the others do not look near as nice, i will never get peeps from this co again, they are the best i was told but to look at my group they are the worse.

I get mine from the local feed store.. A little family run place that gets their babies from ideal poultry hatchery. Try there... Last spring was my first time getting chicks and all 10 of mine survived, thrived and I only lost some due to that FOX!!!! Hence why I want a fox skin for Valentines lol...

 

[gilcamp4]

I get mine from the local feed store.. A little family run place that gets their babies from ideal poultry hatchery. Try there... Last spring was my first time getting chicks and all 10 of mine survived, thrived and I only lost some due to that FOX!!!! Hence why I want a fox skin for Valentines lol...

i am going to get 4 delaware blues from a man in next town, i think we need to stop there as we already have 47 46 hens nd one roo, we are fixing a new coop then going to get them

 

[lacymorgan]

We wanted to do free range but just can't out here. We not only have hawks several kinds but golden eagles that are just to fast and dangerous. We opted to make a 4 by 8 chicken tractor of sorts with a shaded top

 

[smcgill]

Our project starts this weekend..remove chain link fence, install 8' privacy with 1' in the ground with chicken wire buried with it, 2' hardware cloth running up and out from fence, building a safer run including bird netting over it for the hawks and eagle in the area,

Fox and Raccoons climb and are great @ getting into places!!!
I would go with a stronger roof material for the run.

 

[TJordan]

Fox and Raccoons climb and are great @ getting into places!!!
I would go with a stronger roof material for the run.

Thanks.... We are on a budget but I think I might try to convince my hubby to get a 10'x10' dog kennel for the run... That way they have a top cover.
We will also be able to release my dog to patrol the yard around the separated run to deture climbing critters.

She's a big silly head but she is great at detouring pests... She alerted me to the fox last night.