[COLOR=0000CD]You have a lovely yard! I can understand about not needing much enclosure in FL - same here in SoCal - however during our rare gully-washer storms we're building a patio over our coop to keep it cooler in the brutal sun and from the heavy El Nino rains everyone is threatening for us this winter. Glad to hear you used hardwire eventually. Poultry wire didn't keep out two stray mutts that broke into our yard and a neighbor saved our flock before the dogs could reach the flock or else I wouldn't still have chickens to be on BYC today! Raccoons are the pits also - like dogs they chase and kill chickens for the thrill rather than for food!!![/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000CD]Looks like you have a Leghorn and a RIR? Both can be assertive breeds so if you add another Leg and another RIR (raised together before being introduced to your existing flock) that should give you a nice supply of eggs from these two egg-laying breeds and plenty of space to stay out of each other's hair. Give them logs, tree stumps, old chairs, a potted tree, etc, to give them places to jump onto and break up the monotony of being penned up. Our White Leg loved to perch on things around our yard - patio furniture, wheelbarrow handles, bricks, etc - she was our "perch-iest" breed. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000CD]I used a mirror for my shy Breda while she was getting acquainted with the existing flock and for a couple days she nestled next to her image if she was feeling left out by the flock - it made her transition less scary. My personal preference is to NOT introduce smaller gentler breeds to the coop (like Ameraucana, Easter Egger, Silkie, Houdan, Polish, Breda, etc because these gentler types won't stick up for themselves if bullied by the dominant dual purpose or egg production breeds (Legs, RIR, BR, NHR, Marans, Wyans, Sexlinks, etc). JMHO.[/COLOR]
