Questions about my coup...

[Zythophile]

You mean you chickens don't live in a 2 door car?  

You mean coupé shhurely?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

You mean coupé shhurely?

You're correct , but don't call me Shirley

 

[Zythophile]

Well progress I think! They go into the coop at night and sometimes they perch on their own, if not I pop them on and they are still there in the morning.

But a major breakthrough exactly one week - almost to the minute, I went down to see them and give them their first treat of the day (some spinach) and I found this!

Very pleased indeed. It was perfection!

 

[McKinneyMike]

Congrats!

 

[Zythophile]

Thanks! Seems all issues solved now...they both went into their coop and onto their perches when it went dark today...it gets dark at about 4:30 pm here so I have a light in the coop that comes on at about 4 and stays on till about 7-8. So at dusk they perch on top of the coop :O but when it gets properly dark they seem to kill that plan and head for the light in the coop. I shut the door and about 30 mins later they are perching. One thing though, when they first go into the coop they both start pecking at roughly the same place...there is nothing there just the stainless removable floor..? They peck at it for a good 5 mins, but why? The light reflecting off perhaps..?

At sunrise I let them out into their run (which is 8 by 6 foot, is this enough for two hens?), re fill their food hopper with layers pellets and re-fresh their water. At about 1pm they get some spinach or other greens, then at about 3 they get some nice malted barley thrown down to peck at before bed. They seem happy enough, am I doing it right? What else should I consider?

 

[boskelli1571]

Sounds like you are doing everything just fine. Don't know why chickens peck at imaginary things - mine get obsessed with something occasionally, then they forget about it - if you ever find out why, let me know. The books say to allow 4 sq. ft/bird in open housing for heavy breeds such as Delawares, RIRs' etc. Sounds like your girls are getting the hang of it - congratulations on the egg

Sue

 

[Zythophile]

Thanks very much! Hoping for another one today! Seems like the run is okay then? It also has a 3x3 foot raised platform that has their dust bath underneath and their food on top...so that adds extra space.

I think they are trying to establish a pecking order. It seems the role of top bird changes quite a lot. Hops pecked back at Malt the other day and scared her off...Hops seems to be in charge at the moment but Malt is much braver - eats out of my hand happily and explorer more. Strange thing was that about 3 days ago Hops grew loads overnight..? She was much much bigger in the morning and more chirpy. That was also the day she started pecking back!

 

[Zythophile]

Another slightly larger egg today! Chickens putting themselves into the coop and up on the perches at night. All seems well...!

 

[boskelli1571]

Another slightly larger egg today! Chickens putting themselves into the coop and up on the perches at night. All seems well...!

They are on 'auto-pilot' now they have the hang of it! Are you going to get more hens??

 

[Zythophile]

They are on 'auto-pilot' now they have the hang of it! Are you going to get more hens??

Well I have gotten 3 eggs in 4 days...is that just one hen laying or do you think both? Might put the GoPro camera in the coop again.

Not sure about more hens...YET!