Ribh's D'Coopage

[BY Bob]

I am fond of my big girls. They aren't my fence hoppers. It's all my lightweights who go up & over. However Lavender has more trouble than most. She paces the coop for a good 20 minutes most nights before she attempts the 1st roost. After that it is easy ~ only not last night. She fell a couple of times. When I tried to help it was worse because she still attempts to flap & I get beat up round the face which is ouchy.

I had to put a step in for Hattie. I would suggest that you consider it for her.

 

[LozzyR]

I am fond of my big girls. They aren't my fence hoppers. It's all my lightweights who go up & over. However Lavender has more trouble than most. She paces the coop for a good 20 minutes most nights before she attempts the 1st roost. After that it is easy ~ only not last night. She fell a couple of times. When I tried to help it was worse because she still attempts to flap & I get beat up round the face which is ouchy.

Yep, nothing like 3-4kg of chook getting flappy in your face.

 

[Ribh]

Still waiting on the storm arriving.
Thunder & heat, just no rain yet.

I've put in an extra step for Lavender so hopefully she'll manage better tonight even if she gets wet.​

 

[Shadrach]

Finally!
Ha'penny has laid where she's been threatening to all week!
Out, & straight back in the run before I know anything about it. ​

View attachment 2007419

Soda doing the right thing in the right place.
Good girl, Soda!​

View attachment 2007424

She's only doing it in the hope she'll get a treat.

 

[Ribh]

She's only doing it in the hope she'll get a treat.

Now there's a thought.

 

[Shadrach]

@Shadrach was talking about nests again over on Bob's thread. This nest should be all wrong according to most people. It's exposed, out in the open, lots of light & Ha'penny knew I knew it was there but wasn't worried about it. It is sort of high & very, very dry with lots of nesting material available. It's not the 1st time Ha'penny has laid in a mulch bag. I had one in the run for convenience for a bit & got several lots of eggs there. As none of the eggs are fertile going broody is pretty pointless round here. I'm almost tempted to take my supplier up on her offer of fertile eggs...then I think about potential cockerels...

Cockerels and roosters are great but the relationship you have with your hens would change.
The hens would eventually become his hens and that inevitably causes problems.
The other concern is despite you having a wonderful run, I think you would find that it wasn't big enough with a cockerel as well. Everybody seems to need a lot more room when the boys turn up.

 

[Shadrach]

She is my lead hen, a funny, funny girl who never really expected to be top chook.

Well you know what they say. The best leaders are those who didn't want the job.

 

[Ribh]

Cockerels and roosters are great but the relationship you have with your hens would change.

There's that too.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

 

[BY Bob]

Still waiting on the storm arriving.
Thunder & heat, just no rain yet.

I've put in an extra step for Lavender so hopefully she'll manage better tonight even if she gets wet.​

View attachment 2007688

I'm very glad. I hope it helps her. I'm also hoping you get some more rain. I'm just full of hope this morning!