Sandywitch's Chickens, Coop Progression, and Run

[Sandywitch]

My pullets will be 14 weeks old Friday, 4/9/14. They've been out in their coop and run for about two weeks now, and they love it! Hubby took a while to make the pop door work from a toggle switch inside my kitchen, but it works! He made the pop door from plexiglass, so I suggested he put a wide reflective tape around the bottom edge to cover any sharp edges and so we can see whether it's opened or closed.

The coop doesn't have all the outside trim done yet, but the inside is all done for now until they grow more. They've become quite spoiled. I give them treats on an upside-down frisby (their platter) daily and toss dried meal worms through the chicken wire on top of the run, and you should see the girls run!!! We know now that they hear the back door open, and when it does, they all come running up even with the steps from the deck expecting a treat!

I was thinking about making a video of the coop, run, and the four girls but I'll wait until everything is done. I do have a few pictures of the outside, though. There's Buffy (BO), Fernie (BR), Daisy, and Pansy (both CM).

Miss Buffy Fluffybutt
Fernie
Daisy
Pansy and Daisy

Clean-out door of the coop
Run side of the coop

 

[iwiw60]

WOW!! What a darling coop and run you guys built...I'll bet your ladies are lovin' it! Good luck to you!!

 

[Sandywitch]

Thank you! It'll look better with the dark green corner trim on it and the ends of the metal roof peak folded down like they're supposed to be. I want hubby to make a swing for them in their run as soon as he gets back, too. It's true what I've read. Chickens get bored easily!

We should take their old brooder out from under the coop since they like to go underneath the coop to take a dust bath in the tub provided. I put it under there to keep it dry when it rains, because if I put drain holes it it, the dust bath ingredients would also leak out eventually.

The girls are finally heading for the coop themselves at dusk and lining up on their roost. They used to all cram in the doorway and we'd have to nudge them inside so we could close the pop door! It's funny how they all bunch up together on one end of the roost.

Today I heard what sounded almost like a goose honking when I appeared with treats! I can't tell which one made that sound since they were all bunched together.