Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

Once we're back in warm weather, I'd like to add some screening to either the door opening (probably simpler) or the back of the Nestera, but I can't figure how to attach it.

If you use the back plate as a template for some rigid screening/ hardware cloth, you should be able to fix it through the same lugs the back plate does, so it will be as easily removable and cleanable.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

If you use the back plate as a template for some rigid screening/ hardware cloth, you should be able to fix it through the same lugs the back plate does, so it will be as easily removable and cleanable.

Ooo, nice! Hadn't thought of that at all.

 

[ChickenshedStudio]

Same goes for broodies and their chicks. My limited experience there seems to suggest that in the first few weeks, the mothers take the kids to roost earlier than the rest of the group.

That's the rule here. The younger they are, the earlier she gets them back into the nest for the night, tucked up in her skirts, even if not sleepy (so heads poking out between her feathers when I look in to check on them ).

The old hens are also earlier to bed and later to rise

Yup, normal within a range. As mentioned, bad weather, old age, moulting, can all make chickens decide early bed is advisable. Henry, for an example, in his final year often went to roost half an hour before the rest.

Thanks everyone, now it all makes sense! since all we have here is one old lady, two mums, and three chicks, I suppose everyone is on early nights

 

[kattabelly]

Thanks everyone, now it all makes sense! since all we have here is one old lady, two mums, and three chicks, I suppose everyone is on early nights

Whereas I have parentless tweens running amok They were only just settling down when I left tonight, 40 minutes after sunset.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Six eggs she ran up for lunch when I went outside so I nabbed a photo of the nest.

 

[Perris]

Six eggs she ran up for lunch when I went outside so I nabbed a photo of the nest.

View attachment 4240478

Have to note, in view of recent discussions about coops and humidity, that that nest looks decidedly damp. I'm sure it'll be absolutely fine (at least from moisture angle).

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Have to note, in view of recent discussions about coops and humidity, that that nest looks decidedly damp. I'm sure it'll be absolutely fine (at least from moisture angle).

You should see the chickens!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

You should see the chickens!

We have four days of rain predicted and actively raining now. You should see my poor Buff. "Bedraggled" doesn't begin to describe it.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

We have four days of rain predicted and actively raining now. You should see my poor Buff. "Bedraggled" doesn't begin to describe it.

That’s what I heard. I am not looking forward to it but I’m sure neither is my broody hahaha

 

[Molpet]

I love hoop coops. I think that they are what helped me soften up my mental divide between coops and runs. Do you have much ambient light at night? I assume that you're in a rural area.

It's not rural anymore... but still a farm across the road and a forest preserve on one side. No lights on the road in front but RT 80 has lights.
Light enough at night for trees to cast shadows without moonlight.