Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Marie2020]

The coop and extension seem to have worked. Even C has paid some complements on the project.
Initially they and I had some doubts about the effectiveness and stability of the tarpaulined section.

I really must get some tarpaulin. I've used a sheet since the summer it really helped with keeping both the sun and rain out of the run.

I've been there to witness some fairly strong gusts of wind and the hoop part barely trembled.
They are using, or were, both the nest boxes in the new coop and the one in the old coop. From this I think three nest boxes may be best for them so a nest box addition, even if it's the small coop should be adequate.
C tells me most shelter in the new coop during the rain, some even going back into the coop for a while.

I have enough materials left to make another smaller tarpaulin shelter which I am think of doing. Something half the height of the new coop might work.

I've asked C to get some pallets from her local contacts so I can make duckboards.

What are duckboards? I have a lot of pallets here.

 

[Marie2020]

Another miserable wet and windy day. More of the same tomorrow. The front that is causing this weather just isn't moving on. Looking at the forcasts the promise of dry days is just pushed back each day.
View attachment 3315927

Matilda went to roost in the new coop tonight. Last night Lima roosted in the new coop extension.View attachment 3315924
There was noticably less bickering at roost time. Matilda went to roost before most of the others.
Lima and Henry.
View attachment 3315925
View attachment 3315926

There's been nothing but winds and heavy rain here. It's supposed to be better on Thursday.
Try telling my girls that.

 

[BDutch]

I would have imagined that most roosters, if there are no problems of space, want to sleep with their hens ?

I….

Tommy did sleep in the same area with his hens, only not on the roost with them.

 

[Perris]

for the first time in what seems like ages, the weather is fine this morning, and the flock could use their favourite post prandial rest and digest spot, instead of cowering out of the wind and rain near the house

 

[MaryJanet]

for the first time in what seems like ages, the weather is fine this morning, and the flock could use their favourite post prandial rest and digest spot, instead of cowering out of the wind and rain near the house
View attachment 3317287

The orange legs really stand out!

 

[Perris]

The orange legs really stand out!

yes, I guess she's getting her fill of carotenoids! Not great camouflage though... let's hope it tones down a bit when she starts laying

 

[Shadrach]

Pallets v Duckboards. They are not the same thing.
The problem with using pallets rather than duck boards are as they found out in the trenches, is rats use the large gap below the pallet boards as a super highway. A proper duck board sits much closer to the ground and rats and other creatures cant pass underneath.
The gap between the planks on a duckboard is small enough to prevent a boot or shoe getting caught in the gap.
Duck boards tend to be smaller and better made and this should mean that even a muddy duck board is easily movable and easier to clean.
A pallet covered in mud is very heavy.

 

[Iluveggers]

Merle, the black bantam from Chipie's hatch, is an excellent flyer. Her name means blackbird in french.

She’s so pretty!

for the first time in what seems like ages, the weather is fine this morning, and the flock could use their favourite post prandial rest and digest spot, instead of cowering out of the wind and rain near the house

What a beautiful day! We hit below freezing for a bit last night, but it is up to about 60F now and although the ladies were complaining when I let them out first thing, they are completely content now in the sunshine!

Tax: My Brahma can’t be bothered with getting food out of those tiny holes on the bottom…

 

[Sally PB]

I finished putting the windbreak up on the run. Tomorrow is supposed to be near 70, but then the temps crash, and that usually brings a lot of wind, so just in time. The chickens were curious about what I was doing until one of the shower curtains flapped a bit.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

I'm sorry to hear this and hope your pain will get better today.
You have never told us if the hen you were wondering about, became a hen, or a rooster ?

The treatments for my pain are helping.

I have no injuries from the fender bender.

I have no idea as of yet if the chicken is a rooster or hen.

I'm trying to wait to see if he starts crowing and what tpye of tail feathers will grow.