Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

Two and a half hours today. It pissed down, dried up a bit then pissed down some more. 11C! That's heading into cold.

About the plan which some have some confidence in that I haven't really made.
I've bought a Nestera coop. This one,

https://nestera.co.uk/products/chicken-coop?variant=42287659680000

And I've bought the auto door opener with it.

Truth is I should have done this a long time ago. While there is a second coop still, it's not fit to live in. The floors rotting out. The roof leaks and needs recovering. It's filthy. I've kept my tools/feed and junk in it for the last couple of years.
I want to give Glais and myself better options than there are currently. Introducing a single new member can be difficult in the best of circumstances. A coop Glais can live in while he and Sylph and Mow sort themselves out is the least I can do to give Glais a chance. If I was taking in Ex Battery chickens, which I will at some point, a second coop, even if it is small ( the most I would take in at a time is three) will be a huge asset.
The last Ex Battery hens lived in the old spare coop for a while until they gradually integrated with the rest.
I'm always telling people they need a spare coop so I'm only taking my own advice.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

There's a problem with such ventures, the world, environment, predators, edibles etc varies from region to region. Letting what is th

Two and a half hours today. It pissed down, dried up a bit then pissed down some more. 11C! That's heading into cold.

About the plan which some have some confidence in that I haven't really made.
I've bought a Nestera coop. This one,

https://nestera.co.uk/products/chicken-coop?variant=42287659680000

And I've bought the auto door opener with it.View attachment 4215050
Truth is I should have done this a long time ago. While there is a second coop still, it's not fit to live in. The floors rotting out. The roof leaks and needs recovering. It's filthy. I've kept my tools/feed and junk in it for the last couple of years.
I want to give Glais and myself better options than there are currently. Introducing a single new member can be difficult in the best of circumstances. A coop Glais can live in while he and Sylph and Mow sort themselves out is the least I can do to give Glais a chance. If I was taking in Ex Battery chickens, which I will at some point, a second coop, even if it is small ( the most I would take in at a time is three) will be a huge asset.
The last Ex Battery hens lived in the old spare coop for a while until they gradually integrated with the rest.
I'm always telling people they need a spare coop so I'm only taking my own advice.

View attachment 4215046View attachment 4215047View attachment 4215048View attachment 4215049

When does Glais arrive?
I'm living vicariously here, as I will never have a rooster.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

When does Glais arrive?
I'm living vicariously here

We are all on pins and needles waiting for Glais!

 

[fuzzi]

We are all on pins and needles waiting for Glais!

 

[fuzzi]

Julia and Phoebe. Their leg bands are looking a little tight. I need to go out after dark to take the pullets off the roost, and change the bands.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Two and a half hours today. It pissed down, dried up a bit then pissed down some more. 11C! That's heading into cold.

About the plan which some have some confidence in that I haven't really made.
I've bought a Nestera coop. This one,

https://nestera.co.uk/products/chicken-coop?variant=42287659680000

And I've bought the auto door opener with it.View attachment 4215050
Truth is I should have done this a long time ago. While there is a second coop still, it's not fit to live in. The floors rotting out. The roof leaks and needs recovering. It's filthy. I've kept my tools/feed and junk in it for the last couple of years.
I want to give Glais and myself better options than there are currently. Introducing a single new member can be difficult in the best of circumstances. A coop Glais can live in while he and Sylph and Mow sort themselves out is the least I can do to give Glais a chance. If I was taking in Ex Battery chickens, which I will at some point, a second coop, even if it is small ( the most I would take in at a time is three) will be a huge asset.
The last Ex Battery hens lived in the old spare coop for a while until they gradually integrated with the rest.
I'm always telling people they need a spare coop so I'm only taking my own advice.

View attachment 4215046View attachment 4215047View attachment 4215048View attachment 4215049

Our girls love their Nestera (size large.)

If you’re able to separate your (human mental) coop visions from “looking like a human habitation that I might walk into”, they work very well indeed for chickens with access to open foraging.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

If you’re able to separate your (human mental) coop visions from “looking like a human habitation that I might walk into”, they work very well indeed for chickens with access to open foraging.

It’s funny you mention this because my chickens have decided they prefer the barn for dust bathes and even laying eggs lately. I am fine with that but it is not what I expected them to do when given access to a coop and the forest. Given the choice, they will decide what they’re comfortable with. When kept in a run I think it is more about our comfort and ease of cleaning, access, etc. Which makes sense. My old coop was mostly chosen because I liked the design and my chickens had no choice but to sleep in it lol. If my current flock decides to sleep in the barn I guess I will have to allow it.

 

[fuzzi]

Leg bands are switched out. Dinah and Julia only fussed a little, but Phoebe was screaming as if she were being tortured!

Needing comfort after the ordeal!!!

 

[kattabelly]

If you’re able to separate your (human mental) coop visions from “looking like a human habitation that I might walk into”, they work very well indeed for chickens with access to open foraging.

Unless you live somewhere it rains uphill and the prevailing wind direction is "yes" It should be perfect for Shadrach and Glais though.

 

[kattabelly]

I really can't talk, I have chickens roosting (by choice!) out on a plastic garden chair or on scrap wood inside an old propcorn barrel some nights and I still need to finish bodging something together for the two more plus possibly some older retirees arriving tomorrow