Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[BDutch]

I'll have a look to see if it's repairable but I think it's a circuit problem rather than mechanical. Nothing lights up under power and the power is getting to the board. Certainly not a fix at the field job.

I prefer a string system for bird safety (many of the cog driven doors jam) and I've not heard good reports on reliability.

The customer service of Chicken Guard is great. If possible they help you fix the problem. I had problems with the string.

I have a very cheap cog driven door now. I had no real problems with it. It’s just not convenient there is no warning if the battery is low. But I only have it 1+ year.

PS the other chicken door I have opens sideways. This is cog driven too. This door doesn’t close if the bottom/entrance where the door needs to slide is getting filthy. It gets dirty easily when the chickens step on it with muddy feet.

In the review section there are several chickens doors. https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/categories/automatic-coop-doors.16/

 

[ChickenshedStudio]

He knows it too!

This morning I was stupid enough to take some of my breakfast to eat up at the plot and I swear he batted his eyelashes at me (I know chickens don't have proper eyelashes but he managed it anyway), then when I dropped a bit of it on the ground he just stood there looking at me like "No, foolish human servant! I wish to be hand fed"

Sounds like the opposite to Abney - he runs right up to demand food, but when I offer it he backs off in a hurry as if I'm trying to poison him... his sister has no such qualms

 

[ChickenshedStudio]

I must admit, I would rather have the heavy Light Sussex you can get here in the West Country. Lovely though they are I find the Brahmas too big and too stately.

I think I need to look at the Light Sussex more carefully... I'm starting to plan the next flock expansion and I can't decide which direction to go in, but I think they're rather lovely

 

[kattabelly]

I think I need to look at the Light Sussex more carefully... I'm starting to plan the next flock expansion and I can't decide which direction to go in, but I think they're rather lovely

They're generally pretty easy birds, in my experience, as well as being nice to look at.

 

[kattabelly]

We've been putting a load of willow cuttings in at the community garden this week, both as replacement/additional windbreaks and one row that will be coppiced for weaving. For folks further south, you probably wouldn't want to leave it much later than now if you were planning on planting willow this year and haven't already. (Mentioning it here as I remember it coming up a few times before.)

Willow tax: two Light Sussex and one "Quite Sussex" (she shouldn't have yellow legs), with Yellow Leg's previous pair of chicks.

 

[SimpleJenn]

Dutch demanding my sandwich. Yes, he did end up getting it and passing it out to his ladies. How could I resist that sweet boy?

 

[kattabelly]

"Heard you've been talking about Brahmas. I can be a Tall Chicken too, in case you hadn't noticed!"

@SimpleJenn snap!

 

[Shadrach]

08/03.
Two trips today because the auto door is fecked; two and a quarter hours this morning, including travel (I didn't let them out of the run) and four more hours this evening, including travel this afternoon/evening.

 

[Shadrach]

09/03.
These morning trips are wearing me out.
Grey, misty, with morning drizzle.
Late getting to the field due to roadwork delays. One and a half hours.
Tinned mackerel for supper. I give it to Glais and Glais gives it to whoever grabs it out of his beak first! I had to break tiny bits to get Glais to eat any. All the large bits he gives away.