Still New to Chickens, 14 Weeks In

[ladyrsanti]

So now that my flock of twelve chickens is 14 weeks old I am starting to question my set-up in general. Their coop is alright but it gets hot in there simply because of the location and despite having open windows on three sides. The attached run is sheltered from the wind, north side and shady though, but it too gets hot. It is also devoid of vegetation already so it's a veritable wasteland in my opinion. The chickens still enjoy it but get so crazy excited when I throw greens in there that I can't help but feel sorry for them. I built a chicken tractor next, to get them out into the yard but I couldn't manage a big enough one to fit all of them comfortably and still be able to move it. It's 6' x 8' and HEAVY A-frame with wheels, etc. That said, I have had them in it for several days now and they have coped. No pecking at each other or feather pulling but they are quiet and just don't seem chicken-happy. I have to move it a few times a day because of the mess they make as well. They don't like me moving it but are thrilled about the new ground (for a few minutes at least). I know it's small, I knew it when I built it. But I felt they needed to get out.



Today I started moving them back to the coop. I took the rooster-in-training first because he is the easiest to catch and boy did he pine for his pullets, calling louder than I've ever heard him call. He doesn't crow yet but he sure made a ruckus anyway and a few of the others started to answer him from across the yard. Despite the nature of the noise, I was glad to hear from them; they've been so quiet lately. I miss their chatter. So right now I've got it split down the middle, well...almost... seven in the coop and five in the tractor (one of the EE's had to go in the coop with the rest, "crying" until I moved her). The remaining five seem quite content for the moment. I will move them back this evening when they settle in for the night (they are the hard to catch ones, SLW and EE and it's too hot to stress them by chasing them). I wouldn't trust them, especially those five, to follow treats into the barn so I carry them individually which just seems like more hassle than it's worth. Maybe I will take the cat carrier out there tonight to help out. I'm just self-conscious enough that I'd rather do that than put on a show of me chasing chickens with a rake around the yard for our neighbors to enjoy. It's bad enough that I already feel like a freak show (we are a farm surrounded by subdivision).



I would love to let them loose in the barn where it's so cool, it almost feels air-conditioned. But I'm still too worried about the ten feral cats and whatever else is lurking in there - I've seen and smelled evidence of skunks and raccoons. People always say that losing chickens to predators is part of having them but I always imagine that those are people who have an endless supply of chickens though hatching their own eggs. This is my first run, each chick purchased and raised to get this flock off the ground and rolling. I feel like I have to pamper them until I can get some return and insurance in future generations before I can turn them out to the "cruel world". 14 weeks old. They're big but those cats are still looking at them through the wire as if to say "I can haz chick'n". I feel so naive, like a first-time mother all over again - you know, like the mom that freaks out when their first-born sticks dirt in their mouth. Been there. By the time I had my third kid, he ate all dirt he wanted. You'd think the chickens would have a laid-back owner, but no. Here I am fretting and holding back and probably making stupid, possibly harmful decisions in the process. I know I'll get there but having to start all over again is tough.

 

[ChicKat]

Hi ladyrsanti,

you chickens are beautiful--- I especially like your Easter Egger.

I support your approach and think that your concerns are not entirely unjustified with the cats etc. That being said, it is surprising how the chickens may cooperate--- such as go into their coop at dark time, walking themselves from the tractor to the coop...with very little need for interference on your part. (easier to say than do)...but

I remember when my chickens learned to parade from a pen back to their coop when they knew that is what the routine was and that is what was expected.

Congratulations on getting your chickens to 14-weeks successfully, and beginning your chicken journey, learning about them and evaluating alternatives for their best care.

 

[b.hromada]

So pretty. Don't worry, you're doing a fabulous job!! It can seem scary at times, but you will get used to it, its still new for you! All I can say is enjoy them all!

 

[ladyrsanti]

Thanks guys!

This heat is terrible. Yesterday it got to 104 with a heat index of 108 and the previous few days were so stressful on the chickens. They could not get relief. It was hot in their coop and hot in the run. I put two fans in there for cross ventilation and covered the third wall of windows to block out the sun. As it was 20 degrees cooler in the barn, which their coop is attached to, I broke down and let them out. I was more afraid that they would die of the heat than a cat attack at this point. They have a little cupboard door on the bottom of the coop that I built in to let them out someday and this was the day. I opened it up and they cautiously stepped out aaaaaand the sheep stepped in, lol. The door, while small, was too big! Since sheep shouldn't eat chicken feed because of high copper levels, I had to scramble to build an insert with a smaller opening on it and install it in the heat of the day. My workshop is upstairs in the barn and it was SWELTERING.

The lambs it turned out were strange about the chickens being in their space. They would confront the chickens, heads lowered as if to butt and approach them. No head-butting occurred thankfully and everyone eventually got used to each other. One of my Easter Eggers even decided that sheep were great pillows. So the chickens enjoyed some cooler temps, sleeping on the concrete of the barn floor. They seemed to appreciate the move. The cats however, different story.

Most of the cats, there are nine, sleep during the day. But there are a few that are more friendly than the rest that will stick around and watch the goings on. Weasley is one of those. He decided to check out the water dish I laid out for the chickens and braved walking past them to get to it. Then he decided he wanted to sniff one. He chose Custard, my biggest, sweetest Buff Orpington pullet (I didn't even realize how big my chicks had gotten until I saw them next to the feral cats). Anyway, he reached out to sniff and Custard pecked him in the eye - "OOH! Big shiny marble!" Peck! Weasley tore off and kept his eye closed all afternoon. I was even a little worried about him but he's okay now and hopefully has a healthy fear of the chickens. Only eight more such introductions to go. Here's hoping they all get a good what-for.

Anyhoo, the chickens inevitably discovered the barn door that leads to the pasture and helped themselves to some free range time. I let them, guarding over them like a hawk... before the hawk did. Didn't see one, so all's well. It was a little nerve wracking, especially when they discovered they were small enough to fit through the pasture fence. Also the Silver Laced Wyandottes are so dumb! (last picture) The rest of the flock decided at some point to go inside and back into the coop. All of the sudden they were taking dust baths out in their run. But those SLW's were running frantically up and down the run, on the outside, trying to figure out how to get in. I can't catch these guys either. They're fast and wily and DO NOT want to get caught. I tried herding them but they were on to me and resisted. So I watched them panic. What else could I do? Dumb birds. They're beautiful but not bright. My son eventually came out and together we were able to corral them and catch them.

 

[omaeve]

Hey Great story this heat is killer .I tried getting a baby pool for my dogs and they thought i was crazythey are shih tzu(my first ones loved water) i picked them us and put them in and no go..the cows are in the pond with the ducks and geese.

I would invest in the black drip line any major hardwhere carries and ask for mister tips run a line around the top of the fenced run or down the middle.we lived in the desert in califoria,and they realy cooled the air..you can also train vines to grow on top of the run and gives them lots of cool shade and leaves fall off in the fall ..good luck everyone with the heat . p.s. you are not an odditie in suberbia, you are an oasis. just wait till you give them some eggs. they will be flocking to your door.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Thanks! I'm counting on the neighbors enjoying the eggs. That's my hope. Not sure about the mister. I worry about the run getting muddy and fungus and who knows what else. If it were a dry heat, I probably wouldn't think twice but the humidity has got things in a rotten way. I know, I worry a lot but I'm still new, 15 weeks in

 

[1Teacherchick]

We use a single mister from Home Depot. It's a bent bard plastic pipe about 3 feet high with 2 emitters on the top. On one end of the run under the shade. it doesn't seem to get muddy, as the mist tends to spread over a larger area.