The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Hi All, Leahs Mom told me about your thread, so I wanted to say hello. Here is an updated photo of the pallet hut for the chickens after my DD and I covered it with more branches. I'm not sure how long it will take to turn into a big mess out there, but it should work for awhile.

I really like that!
Have the chickens gone under it yet? I find that mine suspect anything new for awhile before they'll check things out.

And welcome! Glad you're here!

 

[TeaChick]

Check these hawk shelters out. I really like! Reminds me of AFL's little huts.

Reposted from the Indiana Thread:

I think it's genius!!!

 

[TeaChick]

Because of the big storm, I got to work from home today. So when it got light out, I went and thoroughly shoveled out the coop and a good portion of the run. And do you know those stinkers wouldn't come out? So, I tried to bribe them with seeds, got 4 out,.....went back in the house.

Came back out at 10, and there were 15 still in the coop! So I had to go chase them out. Some I can pick up and carry out, some fly out in panic because I am in the coop, and some I have to shoo with a broom, going in circles. Geesh. I keep telling them, this is your new normal and you better get used to it!

Come Thursday I won't be here to shoo them out and they will be on their own. I keep telling myself they won't starve to death or dehydrate, they WILL come out on their own. But!

I know how you feel. Mine are the same way. Well, I don't have ice and snow, but they act like I don't know what I'm talking about when I tell them that they're safer sleeping in the hen house than outside it.

 

[TeaChick]

Delisha:
Thanks for the update!!!
Glad you haven't lost anymore.
Maybe take notes of what you're doing and observations each day (or morning and evening if you have time). That might help moving forward and/or in the future.
All the best, Hon!!!

 

[TeaChick]

Not much. Been really busy and the cold doesn't help much either. Its below zero now.

We're busy too. =)
It's never below zero here, but it's too cold for me anyway. I miss my flip flops!!!

 

[Allysha1990]

I would love to do something like that, but unfortunately I am on 18 acres and surrounded by a wildlife habitat, so lots of predators and not just the flying kind. It is a good idea though and it looks cute.

 

[TeaChick]

My little huts but the dust but I didn't expect them to last long since the wood was so detiorated anyways. The large a frame is working fine and I out plastic on the long sides to keep the wind and snow out, the leaves under there are dry & the girls love going under there to scratch

That sounds good; I'm gonna do that as soon as I have some wood.
Maybe I'll use the small trees we just cleared from the fence line to build them a tee pee or something other shelter.

 

[CRSelvey]

I really like that!
Have the chickens gone under it yet? I find that mine suspect anything new for awhile before they'll check things out.

And welcome! Glad you're here!

Yes, they all inspected our work and are huddled around it now. The power guys are still out on the road trimming our trees and chipping up the trimmings, so they ran straight back to the coop and run for awhile. Little Chickens....

Thank you for the compliments everyone. Its nice meeting you all.

 

[lalaland]

Lala - I go out w/a broom and try to sweep back enough snow that they can see some of the ground through the snow. I think that helps some but they were all coop potatoes when it snowed last week. They did end up coming out some after a couple days of getting used to the new look.

yeah, I got it down to bare ground, Jenny, my 5 yr old buff orp will go out on the ground, and sometimes a few of the older girls will follow her, but the 6 mo pullets and roos? No way.

Booster backed down for me nicely today, and I wasn't carrying a stick. But when I came around the corner, he got that look in his eye so I let fly with a few snowballs. Cocky little so and so flogged a snowball.

Delisha, seems strange they would have wry neck. Glad to hear some are better and sorry to hear about the ones still struggling.

 

[Mrs Hutcherson]

I just had to show this off ! Lol
The left is a normal double yolk egg I get every couple days.
wonder whats in the monster on the right!