Under The Fig Tree (picture and question) newbee

[Reece]

Minimal morning sun only, thanks to the fig tree which seems to be getting a good fertilizing. I've got tons of green figs.
They all go into the coop at night right now so it must not be too hot. They sometimes dig a hole to wallow in during the heat of the day.
I don't think we have any serious predators. Our Corgi has gotten very protective of "her" chickens and listens for any disturbance outside.
There may be the rare raccoon but if they get too close, Sophie will wake me up, I'll shoot him dead with the shotgun, skin him out and nail his hide to the coop as a warning to others not to pass this way.

 

[wsdareme]

"Chicken wire" is great for keeping chickens in, but you need "snake wire" to keep snakes out. Hardware cloth from Home Depot in a small enough square to keep snakes out would be sufficient.

 

[Dogfish]

One 25 foor long roll would just about cover it. Don't mean to be harsh, but you could be the next contestant on "I thought it was "good enough"", and then come here and tell us how a cat/coon/dog/coyote killed all of your birds. You have spent how much on your coop and birds?

We give this advice based on personal experience and the experience of others here. There have been 100+ such event in the last 2 months since I joined up here. At least 1 a day, sometimes many more.

Security is layer upon layer, not a line. We mean to help you.

 

[chics in the sun]

Yeah, my 'coop' here in hot, steamy Florida is basically a giant bird cage with a little loft-type area for roosting (has about half plywood wall and half wire), with nesting boxes on the ground in the corner. Only one wall, the rest are all chicken wire so they get as much sea-breeze as possible. Used that white platic roofing material over the roost/loft, and I am also planning on putting in a roost bar in the bottom 'run' area. They usually dig little dust baths in the ground and hang out there until they are let out to free-range in the afternoon.

PS - I am considering adding that hardware cloth around the bottom, although I haven't seen a racoon here in a long time. I'm in the city, but you never know.

 

[vatterpa]

Quote:
Love it!! Maybe I should have been born in TX instead of GA.

 

[SportChick]

Quote:
Elmo, I would have thought the white roof would help prevent heat absorption? Would true roofing material be better or do you insulate. I am gathering from your DFW location that you are in East Texas and we will have similar weather. I am much more concerned about the coop overheating that being too cold in winter.

 

[Reece]

I thought it best to try a video for easier identification. If anyone knows what kind and sex they are, please tell me.

 

[SportChick]

Love the video! Beautiful chickens. What is the noise in the background. I can't identify anything except the one that looks like a Silver Polish Hen. But I am a Newby and so what do I know?

 

[juliechick]

You're not going to like me, but...... your three red ones and the black and white one are all roosters. The black one may be also, but I'm not 100% sure from the photos. I can't tell on the Polish, either. (the one with floppy crest) I'm going to go out on a limb here and give you my educated guess: You have all roosters.

Did you wife get them out of the "straight run" bin?
As far as breeds, the red ones are probably Rhode Island Red, the black and white looks like an Easter Egger, the black one looks like a Cochin, and the crested one is a Gold Laced Polish.

 

[Reece]

Sorry, the noise was an air conditioner compressor - it's already hot down here.

DANG! I was afraid of that - probably pulled them out of the "rooster bin" if there is such a thing.
Now what am I going to do!?
(See Rule #2, comment removed by Staff)
I don't want to start wringing necks already.
I think the feed store said they would buy back any roosters.
Aside from occasional crowing, how do you spot a rooster at this age?