Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[FirewifeJess]

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Do you hhave a space heater? You could bring the coop into your dining area (with all those bookshelves and the small kid table) and keep it on a tarp with a space heater to dry it out completely. I don't recommend painting it until you are certain it's fully dry.

He was asking about letting Latte coop herself in the big part of the coop with the big girls. You missed my "advice" regarding that when the page turned while we were all talking about it earlier. I really think it wouldn't be too bad to let her get it all figured out on her own and be in with the big girls.

 

[itsren]

I don't know if it would help you decide to do this or not, but I always just let them be. If they're old enough to run away (like in the yard) or fly away from the big girls, I'd let Latte get used to them without interfering. You could also watch and see where she goes when it gets dark. I bet she'd just head in the coop or run without you chasing her, or she might settle down in the bushes but once it's dark it would be easy to just nab her and stick her on the roost with the big girls. When we got our little girls we put them in the rabbit hutch for a few days but they wanted out so badly, and they could fly away from the big girls so well, and they were so bold, that we just started leaving the hutch door open. They were only 6 weeks old and the big girls were 18 weeks old and HUGE, and we never had any injuries. They got used to each other a bit when the littles were still in the rabbit hutch, then they started mingling 4 days later.

So this is what happened today - and it's making me wonder what is really going on with Blackie and Latte.

Blackie stayed in the chicken tractor all day. Latte was out in the yard all day. After I got back home, I let the big girls out to free range. Drama was the only one who pecked at Latte, and that pecking was brief. Latte stayed away from the big girls for a while, then she started going nearer to them. She spent most of the day at a little bit of distance, but finally got bold enough to hang out in the open with them. She spent quite a few hours out in sight of the big girls.

After DH got home, he said to let Blackie free-range, too. So, I let Blackie out of the chicken tractor. Blackie immediately ran over to Latte, and the two of them went back to their hiding spot behind the boat tent (on the side of the house). Latte didn't stay snuggled up to Blackie this time. She was standing and looking toward the back yard every time I checked on them.

Now I wonder if Blackie is calling the shots. Maybe it is time to let Blackie go. If Latte doesn't have someone to snuggle with in her little section of the big girls coop, will she freeze to death? If I only had to lift one chicken out of the section of the coop each morning, it would be so much easier because the other wouldn't be there to jump and fly out.

 

[FirewifeJess]

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I think she'd be totally fine! I wish you could come over and see our coop setup right now. My girls have tons of roost space and they don't snuggle with each other at all. They're all perfectly spaced out when they go to roost and nobody is touching anybody else. They're weird. So no, I don't think anything would happen to her at all if she slept alone. I'd remove the hardware cloth completely from the coop and toss Latte in there after dark when the big girls are already sleeping. Then just go outside the next morning as soon as it's light just to ensure she's not getting hurt, but I promise all will be well. I know you don't like the pecking but it's pretty natural and Latte is going to have to get used to being the low dog on the totem pole until she's much older and catches up in size completely.

 

[itsren]

Do you hhave a space heater? You could bring the coop into your dining area (with all those bookshelves and the small kid table) and keep it on a tarp with a space heater to dry it out completely. I don't recommend painting it until you are certain it's fully dry.

DH has a huge section of the Pack's Pinewood Derby track. The male leaders are getting all freaky about making the track perfect. They're going a wee bit overboard. The kids aren't going to care that this is an old track. LOL! But, it is what it is, after that is done, I should be able to find space to paint it indoors.

 

[FirewifeJess]

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Doh! When's the derby? I bet the kids are having fun making their cars!

 

[itsren]

I wish you could come over and see our coop setup right now. My girls have tons of roost space and they don't snuggle with each other at all. They're all perfectly spaced out when they go to roost and nobody is touching anybody else. They're weird. So no, I don't think anything would happen to her at all if she slept alone. I'd remove the hardware cloth completely from the coop and toss Latte in there after dark when the big girls are already sleeping. Then just go outside the next morning as soon as it's light just to ensure she's not getting hurt, but I promise all will be well. I know you don't like the pecking but it's pretty natural and Latte is going to have to get used to being the low dog on the totem pole until she's much older and catches up in size completely.

After your family is well, I'd love to! Hope you aren't offended, but with my immune system, and my inability to get the flu shot, I'm doing my best to stay away from the flu germies that are lurking everywhere.

 

[FirewifeJess]

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Oh totally!!! We're getting better too! Kids seem 95% well and with antibiotics I should be better in no time. Maybe early next week we can get together

It's been too long though!

 

[itsren]

Doh! When's the derby? I bet the kids are having fun making their cars!

Ha! Ha! At this point, our kids haven't even started.

I had to chastise DH tonight - two sets of altered "super fast" derby axles arrived in the mail today. I had to remind him that they are not legal in the race and let him know the boys are not using them. Oh heavens, the money we spend on the Pinewood Derby. It's out-a control! LOL.

The derby is at the end of this month. We better get started on those derby cars soon. My daughter wants to make a parade float car for her LEGO Friends characters to ride on and I'm considering making a racing lipstick car for the "friends and family" entries. Last year my little pink roller-coaster car took 3rd place - and I loved the reaction that a pink "girl" car could do so well.

I'm hoping a hot pink lipstick car beats all the dad's cars this year.

I gotta admit, the derby is such good experience for the boys. Here's a pic of my son making his car 2 years ago. He built the entire thing himself, with exception of cutting the fin out with a saw and installing weights and wheels. His car took 2nd place. He was 9 at the time... not too shabby for a then-9-year-old. I'm not sure where I filed last year's photos...

. Last year his car took 3rd place.

 

[itsren]

Oh totally!!! We're getting better too! Kids seem 95% well and with antibiotics I should be better in no time. Maybe early next week we can get together

It's been too long though!

It has been a long time. I'm looking forward to visiting with you guys again. When you're feeling better, let me know - K?

 

[itsren]

Aren't they cute?