What did you do with your flock today?

[FrankieDoodle]

WELL!
it isnt really today as such, more last night.
So my two ducklings are 7 and a half, and 8 weeks, they live in my room at the moment, in a spacious pen, when they arent free roaming or in the bath.
Last night, for seemingly no apparent reason, Sprightly, the youngest, woke the household with a very loud "QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK"
I'm not sure what she managed to spook herself with, I really dont know, but I immediately turned the light on and checked on her, she hushed as soon as she saw me, and came over, I lowered my hand to her, and she pushed her face into my hand, insisting I reassure her with gentle face and neck strokes.
She enjoyed the attention for a few minutes before she calmly walked away back to her sibling and went back to sleep. What the fuss was about, I have NO idea but I have just accepted that I dont get peace and quiet anymore

God I love those crazy birds

Aww, maybe she just missed you. : P
What breeds are they?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Aww, maybe she just missed you. : P
What breeds are they?

perhaps! Usually they're fine though, I'm thinking maybe they heard something outside that spooked her!
They're aylesbury mixes, I believe mixed with Pekin

 

[629864]

That spider is disgusting.

Keep us updated on the bell training! I’d love to hear how well it works and how fast they start responding to it.

I pat my hip (or bang on whatever bucket I'm holding if I have gloves on) in a repeated 3-beat pattern. As soon as they hear that, they come running from every direction.

 

[629864]

Today I built a nest for the chicks. It’s made out of random scrap pieces I found under the house so it’s definitely nothing fancy, but it’ll get the job done. XD
View attachment 2998394View attachment 2998395
It’s a little smaller than the other nests, but not by much. If it’s too small, I can switch it out with the Poles.
The poor babies are still terrified of the coop, more so now that there’s a “scary box.” I’ve been trying to put them in when it’s daytime, and therefore they can see there’s nothing to be scared of, but I don’t think it’s helping. They’re going to be really upset once they realize they’re getting evicted in a few more days. :/

That box is great. Kinda funny and cute that theyre afraid of it. Anytime I put anything new in the coop or run..or anywhere outdoors LOL...my entire flock has to come check it out. I put a small dog crate in the coop yesterday to see if it would be big enough for a grow out box. Before I could even get finished adding straw, I had 3 hens climbing over and through my arms to be the first one in there.

 

[629864]

I know I've been going back and forth with a thousand ideas about how to set things up prior to the hens going broody. But I can't help it. I just want it to be right ahead of time.

Anyhoooooo, I think I've decided to let the hen stay with her eggs in the coop (I'm going to limit her to 4-5 eggs for the first attempt) and then switch to a growout box on the floor of the coop once they're hatched. I put the smallest dog crate we have in there yesterday, just to see how the layout of the coop would work.

As you might be able to make out, there's room for an egg crate for them to snuggle in with mama, and about 6 inches at the front filled with more straw. I think I may need to go with the next size up even though it'll take up more room. I can't see how to add food and water for the chicks to this one. I've been mulling whether hanging food/water just outside of this smaller crate would work or just cause drama for everyone. The next size up will require putting it under the roosting bars, and therefore blocking off that section of the roosting bars so they don't poop all over the growout box below. Alternatively, I could prop a piece of board/plywood over the growout box and then just clean the poop off of that, but not really loving that idea. Thoughts?

Also, I'm kinda ticked at one of my roosters and posted a new thread asking what to do. Didn't get much feedback (except from @Bonkerelli Thanks!). If any of you has insight, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[Bonkerelli]

I know I've been going back and forth with a thousand ideas about how to set things up prior to the hens going broody. But I can't help it. I just want it to be right ahead of time.

Anyhoooooo, I think I've decided to let the hen stay with her eggs in the coop (I'm going to limit her to 4-5 eggs for the first attempt) and then switch to a growout box on the floor of the coop once they're hatched. I put the smallest dog crate we have in there yesterday, just to see how the layout of the coop would work.

View attachment 2998452

As you might be able to make out, there's room for an egg crate for them to snuggle in with mama, and about 6 inches at the front filled with more straw. I think I may need to go with the next size up even though it'll take up more room. I can't see how to add food and water for the chicks to this one. I've been mulling whether hanging food/water just outside of this smaller crate would work or just cause drama for everyone. The next size up will require putting it under the roosting bars, and therefore blocking off that section of the roosting bars so they don't poop all over the growout box below. Alternatively, I could prop a piece of board/plywood over the growout box and then just clean the poop off of that, but not really loving that idea. Thoughts?

Also, I'm kinda ticked at one of my roosters and posted a new thread asking what to do. Didn't get much feedback (except from @Bonkerelli Thanks!). If any of you has insight, I'd really appreciate it.

Looks like you have a good setup. What I did last year was have a chick water a feeder fairly close to momma hen. So she can have a bite and water with the chicks. Didn't have a big issue about the other chickens messing with her/chicks or the feed. Depends on your flock temperament. Think your cage is big enough but you could just go up a size for more wiggle room when the reach a month old.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Today I built a nest for the chicks. It’s made out of random scrap pieces I found under the house so it’s definitely nothing fancy, but it’ll get the job done. XD
View attachment 2998394View attachment 2998395
It’s a little smaller than the other nests, but not by much. If it’s too small, I can switch it out with the Poles.
The poor babies are still terrified of the coop, more so now that there’s a “scary box.” I’ve been trying to put them in when it’s daytime, and therefore they can see there’s nothing to be scared of, but I don’t think it’s helping. They’re going to be really upset once they realize they’re getting evicted in a few more days. :/

Great job @Frankie D! That ot to do the trick (once they get over their fear of new things ) and I love how you made something out of found materials, all the better!! You have so many talents! Bravo!! ♡♡♡

 

[TropicalBabies]

That spider is disgusting.

Keep us updated on the bell training! I’d love to hear how well it works and how fast they start responding to it.

Well, they respond to just me being by the gate lol but what I think I am going to do is get them all to enter the run at the sound of the bell. So, I'll need to plant treats inside b4 ringing. I think this will make my dh very happy. Anywho, the thing is cute ♡

 

[TropicalBabies]

I know I've been going back and forth with a thousand ideas about how to set things up prior to the hens going broody. But I can't help it. I just want it to be right ahead of time.

Anyhoooooo, I think I've decided to let the hen stay with her eggs in the coop (I'm going to limit her to 4-5 eggs for the first attempt) and then switch to a growout box on the floor of the coop once they're hatched. I put the smallest dog crate we have in there yesterday, just to see how the layout of the coop would work.

View attachment 2998452

As you might be able to make out, there's room for an egg crate for them to snuggle in with mama, and about 6 inches at the front filled with more straw. I think I may need to go with the next size up even though it'll take up more room. I can't see how to add food and water for the chicks to this one. I've been mulling whether hanging food/water just outside of this smaller crate would work or just cause drama for everyone. The next size up will require putting it under the roosting bars, and therefore blocking off that section of the roosting bars so they don't poop all over the growout box below. Alternatively, I could prop a piece of board/plywood over the growout box and then just clean the poop off of that, but not really loving that idea. Thoughts?

Also, I'm kinda ticked at one of my roosters and posted a new thread asking what to do. Didn't get much feedback (except from @Bonkerelli Thanks!). If any of you has insight, I'd really appreciate it.

K. I know it is still early here lol but I think you may be over thinking this. If it were me... ( I know, I know) I would simplify. What you need is a space that your hen can safely sit on eggs for an extended period with out hen bullies (especially since she is new and not red and super sweet) or new eggs added. Think she Shedd. I'd keep the big cage and 1/2 of that crate. I'd make a box like @Frankie D and stick it in that nice cage in the coop and a source of food and water and shut the door. You can open the cage for a few hours during the day so she can stretch but if you have food and water if you forget or her schedule does not match yours she can stretch and poop enough in the cage to be good for awhile. You def want snake proof though worse than spiders!

 

[629864]

K. I know it is still early here lol but I think you may be over thinking this. If it were me... ( I know, I know) I would simplify. What you need is a space that your hen can safely sit on eggs for an extended period with out hen bullies (especially since she is new and not red and super sweet) or new eggs added. Think she Shedd. I'd keep the big cage and 1/2 of that crate. I'd make a box like @Frankie D and stick it in that nice cage in the coop and a source of food and water and shut the door. You can open the cage for a few hours during the day so she can stretch but if you have food and water if you forget or her schedule does not match yours she can stretch and poop enough in the cage to be good for awhile. You def want snake proof though worse than spiders!

What?! Me?! Overthink things? Never!

Ok, so that actually makes sense. I'll get a roll of 1/2 inch hardware cloth and wrap the larger crate. A month without direct sun... do I need to add VitD or anything else to her water?