What did you do with your flock today?

[Nomadicus]

I'm taking them over to a new area where there is grass and clover to toss scratch out for them. I think that would qualify for a corn salad.

 

[Smokerbill]

Yesterday's snack time treat. Seems the more greens they eat, the more grit they eat. Since I put in the new gravity feeder I wanted to make sure they were all using it. I put an open bowl of crumbles in the coop and none of them got overly excited about it. They pecked at it a little then lost interest, so I guess they're all using the new feeder.

I picked one the little suckers up today and let her grudgingly sit on my hand. Didn't really want to be picked up. And I guess I deserved what I got, because her foot was covered with poop. One of those runny, stinky cecal poops. Got it all over my hand. Nasty!

 

[Smokerbill]

Worked more on the run today. I got the gaps between the roof rafters filled in on one side of the run today. I'll have to wait until the other wall is framed before I can close off those gaps.

Filled in the gap at the bottom of the front baseboard today, too.

I'm on break now, but when I get going again I'll be loading my truck up with wood chips and hauling them to the run. Gonna need about 3 yards, so I'll be shoveling a lot! Glad I still have some of that beer left that I bought yesterday. I'll need it for hydration purposes. And pain relief. LOL

 

[DonyaQuick]

Planted some hanging baskets this afternoon with the help of Mr. Vanilla Bean.

 

[Smokerbill]

I had enough energy to move two loads of semi-composted wood chips into the new chicken run. After 2 or 3 more loads tomorrow there should be a good, solid 12 inches of bedding in the run. Chicks will love picking through that mess!

After all the bedding is in place I can start putting up the third and final wall, and mount the door. Hope I have enough hardware cloth.

When it's all finished, cleaning the coop will be easy. I'll just remove the two sections of plywood wall on the run side of the coop and rake all the crappy litter into the run.

 

[PopoMyers]

I've tried ice packs...I saved some super flat thin gel ones from shipping to try, but the hens just used a different nest. It might work with one in every box. This hen will switch nests but doesn't stop brooding. Maybe I'm using them wrong.

I have only used a wire rabbit cage with a 2x4 for perching on, food and water for 3 days. Worked for my frequent broodies every time. If she is.a bantam, use a bird cage. Nothing on the floor.

 

[PopoMyers]

Thank you for asking! I'm happy to oblige...
The first photo was taken from inside our bigger run, and shows the Schoolhouse Coop (camper) and smaller Nursery Coop next to it:

In the front of the coop, we have space for nesting buckets. We used 4-gallon buckets for drywall mud, laid on their sides, and fit 6 of them across that middle space between the shelves. I've taken them out for now. I added a poop board below that single high roost near the ceiling, since it's always their favorite. The box at lower right was a storage bench or something - works great to store equipment:

The back of the camper coop is just roosting bars. (I know the ceiling looks awful, but those leaks have been fixed; I just haven't recovered the ceiling yet.) This was actually our very first chicken coop. Hubby covered the dang windows, not understanding ventilation needs. It's actually very well insulated, so stays snug and warm in winter (front windows and roof vent provide enough ventilation), and surprisingly cool in summer. I do run a box fan on the hottest days to supplement air flow:

It's been a great little coop! Strong like Fort Knox against predators, and portable even. Cost us nothing; someone just wanted it hauled away and junked.

What a great way to reuse and recycle! That ceiling, though. Hope it stays in place.

 

[PopoMyers]

Yesterday's snack time treat. Seems the more greens they eat, the more grit they eat. Since I put in the new gravity feeder I wanted to make sure they were all using it. I put an open bowl of crumbles in the coop and none of them got overly excited about it. They pecked at it a little then lost interest, so I guess they're all using the new feeder.

I picked one the little suckers up today and let her grudgingly sit on my hand. Didn't really want to be picked up. And I guess I deserved what I got, because her foot was covered with poop. One of those runny, stinky cecal poops. Got it all over my hand. Nasty!

View attachment 3499528

Better on your hand than staining a shirt, like mine did.

 

[PopoMyers]

I've been opening Velma's door during the day to let her wander around if she wants to. She's been more adventurous each day. I've seen a couple Sapphires chase her, and she does manage to zoom away. The girls love the dirt in her pen, and they go in there to dirt bathe, not paying any attention to her. Today the girls knocked over her feeder and ate most of it, so I had to refill it, and her water.
Pepper ( the one that had the prolapse and gleet a couple months ago) has become the nesting box inspector, and is right there when I open the door to look in both coops, which are about 25' apart. She and Cinnamon found some leftover eggshell, which they ate. Haven't found any smeared egg yolk or white lately, which is a good thing. Egg counts vary from 8-11, from 13 girls. I guess that's pretty good, since 4 of them are over 3 years old. Time sure goes by quickly, the older I get.
The water hose shut off connector was dripping, so I took it off and connected their water bucket supply straight to the hose. It's so great to have one that fills automatically. Mother's Day weekend we will hit mid 80's and low 90's. Only the two days, but have to keep an eye on the girls. May wet down the run so they can cool their feet. Some frozen grapes for treats.

 

[PopoMyers]

@Shetland lover , how are you? Have missed your contributions here. Hoping all is well. Collar bone healed, chooks well.