What did you do with your flock today?

[ChicksnMore]

Thanks! Made more progress today. Installed the door hardware and closed up the old window hole with hardware cloth. The door latches real nice, and if the chickens want they have the means to lock me out of the run, if they can figure out how to work the deadbolt. LOL

Added trim pieces around the door so it's pretty much sealed up mouse proof. Maybe. And finally, put up three wall studs. I decided against the removable wall section idea. Too much work. The 3' wide door will have to do for loading bedding in and out.

I'll need to do a little more framing tomorrow then I can hang the hardware cloth, and trim it out to finish. Also need to fill in the racoon size holes between the roof rafters at the top of the wall.View attachment 3503109

Skirt around the perimeter will be the last job.

That's really looking great!

This morning I let Hei out of broody jail because I was too tired to put her on a roost with the flock last night. A few hours later I checked the nest boxes and there she was in the brooder box again View attachment 3503126I just did not have the energy to put her in jail again so I picked out 9 eggs and stuck them under her. View attachment 3503125Yep, I caved, she won. So, i locked the door so no more eggs would be added and walked away wondering at what age I would rehome the chicks as I am as full up as I can be and how sad that is.
Another hour later Hei came ticking by the way only she does... I'm thinking.... how did she get out of the broody box?!! Welp, was not her in the broody box... my bad, guess I forgot I have 8 buffs who lay eggs I need a nap.
So glad she is FINALLY unbroody, or is she? To be continued....

So did not Hei get to keep the eggs?

Hi everyone. So much to catch up on!
So glad the Expo went well, Kirby, and your afternoon tea, Popo
Congratulations, Gamma and FMB, on the new 'kids' They're both gorgeous
Great coop build, Smokerbill. I'm very envious, wish I had the skill and space.
Tropical Babies, those bloody broodies, eh? I feel your pain. Penelope is unbreakable too. She wants to be a mom soooo bad! I've promised her we'll find a way next year. Wonderful work with the kitties btw.
Sorry if I've missed anyone but my brain has totally turned to mush. I'm blaming the surgical theory test and a hideous bout of 'flu.

So good to hear from you! Did your test go well and are you mending now? How's that shoulder coming along too? We've missed you and hope all's well!

 

[ChicksnMore]

I thought I was going to get to shut my incubators down for a while but when I mentioned it to a friend she ask me to do her geese eggs. Those are hatching away, three hatched yesterday and 5 eggs left. Then the fellow that gave me the Java boy stopped by Thursday with some pea eggs he wants me to incubate for him. And my Java girl layed her first egg yesterday as well. But I got all the eggs into one incubator. So today I get to tear apart the other and clean it. Then I'll transfer all the eggs into the fresh one and clean the other.

I'm so excited that Java's laying finally and have my fingers crossed they're fertilized. Peas take two to three years to mature enough to breed and Javas three now, so this is her first egg ever. I decided to name the boy Flight because he's such a nervous thing. So far I've just been giving him as little disturbance as I can, but today I'm going to take my little folding chair out and just sit in their area and read for a bit. That usually works wonders for getting birds to calm down in your presence. He's five and o so wild though, so . He's finally relaxing enough to come close to the door area to pick at the treats, but he's scared every time he sees me and always keeps as far away as he can. I hate seeing birds caged when they're that fearful so wish us luck!

 

[TropicalBabies]

A better pic of Velma at 6.5 weeks.
View attachment 3503325

She is beautiful and I think I see love in her eyes. I know she is in a silly pose, but look at that crop! Momma loves her back hehe!
Thanks for the update share @Popo ♡

 

[TropicalBabies]

Hi everyone. So much to catch up on!
So glad the Expo went well, Kirby, and your afternoon tea, Popo
Congratulations, Gamma and FMB, on the new 'kids' They're both gorgeous
Great coop build, Smokerbill. I'm very envious, wish I had the skill and space.
Tropical Babies, those bloody broodies, eh? I feel your pain. Penelope is unbreakable too. She wants to be a mom soooo bad! I've promised her we'll find a way next year. Wonderful work with the kitties btw.
Sorry if I've missed anyone but my brain has totally turned to mush. I'm blaming the surgical theory test and a hideous bout of 'flu.

Good to see you pop in. Thread is not the same w/o you ♡ Your such a cheery gal, hate to know your down. Wishing you a speedy recovery and godspeed on your test.

PS. Congratulations on your new King and Queen lol.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Would you be able to take the chicks to the Farmer's Market?

Eh, that would probably be a bit of a movie. I like craigslist myself. Think we have a real shortage of chicks on island (haha!) so they usually go quick after I vet

I wonder if they keep the rodent population in check?

I'm sure they do! Forest, Batman and Mango Pieces are good examples of rodent control even with 24/7 food available ♡

@ChicksnMore well, I'm feeling rested now so not as vulnerable to giving in to Heilani today. I think. I put her on the roost last eve and now hear her ticking out in the yard with the crew - she reminds me of the crocodile in Peter Pan - so i will take that as a good sign?

 

[TropicalBabies]

Glad you're back! Surgical theory sounds like a lot of procedures and terminology to know. Hope you did fine on it, and you're all mended from the flu. How's the collar bone? I'm free from the Spica splint. Now just self Occupational therapy until I get an actual appointment. Tending chickens and gardening helps.

You are a champ!!! Good job ♡

 

[TropicalBabies]

I thought I was going to get to shut my incubators down for a while but when I mentioned it to a friend she ask me to do her geese eggs. Those are hatching away, three hatched yesterday and 5 eggs left. Then the fellow that gave me the Java boy stopped by Thursday with some pea eggs he wants me to incubate for him. And my Java girl layed her first egg yesterday as well. But I got all the eggs into one incubator. So today I get to tear apart the other and clean it. Then I'll transfer all the eggs into the fresh one and clean the other.

I'm so excited that Java's laying finally and have my fingers crossed they're fertilized. Peas take two to three years to mature enough to breed and Javas three now, so this is her first egg ever. I decided to name the boy Flight because he's such a nervous thing. So far I've just been giving him as little disturbance as I can, but today I'm going to take my little folding chair out and just sit in their area and read for a bit. That usually works wonders for getting birds to calm down in your presence. He's five and o so wild though, so . He's finally relaxing enough to come close to the door area to pick at the treats, but he's scared every time he sees me and always keeps as far away as he can. I hate seeing birds caged when they're that fearful so wish us luck!

Well... I don't know how you do it but I am glad you do! It is fun hearing about the zoo.
You have inspired me to scrub my coops. Wish I could make pretty like you do... the beer can flowers are earmarked for a wreath for a gate but I am tempted. Guess I will just have to learn and practice if I want a pretty coop and run.
I have to get back to sewing my pile of cut and ready to go bags. I also have a few bag pick ups that I need to do. Still have some juggling going on here...
Right now I have the remainder of my first cup of joe ️ and Forest on my lap so not making any moves for a few more seconds.
Dh put a new rear tire on Boo yesterday. I gave her a bath and may find a way to incorporate her into a few chores - like dropping the last sun aired blanket and clean sheets up to Koke'e sometime today.
Have kitty colony duty Sun & Mon so that will knock me out of whack again.

Happy Aloha Saturday all!!

 

[Smokerbill]

Wow! That looks fantastic! Coming right along. Not much more to go!

That's really looking great!


So did not Hei get to keep the eggs?

So good to hear from you! Did your test go well and are you mending now? How's that shoulder coming along too? We've missed you and hope all's well!

Thanks! I have all the framing in place for hanging the hardware cloth. I got an early start today, 8AM, trying to get the hard work done before the thermometer reads 90 degrees.

I noticed a screw up as I was finishing yesterday. The alignment of the wall is out of plumb, but it will only be noticeable on the back corner. It'll work, so that's all I care about. LOL

After this break, I'm cutting the HWC. It's down to the last bit of the roll so it's pretty curly. Gonna have to fight it with gloves on to flatten it out. First section, 85 inches long with a 4 inch drop/angle from side to side. Last section will be about 2 feet wide, same length, more or less.

Can't wait to see how the chicks react when I pull off the sidewall of their coop and let them go crazy in the wood chips! Should be fun!

 

[Maddcatter]

Well, today it's raining, so my chickens don't get to free range.

Imagine my shock when I saw 3 7-week old chicks roaming my backyard.

So, called my kid over ( my hands are not big enough to hold more than 1 chick at a time), collected chicks, and out them back into the coop... Which my kiddo locked us into...

... So I climbed the 6ish foot fence around the chicken run to get out... (Huh, turns out its lucky I haven't put chicken wire over the top yet) let the kiddo out, and resolved to make it so I can't lock myself in with the chickens...

 

[Smokerbill]

Today was the day. My chickens got their first taste of the extra freedom of the run! There's still more to do with the run: covering the edges of HWC with trim, sealing up a few openings and installing the skirting around the base. But right now it's secure enough to hold the chickens in!