What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

You can give them scrambled eggs or any kind of plain cooked meat, perhaps. I kind of let the darkness get them inside, then I just go and shut the door
No enticing necessary, unless you have somewhere to go. As they get older, a handful of birdseed or scratch does the trick. I just throw it inside the door. What breeds are your chicks?

Mine have a set bedtime depending on the seasons. In winter it's about 20 mins before full dark. In high summer, they're in bed by 9pm.
Ferdy just abandons everyone at around 7.30pm in the summer (if I'm not outside) and heads into the house for his t.v. and snuggles. He then rides on my shoulder when we go to check everyone is tucked up, safe and sound. Chickens, like many domesticated animals, love a routine and you can work that to your advantage.

 

[Nomadicus]

My wife fixed a 5 gallon bucket half full of boiled and crushed eggs. It was pure pandemonium. I think they wanted corn but didn't complain about the eggs.

 

[ChicksnMore]

One of our lovely neighbors was partying and carry on last night until after 3:30 in the morning. I never thought I'd ever call the cops and file a noise complaint on a neighbor but ugh...I did. I can't sleep in to save my life so woke early anyway. At least I think I'm awake?
Anyways... definitely going to be an unproductive day here. Think I'll set up my chair in the peas home and probably fall asleep

 

[Maddcatter]

I gave them a new, unhealthy treat tonight to entice them back into the coop so I could lock them up for the night in their coop.

A Hot Dog! Too much fat, too much sodium but boy did they love it. It was only about 3/4 of one Ball Park dog shared by the 8 chicks, so I guess they'll survive. Made sure they had plenty of grit and water to help it pass through their systems. LOL


Yes, they are getting bigger by the day, some more than others. I'm starting to notice they have different personalities. One is a dainty eater, kind of stays in the background. I make sure she gets her share.

Saw this at TSC, and about fell over laughing.

They will get into a habit of going into the coop at night, once they figure out thats where they're supposed to roost. My flock takes about 3-5 days for that to happen.

I also call "here birdie birdie" inside the chicken run and feed them treats often enough that they come when I call.... So that I can lock them up when I need to.

A fatty treat every once in a while is incentive. A fatty treat every day is a gym membership.

 

[TropicalBabies]

One of our lovely neighbors was partying and carry on last night until after 3:30 in the morning. I never thought I'd ever call the cops and file a noise complaint on a neighbor but ugh...I did. I can't sleep in to save my life so woke early anyway. At least I think I'm awake?
Anyways... definitely going to be an unproductive day here. Think I'll set up my chair in the peas home and probably fall asleep

I'm terrible, i ask, tell, then call. I used to be more tolerant but now I have boundaries and limits and keep people on a shorter leash. If not, it escalates past the wild, wild west. Down the street used to have a few houses with lots of 3am parties and FU fights in the street etc. Not anymore.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Can you believe I've never seen Chicken Run?
We watched Moana for the first time last week. After 10 minutes of watching Heihei, the little cockerel, DH and I turned to each other and said 'that's Stan!'

Loved Moana. Think Chicken Run is a must see. The detail and humor is so spot on. Probably going to have to watch it a few more times.

 

[Smokerbill]

View attachment 3504891

Saw this at TSC, and about fell over laughing.

They will get into a habit of going into the coop at night, once they figure out thats where they're supposed to roost. My flock takes about 3-5 days for that to happen.

I also call "here birdie birdie" inside the chicken run and feed them treats often enough that they come when I call.... So that I can lock them up when I need to.

A fatty treat every once in a while is incentive. A fatty treat every day is a gym membership.

Funny bag!

I won't really worry about them going into the coop at night once the run is secure. Going to leave the chickens' entry open 24/7. I'm actually going to encourage them to roost in the run overnight, and use the coop mainly for egg laying, and maybe in cold weather if they want.

Maybe I'll get the run secured today, and then I'll move the food and water out there and see if they spend the night in the new space.

I bought one of these whistles, thinking I could train them to come to its sound when they're out free ranging. I'd just whistle myself if I could perform consistently. LOL And I bought an orange one on purpose. Thought I'd try using swinging it in a circle as a visual cue too.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Cat colony feeding was crazy this morning. Lots of people out and about at 3am. Probably just coming home, who knows... must be the grad night/mothers day/natives are restless weekend. My DH cruised with me, not that I needed him but glad I had him.

A few ladies helping me with clean up. Nothing like a stray kitty kibble ♡

Gunna scrub my coops today ♡ make them sparkle like ya'lls, then reinstall the fan I just cleaned, new nesting mat etc.
Girls only gave me 10 eggs yesterday. Shocking. Good thing they are so cute

 

[Nomadicus]

I did the usual feed and water maintenance then took my chair out and set a spell in the Delaware coop. After the doors are opened it is a mixed crowd of Delaware and RI girls entertaining me. I got to watch the daily squabble of who gets which spot in the community nest box. The girls are good about laying in their own nest box but then raid each others feeders thinking it must be something better than what I gave them. The highlight of the morning was when one of the little Delaware pullets walks up to me looking up as to same I'm here for you. She stood very calmly and let me pick her up and set her in my lap. She sat right down and to a long rest with me. Life can be good some days. Life is good for the 13 week old White Giants and Dark Cornish. Instead of closing the coop door behind me this morning I left it open for them to spend their first day out free ranging. Some took right to eating grass and some went back in the coop. Tonight they get moved to a larger coop as a new brood takes over their old place making room in the brooder for those hatching this weekend.

 

[Maddcatter]

Today I installed string... Lmao.
I now shouldn't be able to be locked inside the coop/run.
Hung up some cabbage on hooks. I think the birds left one up for a full hour before it got knocked down. The one inside the coop is still there.
It finally stopped raining, so the birds are free ranging again. Hopefully all my 7 week olds come inside tonight. Its been a pretty mellow day.
My cat decided she knows how to get in the roof, but not how to get down. Lmao