What to expect when adding new hens

[twendt]

Thank you so much for sharing! This is wonderful to have pictures. Our coops are similar in size but mine has a traditional roof and it a bit taller. I added 8’ x 8” x 2” wood and attached the coop all the way around. The underside of the “coop house” is about 4 feet high. So our space is very similar (I love your coop)! I have about a half acre cleared with lots of trees and landscapes islands. That have free run whenever I’m outside and seem to be very comfy in their quarters. I just fear the hawks since there are so many and always are visible in numbers at noon. I would be crushed to come home and one of my girls are missing! I have two massive sized lace leaf maples that provide a unique space to dig, play and run around. One of their favorite spots. I’m wondering if I could use the netting to make overhead cover from the hawks and enable them to run back and forth from the island to the coop? Their coop is actually inside of the island. They love their secret garden but also like to run to the back of the yard where there are no trees. Just wide open and they would be targets.

You’ve given me some great ideas! I will ponder using the netting and ways to keep them in the garden and under the safety of netting.

I also bought plexiglass to block the elements. Pops in and out so when we get bad rains I pop it in on one side only. I love the panels!

Thanks again!

MY BAD, My coop is 4x4ft wide X 7ft high with roosts, I saw my mistake, I can walk in the run without bumping my noggin!! (Coop and run a total 4ft wide, 8ft long and 7ft high), That was my major goal, sick of bending down and cleaning the coop!!

 

[Miks]

MY BAD, My coop is 4x4ft wide X 7ft high with roosts, I saw my mistake, I can walk in the run without bumping my noggin!! (Coop and run a total 4ft wide, 8ft long and 7ft high), That was my major goal, sick of bending down and cleaning the coop!!

Ah, yes mine is 8 feet long and over 7 feet tall. I too tired of trying to clean a coop on my hands and knees! but adding the 8’x8”x2” boards all the way around the base gave it extra height and weight and really stabilized the whole coop! The whole thing sits on pavers and is filled with sand. I figured that would prevent anything from burrowing in. They love the sand and enjoy a good dustbathe every so often. About every four to six months I scoop out the sand and give them fresh, but it’s pretty easy to keep clean in between.

 

[Miks]

Well today they spent some halitosis time outside. Everyone was free ranging but the youngest ones stayed close to their pen. It seemed to be going along fine and one of the BSL hens came up to the youngsters. Everything seemed fine until she ran up and grabbed a beak full of feathers! This was not part of the plan! I will try again tomorrow
On the bright side, one of the youngsters is learning to respond to my voice and white millette container. When I call them they all come running and millet seed is their reward!

 

[Miks]

Today we had much better success! Several hours of free ranging and the BSLs pretty much left them alone. The EEs strayed further away from their bed and seemed to enjoy the free range all while keeping their eyes on the BSL!