Wing It Ranch

[WingItRanch]

I find our hen goes off and does her own thing. The pullets might follow, they might not. Often they are oblivious to where she is. If they would stick with her they would learn the best places and things to eat. Mostly they are just goofy teenagers and spend their energy running around, flying needlessly burning up energy and chicken tussling with each other. Eventually they all meet up but my time is spent watching them to ensure they don't injure themselves. Mine cannot be trusted to return to the coop on command so they only get out for two hours pre roost, when I know for certain they'll return 'home'. The hen gets out various times of the day - special privileges as she is well trained.

Aww that's great! Yeah, mine only go out in the afternoon when I'm home from work. I'm glad they're all doing well. I bet they'll become a more cohesive group once the pullets start laying.

 

[z3lda3]

Thanks, Jessi! Haha yeah that barn was a shed that came with the property and I commandeered it and made it look like a "traditional" barn. One day I'll put stalls for the goats that I don't have but definitely want.

I want miniature goats, ever since I saw a picture of one with clothes on, pajamas!!

 

[wrathsfarm]

So I've never posted my coop & run. For a reason... I've noticed people can be a little judgy or make a lot of comments about what you did wrong. Well, I figured this was a safe space since this is my thread and only nice people are here haha. I do welcome constructive criticism if anyone has inputs.

Here's what I started with:
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Here's the small adjustments over time:
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And I've been working all weekend on expanding with an open air coop on the opposite side of the traditional coop:
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Everything is covered in hardware cloth with a skirt around the perimeter. I plan on adding nest boxes (which I'll need similar to the current ones because my loved ones refuse to enter the coop) and I'm going to collect rain water from the roof and feed it back into the coop with horizontal nipples.

I currently have 10 hens and 8 pullets. They free range for several hours in the afternoon. Well, the hens do.. the pullets will eventually.

I, for one have to be judge-y.

You painted your coop red, common belief is chickens are attracted to the color red.
Which means your chickens will be attracted to your...oh, wait,..

Nevermind.


Beautiful coop, Wingit !!

 

[WingItRanch]

I, for one have to be judge-y.

You painted your coop red, common belief is chickens are attracted to the color red.
Which means your chickens will be attracted to your...oh, wait,..

Nevermind.


Beautiful coop, Wingit !!

Haha thanks, Wrath. I read the first line and knew the rest would be sarcastic...

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Thanks, Jessi! Haha yeah that barn was a shed that came with the property and I commandeered it and made it look like a "traditional" barn. One day I'll put stalls for the goats that I don't have but definitely want.

I can relate, I have a spot all picked out for a couple Nigerian dwarf goats, just need to get the hubs on board

 

[z3lda3]

I can relate, I have a spot all picked out for a couple Nigerian dwarf goats, just need to get the hubs on board

maybe you could pass them off as dogs that followed you home?? I might try the “gee honey I have no idea where those goats came from, must be strays” lol.

 

[wrathsfarm]

maybe you could pass them off as dogs that followed you home?? I might try the “gee honey I have no idea where those goats came from, must be strays” lol.

"Baaaaaa !!"

"Well that's a weird bark?!"

 

[WingItRanch]

I can relate, I have a spot all picked out for a couple Nigerian dwarf goats, just need to get the hubs on board

That's the breed I'm getting! Apparently they make the best milk for cheese making. They're basically the size of dogs so why not?

I need fencing first. They're notorious little escape artists.

 

[WingItRanch]

So... big day at Wing It Ranch.

I decided that with bad weather coming, I would just go ahead and fully intigrate today instead of wait until Friday. So I let the hens out to free range and then closed the main coop/run. Then I moved the littles into the main coop. Wanted to give them plenty of time to get lay of the land before bringing the big girls back in.

And then I hurt myself.

I walked into the corrigated metal roofing of the little grow out coop, face first. Blood everywhere! I had to be rushed to urgent care. I insisted that my partner just drop me off and rush back home because the hens were out free ranging without the ability to get back in. He left and got to do the whole full intigration without me. Was kind enough to get some videos. Sounds like everything went well!

Concussion, stitches, tetanus shot, and antibiotics later, I came home to find them all in the big red coop on the roosting bars with the hens! This is their first time roosting!!

Now I'll have a huge scar right between my eyebrows for the rest of my life with an embarrassing story... (sigh)

 

[z3lda3]

So... big day at Wing It Ranch.

I decided that with bad weather coming, I would just go ahead and fully intigrate today instead of wait until Friday. So I let the hens out to free range and then closed the main coop/run. Then I moved the littles into the main coop. Wanted to give them plenty of time to get lay of the land before bringing the big girls back in.

And then I hurt myself.

I walked into the corrigated metal roofing of the little grow out coop, face first. Blood everywhere! I had to be rushed to urgent care. I insisted that my partner just drop me off and rush back home because the hens were out free ranging without the ability to get back in. He left and got to do the whole full intigration without me. Was kind enough to get some videos. Sounds like everything went well!

Concussion, stitches, tetanus shot, and antibiotics later, I came home to find them all in the big red coop on the roosting bars with the hens! This is their first time roosting!!
View attachment 4103208

Now I'll have a huge scar right between my eyebrows for the rest of my life with an embarrassing story... (sigh)

Oh no! I’m sorry you were hurt. I hope you heal well! But congratulations on the chicken move bittersweet day for you.