Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[vickiw]

Morning everyone!!!
Wow, major drama in the coop! Ok, so thinkin I was so chicken savvy, first I locked the big girls out of the coop. Next I removed the babies cage which allowed them to come in thru their pophole and explore the coop on their own, which they did with abandon! Oh, and I added a roost bar for them under catch shelf for the big girl's. They hopped right up and checked it out. next I removed the fence dividing the run and opened both popholes. Not too bad, minor chasing by crockpot, just letting them know I'm higher in the pecking order than you, expected. Noodle seriously went after them! When she tried to corner them I stepped in and let her know that was not acceptable and things stayed relatively quiet. That is till bedtime . I waited until the big girls had all gone to roost before closing the pophole they use and shooing the babies thru the other one they use and locking them in. Seemed like a great plan. Before I could take five steps all &$#@&$#!$ broke loose in the coop!!! I ran to the door and thru it open. Don't know exactly what happened but Noodle was off the roost and the babies were terrified! Noodle made another move, I stepped in ,scooped her up and tossed her out the door. I took a minute to calm the other big girls down ( they we're still on their roost but all worked up), left the babies to settle themselves and went to get Noodles "hotel room" forthe night. Aka a kennel carrier. She spent the night in her "room" in the coop. When I let them out this morning things are calmer tho everyone is staying waaaay away from each other and I only had to yell at Noodle once (which was funny because she FROZE as the babies scampered off)
Wait and see how it goes Tonight. I think one more night in "hotel" is in order.

EDIT - explore the coop on their own

 

[Bigfamily4me]

I'm super lucky this morning. I forgot to close the coop and run last nigh. Thank goodness there's corn up in the field for a wandering coon.

I've been letting George the gosling wander a bit for greens lately. The buff orps and the Delaware x are penned with the ducks outside for greens. Well the chicks discovered they can fly, so there's no keeping them in the pen anymore while outside. So they are officially free ranging today. It's a pain though having to catch them at night because they don't know where to go back to. I guess I'll be moving them into the big coop soon. The quarantine time is up. Then the ducklings can have a bit more room in that pen before I need to switch them.

Another benefit of FF... The goats don't seem to like it. So there's no dry food for the goats to eat and they can be out of their pen awhile lot more because they don't like the new chicken food.

Gotta go check on George, Martha, and the Buffers

 

[Celtic Chick]

Morning everyone!!!
Wow, major drama in the coop! Ok, so thinkin I was so chicken savvy, first I locked the big girls out of the coop. Next I removed the babies cage which allowed them to come in thru their pophole and explore the chicks on their own, which they did with abandon! Oh, and I added a roost bar for them under catch shelf for the big girl's. They hopped right up and checked it out. next I removed the fence dividing the run and opened both popholes. Not too bad, minor chasing by crockpot, just letting them know I'm higher in the pecking order than you, expected. Noodle seriously went after them! When she tried to corner them I stepped in and let her know that was not acceptable and things stayed relatively quiet. That is till bedtime . I waited until the big girls had all gone to roost before closing the pophole they use and shooing the babies thru the other one they use and locking them in. Seemed like a great plan. Before I could take five steps all &$#@&$#!$ broke loose in the coop!!! I ran to the door and thru it open. Don't know exactly what happened but Noodle was off the roost and the babies were terrified! Noodle made another move, I stepped in ,scooped her up and tossed her out the door. I took a minute to calm the other big girls down ( they we're still on their roost but all worked up), left the babies to settle themselves and went to get Noodles "hotel room" forthe night. Aka a kennel carrier. She spent the night in her "room" in the coop. When I let them out this morning things are calmer tho everyone is staying waaaay away from each other and I only had to yell at Noodle once (which was funny because she FROZE as the babies scampered off)

Wait and see how it goes Tonight. I think one more night in "hotel" is in order.

And on the next thrilling episode of "As The Egg Turns"....................

 

[Celtic Chick]

Your coop already has a/c, Bigfam. Why not get an automatic chicken door too?

 

[Bigfamily4me]

CC I was going to hire you to be the doorman on wheels. Yeah, you might get cold, but aren't my chickens worth it???

Vivk... Just let those chickens work it out. Noodle will terrorize them for a bit, but that's how pecking order goes. She's not going to kill any of them. You're just putting off the inevitable. And noodle might get so nasty and sneaky about it, she might really kick some @ss when she finally gets a chance too. So turn off cameras, or plug our ears, walk away quickly, and tell your hubby not to let you anywhere near the coop for the night. Then have a drink.

 

[delisha]

I already told her to cut a hole in the garage door..an automatic would work..would be great for addition air flow too..great idea!!

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Deli, my hubby plows straight down next to the shed. No extra run going out the front of the shed. But I will figure a way for more air flow! Baby chicks look good this morning. Neither one looks bantam, but we'll see how they grow out. Do you think I should switch out straw bedding in nesting box of broody of there's poop in it. Normally, I'd just leave it. But am more concerned about diseases obviously...

 

[delisha]

Deli, my hubby plows straight down next to the shed. No extra run going out the front of the shed. But I will figure a way for more air flow! Baby chicks look good this morning. Neither one looks bantam, but we'll see how they grow out. Do you think I should switch out straw bedding in nesting box of broody of there's poop in it. Normally, I'd just leave it. But am more concerned about diseases obviously...

I keep my nest boxes very clean. I remove any poop in them daily. I change out the nesting material weekly and sanitize the whole thing. I am pretty lucky and only get it with new pullets or a broody once in a while.

 

[jvls1942]

thanks for noticing the pics Cind,, I guess nobody else saw them..

chkn scrtch, how do you go about burning out a stump? I tried it last year and the stump hardly got charred.. I am thinking I should drill a bunch of holes into it and fill them with oil and get that to burning ?

Neat trick, turning yourself into a horse.. I was hitch hiking one time and I got picked up by a witch.. I know she was a witch, because we drove only a short distance when she turned into a motel..

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Ha! Nice Jim!