With a little help from my friends - New Coop Under Construction!

[wannabchick]

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
How do you do that with the Jewels this time but I have seen some others you have done.

 

[Miss Lydia]

very pretty isn't it.

 

[gryeyes]

This evening, after work - while it was still light - I filled the feed bucket to go top off all the feeders and as I was moving past the new coop, I heard the "thump!" of a chicken coming off the roost inside the building. Huh.

The people door has been closed, but I've had the auto door powered up (on its batteries) to test it. The chicken door was open. So I unlatched and opened the door to look inside.

The new coop is in use, even without bedding. A pair of BCMs, a roo and a pullet, were in there! When I stepped inside, they looked at me like they had been caught in the library after the class bell had rung. There was plenty of evidence on the vinyl floor under the roost bar that it's been in use. They might very well have spent the last two nights in there. And they might not have been the only occupants.... the other coops have been slightly cramped, of late.

So I think I'll be throwing down a bale of pine shavings and moving the boot trays under the roost even though I'm sure some shavings will get into the paint when I prime the interior walls this weekend. I might even fill the nest boxes, y'know?

Pretty cool, huh!?!?!? I think it might be interesting to see which flock members move in, without me having to make the decisions for any of 'em.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Bwahahah caught campin.....

 

[HHandbasket]

I bet they *all* go in there and leave all those other coops unoccupied. Heheheh.

 

[Cass]

Can't you just put the boot trays in under the roost and leave the shavings out until the painting is done? It's almost the weekend. The floor will mop clean after painting and before shavings.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Doh!
You are so very smart. Of course that's a much better idea. I was just so thrilled at the occupancy - "They like it! They really like it!" I got carried away with visions of eggs in nests, happy roosting chickens, all that instant gratification stuff.

 

[Cass]

Quote:
Doh!
You are so very smart. Of course that's a much better idea. I was just so thrilled at the occupancy - "They like it! They really like it!" I got carried away with visions of eggs in nests, happy roosting chickens, all that instant gratification stuff.

Oh beleive me I TOTALLY understand where you are coming from. I don't have a single chicken and my coop's walls are still laying on their side waiting for spring to put the walls UP and I have replied to several "free hens" ads and carry the TSC Ad in my car thinking I should stop and get the oyster shell and grit they are advertising right now. (I mean, the chickens are gonna need it right? Wait, WHAT chickens LOL)

However I am LAZY...and what you said your were gonna do just seemed like a lot of work to undo a couple of days later to paint....

Hope your chickens enjoy the new coop, after the paint drys.

 

[HHandbasket]

It'll be nice to collect most of your eggs from one coop. And it's such a comfy coop! I'm so glad they like it.