Teresa & Mike CHS - Our journal

[Bruce]

We had to go back and install some 24" poultry netting on the inside of the chicken pen. The Delawares figured out that they can get out and go exploring. Fortunately for the one that got out it got out on the yard side where there are no dogs roaming. That pen is right at 250' of fence but we were able to get it all done yesterday.

We got another Manager's Special at TSC (picture attached) and got it put together today. It will hold up to 15 birds but we are going to move the Rhode Island Reds (4 hens and 1 rooster) into this pen and use the now safer pen for all of the younger birds. It borders the sheep pen on two sides so Maisy keeps them safe even though she doesn't know it. We have started introducing her to the chickens and she seems to so far understand that they are supposed to be there.

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15??
No way that is big enough for 15, not even bantams. Try 6 standard, 10 - 12 bantams. And that is ONLY if they are never locked in except at night.

Can you tell that the exaggerated capacity of commercial coops is one of my points?

 

[Mike CHS]

Yep - If it was freezing cold and they were snuggled it might work but we are using it for 5 birds anyway.

 

[Baymule]

Sounds like chicken math at work to me!

 

[Bruce]

4 hens plus one roo? How could chicken math possibly happen?

 

[Mike CHS]

Chicken math may not happen here since this Roo likes to attack the boss of the chickens (Teresa). He may wind up in the stew pot but I do like him.

 

[Mike CHS]

We finished turkey house today. I guess I shouldn't call it a turkey house since it's like a big dog house so we will call it a turkey dog house. We may wind up with some other use for it but for now that is the plan. We should get it moved out of the shop tomorrow and put back together in the main pen. That way we can get all of the chicks out of the brooder and in their new home. Teresa did some re-engineering of the A-Frame coop and double the floor space for the sleeping area.

I'm attaching a picture of me and Ringo and the 2 wethers that keep him company. The other 3 will be in there soon. We are just following the method of the farm that he came from. 2 or 3 times a week they will give him a handful of grain and just lay a hand on his back for a little scratching. He is super calm and has let me do this from day 1. That is the only contact we make but they said that it kept him comfortable with people. I was surprised when he let me do that so soon.

I take care of the boys since Teresa is about half his size and I want to make sure we can trust him. I never tried that with male critters but it works with him.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Sure glad that he is that settled there. Dies he get along with the wethers okay?

 

[Mike CHS]

They follow him around like they did their moms. These two were already mom weaned so no stress on them. We have to build another pen within the pen for training. Our dogs (or at least Lance is) are working but we have some people that want to start their dogs so we can accommodate that with our wethers.

 

[Baymule]

I had to quit giving my ram treats by hand. When I ran out, he wanted to ram me. So no more hand feeding. I can walk up to him and put my hands on his back, pull out shedding wool, but I keep an eye on him. I found out that a plastic grocery bag flapped at him is a great way of asserting my dominance over him. LOL I'm even a bigger, badder, ram when I flap the bag AND chase him!

 

[Mike CHS]

I carry a plastic grocery bag in my pocket.