This is my third year free-ranging my chickens. (knock on wood) So far I haven't had any problems. I know there are skunk, coons, coyotes, and other predators out and around, but my coop is tight and we are home most of the time. I would like to get a secure run built, but there is so much to do and chickens don't rate very high with anyone but me around here.
I have spent the past three nights trying to convince Hilda and her three 2-month olds that the nesting box IS NOT a good place to sleep anymore. I think finally I have them trained, as they tried roosting with the big folks for a while -- until a roo firmly and roughly forced them down to the lower roost when he thought they were taking HIS space. I suppose my next assignment is to install another high roost. They are out of room on the one I do have and no one likes the lower roost anymore.
I am in the process of making a pit for their dust bathing in hopes of keeping them away from the house foundation. My Maverick (11 YO grandson) filled, wheeled, emptied, and spread two wheelbarrows -- soil and sand -- to the site beside the coop. I could hardly move the wheelbarrows myself! That little guy sure is a good worker. Of course $3.00 per load was a great incentive, but I never expected he'd fill them that full. One load of ashes, some DE, and a tarp roof to keep it dry and protected should do the trick.
Today was hatching day! "Tres Olivia" had been setting on the six eggs I put under her for 21 days. So far I have seen two babies. . . the youngest one is really tiny. I don't know the status of the other four eggs. I figure Sunday night is soon enough to start worrying about them if they don't hatch. With two eager roos (I've got to get one into the soup pot.) and only seven hens I can't imagine having any non-fertile eggs being laid.
Sure glad all my flock seem to prefer the coop to the open air. I do have a couple that wait until everyone else is roosting before they go inside the coop, but inside they all go. I sure do enjoy my chickens!
