Chicken Coop Extension - Phase One

We inherited an old dog enclosure from a family member and decided to add it to the back of the chicken coop. It would not only extend the area available to our chooks but would put them in and around our twin avocado trees and the super passionfruit. Chooks are great for fertilising shrubs and trees as long as you can keep them away from the roots.

The whole family pitched in and during a beautiful day of family fun we pulled the wire off one side of the enclosure and attached it to the chicken coop. We wired off the avocados and the passionfruit vine and let the chickens in. The portion nearest the coop is an old sandy loam garden bed so the ladies will enjoy hunting for bugs and worms I'm sure. The chook access to the new section is via a small cut out wire section that can be closed off if we feel the plants and grass need a break.

The bottom image shows the wire around the twin avocados which are still going well. In all the others you can see the super passionfruit vine that is fruiting like there is no tomorrow on the bottom of the main coop.

Phase two of the extension is to attach the coop to the side of the mower shed. This is scheduled for the weekend of 21/22 Aug. I will keep you posted.

Chickens: Mystery Solved

Well the mystery of the disappearing eggs has been solved! And we owe an apology to the reptile kingdom we naively pointed the finger at. It was an avian menace in the end. Two great black crows that were spotted in a tense scuffle with the chickens before smashing one egg and flying off with another. This may also explain the loss of feathers on a couple of the chickens as well.

Enter modern technology. I recalled reading some time ago that one way to help keep away predatory birds from your young chicks was to nail CDs, shiny side up, on the top of the chicken fence and hang them in any high set entry points. This was more aimed at hawks and falcons but I was sure the same technique would deal with thieving crows.

5 days since the installation of the wizzbang though sometime unaesthetic CD curtain and all eggs remain in the nest, the chooks look more relaxed and serenity appears to have returned to fowl central.

Chickens: Off the Lay

Our chickens have appeared to be off the lay over the last few weeks but the mysterious appearances of cracked open egg shells down the far end of the property has us thinking there is a thief on the lam. The hot weather and rain has brought all the snakes out of hiding as well as lizards and other reptilian life so perhaps one of them has stumbled upon a great source of protein that just requires a little bit of stealth to pull off.


The chickens certainly don't appear bothered with whatever is going on and don't appear under threat themselves. We shall keep it under surveillance though as those eggs have pancakes waiting for them goddamn it!

Chickens: The Great Perch Dilemma

Now chickens aren't the brightest of animals but I had thought that given the choice between a flat plank of wood and a nice cosy perch high up the back of the shed, nicely sheltered, the choice would be a no brainer.

The perches have been set up like a ladder, sloping back to the wall with enough space between each perch to keep the chickens roosting above from dropping poo on the chickens below. There is plenty of room for the birds to roost without being too crowded. Sounds ideal....right...?

Unfortunately our chickens decided that the flat plank of wood we placed above the feeder and waterer (originally put there so they could sit on the window sill during the day without dirtying their resources) was also an ideal perch and there they slept, three fat ladies bustled together on an ever increasingly sloped board.

The solution then appeared to be to simply remove the board and close off the window. Anticipating our reclacitrant ladies would simply sit on the L shaped shelf supports directly above the food and water (they needed to stay as they held up the water and food) we placed two large diameter PVC pipes there to dissuade them.

This was all in vain as my next nightly visit found two chooks perched on the PVC pipe (feet splayed out in the most uncomfortable of fashion) and one cold chook out in the yard who obviously missed the opportunity of a PVC perch and failed to notice the state of the art ladder of perches lovingly constructed at the back of the shed.

At least they lay well!

Jayson

Chickens: Welcome Ladies

We have chickens!! Our new hens arrived today into their new home. Blood sweat and tears have been poured into its construction and now it has become home to four fat ladies who immediately got down to scratching around the lemon tree and checking our their new digs. It is a proud moment for a pudgy city boy I can tell you.

We have three nesting boxes, angled perches made from old pallets and a wood pile full of delicious bugs and spiders to feast upon. It will be interesting to see the impact on the lemon tree of our new residents as chook poo and activity is apparently very good for fruit trees and citrus in particular.

Lay well ladies and may the force be with you.

Jayson