Month: May 2019

Work table

On By CarynIn Coop

Since I didn’t need the brooder table I made (since I built a cabinet in the coop instead), I have been using it as a work table. It is really nice because I made it counter height. The shelf is for nest boxes (when I get around to making them, it is on the list), but now that the chicks have access to nearly the whole coop and are flying higher, I needed a solution for the table top where I could use it, but the chicks couldn’t.

Table topper for my work bench

So I built a roof for my table. The siding is at a 45 degree angle so the chickens can’t perch on it, and are on hinges so I can open it. The sides are covered in chicken wire to also help keep the chicks out of it.

I can prop it open it to have access to the top for weighing chicks and tending wounds, but can close it so I won’t find poop deposits there.

And, just because, here is a video of chicks eating cucumber.

Chicken door

On By CarynIn Coop

The chicks were able to go out their door for the first time!

Wire up on most of the chicken runs

We have wire up almost all the way around the runs, and the main doors are in and latched. It is enough complete that we felt OK letting the chicks use their own door. (They are getting heavier and harder to carry outside!) The door we bought opens when the sun comes out and closes when it gets dark, but we are not ready for that yet, so I just propped it open today.

We stayed with the chicks, because the top of the runs is still open. Hawks and cats could still get in.

Sophie, our outside cat, saw the chicks out today, but now there is wire between them! Yay!

Hanging it up

On By CarynIn chickens

Not in the quitting way, but hanging things up in the coop.

Solo cup grit dish

I add chick grit to their feed, but I still have one chick (I think just one) that has runny droppings, so I cut off the bottom of a solo cup, punched two holes, and hung it up on the divider to provide more access to grit. The cup is red and the grit is reddish, so I hope the chicks that need it will start getting more grit.

Hanging treat dispenser

I drilled two holes and hung up the treat dispenser that is supposed to roll. We’ll see if they can pick out the meal worms because rolling was not working.

Real feather lost

The chicks are getting so big. I found a real feather on the ground today, and while they can still crawl under the brooders, not many fit under there any more.

Getting so big! And fluffy because it is cold

Mother’s day

On By CarynIn Wildlife

Happy Mother’s day to my mom, my mother-in-law, and all those who mother, whether they birthed or adopted, whether their charges have skin, fur, feathers, or scales!

Female cardinal on her nest in our honeysuckle

Update on the nest in our honeysuckle: it is a cardinal! We can actually peek through the window curtains and see her on her nest. Very exciting!

Here is a video of lap chickens. Just because.

Easy adjustable hanging

On By CarynIn Life Hack

My metal chick water bases rusted, so I bought a plastic hanging waterer. No fancy macrame this time, like busy moms everywhere, I did what was fast and easy.

Simple adjustable hangers using rope and carabiners.

I doubled some poly twine over the hanging loop on the waterer, then tied overhand knots about an inch apart all along the doubled rope. This makes a simple row of loops that you can slip the carabiner through and easily change the height of the waterer.

It was pretty amusing watching the chicks try to figure out what the new big red thing was all about.

It didn’t take them long. I expected the chickens to be, well, feather brained, but they really seem quite clever. For chickens.