Our new chicken house

After the other day's fiasco with Grace and the neighbours cat, we decided to get the babies a new house. With us going away for a couple of weeks, we needed something that would be safe for them, but also give them a little more room.

Vicky sent me a link to a great coop on Trade Me, and after speaking to the people who were selling it we decided to give it a go.

I went to pick it up from near the Airport yesterday and it nearly didn't fit in the car. Eeeeek. But I finally worked it out and got it home.

We decided to wait until today to put it up so the kids could help us and be part of the process.

Here's a glimpse of its assembly in photos.....

 It came in a big box. We first took all the pieces out so we could see we had them all, and could find them easily for assembly.

 I went inside to have a shower and some breakfast (very quickly!) and came out to find it half built...

 It was really easy to put together.

 Matt enjoyed using the drill with Andy's help.

 Sarah and Dan loved the box it came in. Here they are sheltering from the light shower that passed over.

 Then it was time to put the nesting box on. Again, really easy!

 And then we put it into the garden. You can see it has a little ramp to help our chooks climb to their bed/roosts.

 Tonight I tried to be patient and let them go to bed themselves. And was lucky enough to see Blah make the first move. I went back inside hoping the babies would follow her. But after a while I couldn't resist and went back outside. Blah and 3 babies were in the nesting box, so being the impatient wee thing I am, I picked up the others and put them into the roosting area. Later I went back out to see this...

 It's got a couple of doors on the side. This is one of them. I opened it up to get a picture and Saraie decided to come and investigate.

There is a bigger door, next to this which goes into the main 'play' area. I should've taken a photo.

Plus there is a door at the top of the ramp. I closed it tonight to ensure they stay in their 'bed' for the night. I'll do this the next few nights, just so they get used to this being where they sleep.

We are curious as to whether they will start roosting and if so when.

While it's a little smaller than I thought it would be, we love the 'bed' situation, it's very well set up. We're not sure how long it will last as it feels quite 'flimsy', but overall, we're really pleased with it!

Close ups 4 weeks

you can see far better by clicking on the photos. All the Wyandottes have rose combs and you can see that Betty/Barrys is way bigger and redder. Im unsure of Queenie and Lulu still......

Getting adventurous

In the middle of our lawn is a long concrete path. It seperates the lawn into two pieces.

The chickens have been on the left side of the lawn (looking from the house to the water), it's where the most sun is, and is away from the hedge where potential nasty cats can hide.

Blah has done her darndest to stay on the left side of the path. In fact, they didn't even venture onto the path until a couple of days ago.

Then they started to pick and scratch on the right side of the lawn. It was a big moment.

McClune update

It was so much fun talking to you tonight Vicky. Was so glad to hear that the Captain came down and all chicks were happy. Aren't they funny things?!

Here's a couple of photos I've taken today and yesterday.

First Lange. You can see his comb is red and he's developing wattles.

Next is Tuffy. Her head tuft is starting to feather up. It's going to be interesting to see what she looks like when it's finished.

Then after we talked about the sleeping situation, I thought I'd go and take a photo of my lot. Poor ole Blah is just too small for them now. When the chicks are standing upright, they are as tall as her. Not as big, but certainly they can't all fit under her wings anymore.

When I open the 'hatch' they all start to move about, but in this instance they just stayed where they were, but stood up. You can see Lange and I'm not sure who else? I think it might be Sarie? Under Blah.

Tuesday 6th Dec, 4 weeks old

tonight i went out to put Hook and the babies to bed and couldnt find Rita or Captain Hook. I got in a bit of a panic as they were nowhere to be found. I thought maybe Rita had got through the fence and Hook had gone after her and the dog found them,.... as you do. Anyway I heard Hooks special cluck she uses to call the babies and looked up. There she was roosting with Rita.

I had a bit of a panic as I couldnt get the others to go to bed without Hook. I tried to get them cheeping to encourage hook to come down, Sage and I held them and sort of chased them abotu but she did not move. Sage was thrilled to have his first hold all by himself. I took a few photos then came in to phone Trina

Sage and Queenie

hmmm comb pinking up?

lovely Rose
Queenie again
Funny old Minnie

Betty legging it

Minnie

Rose and Minnie, check out that tail

Hook up the top, queenie down the bottom

Finally she came down......

and so did Rita, Phew!

sexing links 4weeks

aruacana sexing

http://thechickenstreet.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/araucana-sexing-not-so-simple/

Wyandotte sexing

http://forum.backyardpoultry.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=7990745

Publish Post

More thoughts on sexing, 3.5 weeks

Ive been thinking about it constantly actually ;) If I go on the feathering theory it means I have 2 girls. Rita and Rose. They are both fully feathered between their shoulders.

If I go on the 1 day old wing feather theory I have one boy, Queenie although this should really just work for my wyandottes who showed as 3 girls.

If I think about stance and temperament I have 3 of each, Queenie, Minnie and Betty being bold and standing tall. Queenie and Minnie are the only ones who are interested in 'fighting' and no one is trying to crow yet. (5/12/11 today I caught Minnie trying to 'become a man' on her Mother!)

If we go by the watttle comb theory Betty is a boy.

Look at that wattle! and its so RED
Heres Minnie, no comb or wattles to speak of


Our sweetheart Rita. I would have thought a leghorn (who have extremely big wattles and cobs) would show early but you can only see a hint of a wattle in the top photo of her
Rose, only a peek of a yellow wattle there and a rose comb

and old Lulu the fusser, no comb and a hint of a yellow wattle, again, not much to speak of.

Queenie wasnt up for a photo today, It was

raining and I took these on the iphone.

Would love to see yours?

November 30th, 3 weeks

The chicks are really looking teenagery this week, I thought I would write some observations about each of them at 3 weeks that may help next time with sexing?!

This is pretty Rose the Buff Laced Wyandotte, she is shy and quiet. Her colouring has really lightened and we are still unsure if she will be white or blue with lacing. She sticks close to her mama.
This one cracks me up, you cant even see Minnie which tells about how far away he/she is and look at Queenie there checking out a plant while the others walk away
Rita the Black Leghorn. She is very sweet and while shy quite relaxed. If the others run over for food she is not quick to get up from a sunbathe to come too. She is fine featured and the fastest of all our chicks to feather up.
Funny old Betty the Gold Laced Wyandotte. She/he is inquisitive but not bold. doesnt startle easily and likes to stay with the group. Betty has had a noticeable Rose comb from when she hatched
Queenie the Coronation Sussex. HUGE. like twice the size of the others. Slow to feather and is often quite a distance from the others but not bothered abotu that at all. I have seen Queenie do the 'fighting pose' a few times.
Lulu the Silver Laced Wyandotte. Slow to feather. Very shy and skittish. Ive read this is common for Wyandottes. her comb is not at all prodominant but will be a rose comb also.
Rose again, such lovely feathers
and funny old Minnie. Minnie likes to 'fight' alot. He/she is also very inquisitive and strays from the group often. noticeable early tail but slow to feather otherwise
I will go and take individual photos of them again tomorrow as Id like to be able to compare the wyandottes a bit more.