rachels.haven's Journal

[fuzzi]

@SageHill .... okay find the video for us now, don't leave us hanging.

I went the route of all separate pens years ago... had some real nice show birds... Then went to letting them run together except at breeding time and then separation... All depending to how many of what, as to how to do it. Also depends on the "agreeability" of the breeds and roosters. Some just DO NOT mix well.
I like the letting the hens mostly run together and then pulling for breeding with certain males. But... you sorta need a male or 2 for every 6-10 hens for "protection" of watching the skies etc for predators... to do the warning... Males develop better plumage when out running loose if they are not fighting amongst themselves. Tails do not get broken up against cage walls, dividers, etc...
They are happier out running loose... but AERIAL predators are the problem during the day... ground predators are more persistent at night. If you have a "chicken proof" dog that can coexist in fields, yards etc with chickens, they are your best bet for some protection.
I like to have them out together if they get along and if I am not breeding. But I do have to deal with hawks and eagles..... as well as dogs, coyotes, foxes, possums, skunks, raccoons, you name it... lost several here at the house over the last couple of years... and most were "lost " during the day... and there was one less chicken type hawk here this past year. I think the mate left since I did not see it but once or twice, after the first one disappeared... Am not at all sorry they are gone..
HAVE to lock in at night.... @fuzzi guards against ones digging in/under, with her wire on the outside etc on the ground.... I like to lock in a "coop" or building of some type. I will have some sort of more "weather proof" coops for the winter... these larger "pens" or chicken runs are fine for the warmer weather... and the tops are perfect to keep out any hawks etc...
Eventually I think it will be a mixture here again... especially with the fence getting put up to try to keep them more contained. But I do like the coops with attached runs to keep the breeds separate, and then let the different ones out loose for several hours at a time...

Something tried to dig under the new hoop coop...

...it stopped digging after about 2".

 

[farmerjan]

Good deal for you...that "curtain did what it was supposed to.... Set a havahart/live trap... it will come back... get rid of it.....

 

[rachels.haven]

Rat hole? I hope it doesn't come back.

 

[rachels.haven]

Hatchery has confirmed the white ones are Sultans and the buff or red head tiny ones are what they're calling "golden d'uccles", so I got mostly D'uccles and sultans with a few bantam cochins, mostly male cochins oddly enough...the ones I thought were bantam brahamas look like d'uccles too now. Four year old Shaun has claimed the "bantams" and the Houdan rooster because he's relaxed and easy to handle(...and would not survive on freerange at all). Shaun likes to take him to the food and feed him and then to the water and then just hold him forever. I may see if I can get Shaun a separate bantam coop with a run for his mini and toy chickens instead of selling them. The campines hang out with you but do not like to be held I feel bad getting rid of all the fun chickens.
I already got attacked by one of my polish "pullets" (lol, very red wattles all of a sudden) and a d'uccle rooster chick during our chicken time so...I think they'll be joining the wyandotte rooster for chicken soup eventually (doesn't hurt and isn't too intense yet). Only the campine and nice toy roosters will stay!

 

[rachels.haven]

As far as goat and other farm stuff goes today...

I got more goat electric net so we can fence in behind the arena. Now we need to put it up and decide what we're doing for a shelter in that area. My goal is to be using all of our property for animals/ under cultivation that isn't dedicated to my kids so there's less space we just have to mow.

Home Depot has a little electric cultivator/tiller waiting for me when I stop by on my errands running today. Weeding and mulching needs to be done after all this rain. I also need a caribeaner hasp for the coop and some 2x4 perches. It's time to meet the chicks instinctual need to perch. There will also be a feed run today.

Every 6 mo or so we've decided to bring the previous occupant's packages to the end of her driveway. For some reason she still hasn't changed her mailing address, which is irresponsible and stupid and not very adult so we still get random packages. Today will probably be that day. It will be nice to get the big area of porch back.

 

[fuzzi]

Hatchery has confirmed the white ones are Sultans and the buff or red head tiny ones are what they're calling "golden d'uccles", so I got mostly D'uccles and sultans with a few bantam cochins, mostly male cochins oddly enough...the ones I thought were bantam brahamas look like d'uccles too now. Four year old Shaun has claimed the "bantams" and the Houdan rooster because he's relaxed and easy to handle(...and would not survive on freerange at all). Shaun likes to take him to the food and feed him and then to the water and then just hold him forever. I may see if I can get Shaun a separate bantam coop with a run for his mini and toy chickens instead of selling them. The campines hang out with you but do not like to be held I feel bad getting rid of all the fun chickens.
I already got attacked by one of my polish "pullets" (lol, very red wattles all of a sudden) and a d'uccle rooster chick during our chicken time so...I think they'll be joining the wyandotte rooster for chicken soup eventually (doesn't hurt and isn't too intense yet). Only the campine and nice toy roosters will stay!

Zaccheus started attacking my feet and ankles somewhere around 3-4 months old. I just stood and looked at him, it didn't hurt at all. He gave up after a week. He's 14 months old now, and makes disapproving noises when I collect eggs, but doesn't interfere. Silas has recently started becoming upset when I gather eggs, but I pretend to ignore him as I watch. I got flogged in the face last year, don't want a repeat!

 

[rachels.haven]

Zaccheus started attacking my feet and ankles somewhere around 3-4 months old. I just stood and looked at him, it didn't hurt at all. He gave up after a week. He's 14 months old now, and makes disapproving noises when I collect eggs, but doesn't interfere. Silas has recently started becoming upset when I gather eggs, but I pretend to ignore him as I watch. I got flogged in the face last year, don't want a repeat!

I kinda love bantams for that reason. They're more annoying than dangerous when they get full of spit and vinegar. I still have to be careful with them and the four year old, but if its just me its much less stressful.

 

[fuzzi]

I kinda love bantams for that reason. They're more annoying than dangerous when they get full of spit and vinegar. I still have to be careful with them and the four year old, but if its just me its much less stressful.

I've only had bantams, but am happy to continue on with smaller birds.

 

[rachels.haven]

I've only had bantams, but am happy to continue on with smaller birds.

Keep your shoes and jeans on!