This past week has been a busy one. We got our chicken run assembled and all closed in enough for the chicks to spend time during the day unattended. This was a necessity as the chicks are quickly outgrowing their brooder and as you’ll see, because of their sibling rivalry. This is a longer post that I would have rather split into two but… life, time constraints, etc.
Chick Drama
Just when you think you have things figured out, chickens surprise you. Dear reader, I am sorry to say, I may have spoke too hastily and handed over the crown to the wrong gal.
Benny was an early favorite and to a novice chicken keeper such as myself, it seemed obvious she was the queen who was meant to be. With another week passing (one filled with drama) the flock has rearranged again.
Our Black Australorps are growing much bigger than the other two breeds. They are supposed to be larger birds ultimately so it’s not surprising. This larger size has given Blackie confidence and she will no longer be pushed around by Benny. She doesn’t seem to have a need to boss others around though, she just wants to be free to live her life as she pleases.
Our rooster boys on the other hand (or should I say wing?) have spent most of the week fighting head to head with one another. As with Blackie, Tan Tan has been taking advantage of his larger size to assert his dominance over everyone, but particularly over little Butters. The first such occurrence had us very concerned. I awoke to Tan Tan and Butters pecking at one another, chasing each other around and flying at each other. Feathers were literally flying all over - which on a personal level does wonders for my allergies…
Tan Tan not only was going after Butters constantly, but it was as if he’d convinced all the ladies overnight that Butters was enemy number 1 as well! After he was getting constantly pecked at with nowhere to hide in the small brooder, we brought them outside to the garden to chill out. This helped the situation although Butters spent most of the time by himself.
Most of the advice I read from other chicken owners said this face off would resolve itself within a week or two. I’m happy to report that as of today, they have come to an understanding with one another. They’re definitely not best buds but they are co-existing for the moment without pecking at each other too much. Another development has aided in their truce, the progress on our chicken run.
Chicken Run Progress
Eric spent most of the weekend and a few late nights last week getting the chicken run setup. We ordered a kit on Amazon, similar to one we used for the hoop house last year. It came with the frame, chicken wire surrounding and a tarp for shade and rain cover for part of the run. The initial assembly was not too difficult but all the additional steps to secure it from predators became very time and labor intensive.
It’s a nice semi-sheltered spot on the property and we’ve enjoyed sitting in there interacting with the chicks and getting some much needed shelter from this high elevation sun.
Securing the run involved first digging a 1-2 foot trench around the whole run. With our rocky ground, this was no small feat. Then Eric laid out additional chicken wire in the trench, connecting up about 2 feet up the walls of the run. Next after attaching all the wire, he had to bury the wire. The purpose of all this is to prevent predators like raccoons or coyotes from digging underneath the frame and making their way in.
We also realized we needed to paint the back of the coop (even though it’s not completed yet) because the run once in place would be right up against it. I ran out to get paint one morning, “Red Dragon” and Eric made quick work of getting the coop painted.
The run is all closed in now and the chicks have spent a few hours the last two days out there. We set up the security camera the other day and left them in there by themselves for most of the afternoon. The only thing left to do on the run is to build a wood frame around the door (to add some stability and close off the wide spaces around it) and add a rock border along the fence on the outside. This will add additional security against digging predators.
Speaking of predators, our security camera picked up this large rat checking out the chicken run. I’m fairly certain this is the rat who was eating my pumpkins from the garden last fall. If not, he’s a relative and equally culpable in my book.
My apologies in advance for the disturbing image that follows…
Flock Update
And finally, updates on our flock growth. A week makes such a difference. They’re starting to look like real chickens now. Most of the older chicks are only needing feathers on their heads to be “fully feathered”. The baby chicks are growing too, moving out of the super fluffy stage.
Benny
Name: Benny
Breed: Golden Sex Link
Pecking Order: ?Autumn
Name: Autumn
Breed: Golden Sex Link
Pecking Order: ?Blackie
Name: Blackie
Breed: Black Australorp
Pecking Order: #1 henTan Tan
Name: Tan Tan
Breed: Black Australorp
Pecking Order: #1 roosterMarigold
Name: Marigold
Breed: Buff Rock
Pecking Order: ?Butters
Name: Butters
Breed: Buff Rock
Pecking Order: #2 RoosterCaramel
Name: Caramel
Breed: Americana Easter Egger
Pecking Order: Baby Chick #1Sapphire
Name: Sapphire
Breed: Sapphire Gem
Pecking Order: Baby Chick #2Peep One
Name: Peep One
Breed: Lavender Orpington
Pecking Order: ?Peep Two
Name: Peep Two
Breed: Lavender Orpington
Pecking Order: ?One final note (it’s already the longest post ever so what’s a few more lines):
This is just a fun outlet for me as well as a way to document the work we’re doing around here. I hope to have something to look back on in those moments where it feels like we haven’t made “enough” progress.
Thanks again for reading!
-Meg
You are amazing!!