The cute little chicks are all grown up now. They are way too big for their temporary pen, and busted out ... free to roam the yard. After they started digging up my mom's flower beds, my brother-in-law helped me build a larger new home for them.
I used an old drawerless dresser turned on its side for a small shelter. They roosted on the top. Yesterday I decided to add another partial (lidless) dresser on top to make laying boxes.
Evening came and the ladies went to bed. On top of the open "nesting" area. They fought for supremacy along the narrow slats at the top. Every time one of them moved, another fell off and the war for a sleeping area had begun.
And it was NOISY.
I decided to put a 1X6" piece of lumber across the top for them to roost on. When I had put in the dresser, the chickens went crazy getting away, so I figured I wouldn't have a problem.
Wrong.
As I slid the piece of board across the top of the nesting area, the chickens immediately decided that this was a very good idea. They hopped right on. So here I was, trying to position a board -- still halfway out of the pen, with 13 chickens crowded ONTO the other end. I had to tip the board back and forth, chickens swaying with each motion, to inch it into place.
Silence ensued.
Blessed silence.
Good night ladies.
Sleep well.
I used an old drawerless dresser turned on its side for a small shelter. They roosted on the top. Yesterday I decided to add another partial (lidless) dresser on top to make laying boxes.
Evening came and the ladies went to bed. On top of the open "nesting" area. They fought for supremacy along the narrow slats at the top. Every time one of them moved, another fell off and the war for a sleeping area had begun.
And it was NOISY.
I decided to put a 1X6" piece of lumber across the top for them to roost on. When I had put in the dresser, the chickens went crazy getting away, so I figured I wouldn't have a problem.
Wrong.
As I slid the piece of board across the top of the nesting area, the chickens immediately decided that this was a very good idea. They hopped right on. So here I was, trying to position a board -- still halfway out of the pen, with 13 chickens crowded ONTO the other end. I had to tip the board back and forth, chickens swaying with each motion, to inch it into place.
Silence ensued.
Blessed silence.
Good night ladies.
Sleep well.
