So, something like 2 months ago we built a chicken coop, you can find the posts here and there, but we only got the chicken a week ago, I've decided to document (sounds so formal) all of it, we have 3 chickens and 1 rooster, they are "bare neck" chicken, good layers from what we've been told.
Once again, we got some fences from the neighbour, in exchange for some handy work and wood cutting, I think the deal was decent. It's sheep fence so it might be too large for the chicken, but oh well, I like free stuffs.
Here that's me face in action, I got a tool in my hand, so surely it means that I am doing something important.
That fence is all wavy and shit, so I got to stretch it, that's super interesting, please don't skim through like some does (like me 馃榿).
Why are we setting up a fence?
Well, that's a good question you're asking, it's because we need them to get used to go back to the coop on their own, once they are more familiar with their environment, we will take some of the fence off, knowing that the dogs are coming in less than a month, so they will need to get used to each other anyway, especially Jacky the husky (Malamute) just loves chicken, but in a very murderous way, so we will have to work on that gradually.
I tried to get some cheap labours from those 2, but they were more interested in messing around; throwing hay at each other, I have to admit it was pretty fun, but they didn't do shit otherwise. I can't really blame them, I remember being quite similar around their age, not really wanting to partake in serious activities.
Since we moved in last summer, there's always so much to be done, I forget that we need to let them be children also.
I eventually gave up trying to teach them the very important value of spreading hay equally, at the same time, it's just to keep them warm for now, we added sawdust eversince, and we will create a nice medium that can be cleaned easily, I will take the hay out progressively and leave some at their laying spot.
In the picture below, that's the first fence we were working with.
The yellow posts that you see are made of carbon, most shops don't sell the metal poles anymore, they are supposed to be as resistant, they are normally used for electric fence.
And it didn't work; Angela (one of the chicken) went through the fence like it was nothing, she even looked at me and laugh. The others joined her, through the fence, and they also made fun of me in chicken language.
I eventually came up with a plan to double up the fence with a second fence with smaller chains, and now it's all good, the hens aren't trying to escape anymore, Angela now is chilling a lot inside the coop scheming for a next escape plan.
Right now, we had them for a week; and they are getting more and more curious about us everyday. I've sung them some songs, with the guitar also, and they seem to react very positively to Bossa Nova, especially Mickael Jackson, the rooster.
I know they are supposed to lay eggs, but we aren't the type to put pressure on our people, they can take their time and eat their mix, I also got them some corn on the side, and tomorrow it's cleaning day, so I am gonna make sure that the whole family partake while I am taking pictures 馃榿.
You see the blur?
It's a pile of compost I started. Last week a neighbour asked me to dig a hole, for irrigation purpose.
I collected a whole bunch of worms and soil, and I made a pile inside the chicken area with decomposing material. My ultimate goal would have to get the compost, the chicken poop, the worms, all living together hand in hand and feeding off each other.
Anyway, this is our chicken, they are pretty cool. The lighter one on the right is Angela.
Honestly, the rooster is just a little bit bigger than the hens, so it's quite difficult to even notice him as a "coq". I also feel that everyone is trying to protect Angela for some reason, like she is Mariah Carey.
I also wonder if we get a second rooster, the bare neck one will get insecure because he is so small and cute. This is it, I am gonna train Mickael Jackson (the rooster), making him do some extra muscle building exercise, and calisthenics.
Like this guy
Let's do thiiiis!