Sunnie and Her Peeps: Part Four

Good Morning,

Welcome to Sunnie and her peeps! So glad you came. The day finally came when we brought the other three little yellow chicks home. This would now make six baby chickens. The black Austrolorps are now about six weeks old. They were not happy in the least when we put the babies in with them in the brooder. All three ran to the corner and turned their backs as if to pout. The babies were 4 days old and still a bright yellow with some tan markings. Soon the Austrolorps decided to meet the other chicks, by pecking them every once in awhile. This made me nervous and being this is my first time having chickens, I did not want any causality so we decided it was best to put a divider in the brooder for a couple weeks. They were able to hear each other without a battle. Soon the coop was finally finished. The Coop de Ville was like the Hilton for chicks, at least I thought so.

The weather had turned warm and we thought we could put the Australorps in the new coop. We put some sand in corner of the dirt ground to dust them, which keeps mites, lice, or other things off them. In the run area there is also grass clippings, and dirt for them to peck at. A ramp leads up the coop itself which has three roosting bars and two egg laying boxes, which can be accessed from outside. A ramp was attached so that they could run up and down into the coop. In the heat of the day, they can go up and near dark; they are suppose to put themselves to sleep. Of course even the best made plans fall short. The first week, we had to physically pick up the chicks and put them in the coop. When I tried to put them on the ramp, encouraging them to go up in the coop, they would just fly off. When you are by yourself, it is not easy to hold the chicken, putting the other two in, and keep one from flying out, all at the same time. There must be a trick to it but I haven’t found it. To this day the Australorps have not walked up the ramp to go inside at night by themselves. I wait until the last minute hoping...So at almost dark, I go out the lift those chickens in the coop. In the morning I open the door and they come down the ramp fine so I know they can do it.

The little chicks are about four weeks old now and we decided after talking to a couple people to go ahead and put them in the new coop. They are very gentle and not scared at all. They like to be held. They are very smart chicks. In one day they were walking up the ramp to go into the coop. They need to teach those Australorps a few things. The Australorps still chase them around but they have a lot of room to run. So far the groups of three stick together without mixing. It is really interesting, as the saying goes, “flocks of birds, stick together.” This is so true!

As far as eating goes, we have food up in the coop and down below in the run. In the evening all food is in the coop. I am hoping this is what will entice them to go in. I cleaned the coop for the first time this past weekend. It was fairly easy and not bad. I took all the roosting bars out, which my husband made them removable. Smart man! I brushed all the pine shavings into a big garbage can. There is a hose in the run so I am able to rinse coop out easily out the back door. I put fresh pine shavings down, and scrubbed the roosting bars with a wire brush to remove chicken droppings. All the pine shavings are then put around our vegetables in the garden and flowers beds to hold moisture in.

I love how the cycle of things works. I mowed the lawn, put the grass clippings and weeds removed from the garden in the coop I grabbed some spinach and lettuce from the garden and they seem to like it a lot. Note to self: They do not like apples!

My husband noticed they like the leaves from this wild flower that comes up every year so they have been munching on the green that grows near the run. He decided to train them, using this green to jump on his lap. He may live to regret that one. So now all he has to do is sit and they begin roosting on his lap. I call him the "The Chicken Whisperer"
The chickens seem happy and content as far as I can tell. They are thriving in the chicken house. Chrissy still has her eyes on them and would eat them if given the chance. Two things are left to do. Those darn Australorps have to learn to walk up the ramp so that I do not have to put them in the coop after dark and they will no longer chase the other three babies around the run. Other than that, all is well with Sunnie and her Peeps. I will write one final chapter when they start laying eggs which will be around August. Thank you for joining me today..I have had a chirping good time!

PS..I am adding this after the post...I have great news..all the chicks went into the coop on their own last night...so my big chicks are not so dumb after all...no one wants a dumb chick!

Sunnie