TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources
amy elizabeth
Multi Purpose Insulation, keeping it simple and functional.
Content Contributor: The Happy Chicken Coop
Heating the coop has always been a source of endless discussion among chicken folk. Old timers will tell you that you don’t have to heat the coop. However, there are occasions when heat is appropriate. Read Article 5 Different Types of Chicken Coop Heaters & Our Favorite
Jasmine has been talked about here often, she is a wild bunny that joined our flock of chickens years ago. She is always in or around the barn, and most of the day, hangs out under a shade tree with our free roam hens. She very often has babies stashed in the holes and tunnels she digs in the barn. She gathers chicken feathers for her nest and quite diligently tends to her young. And then… when they are old enough to meet the outside world, she moves them somewhere during the night. Once in a great while I see her youngsters, but as a rule, she hides them.
Again, this morning Jasmine is looking for the proper place to make a new hole for her soon expecting babies. She never uses the same hole, which for obvious reasons I’m NOT a fan of. Nevertheless, it is what it is, and I just go along with bunny nature.
Yes Jasmine! Under the brooder coop, that’s a great place for you to dig a hole, tunnel, and completely destroy. At least there I won’t likely step in it and further tweak my already tweaked back. Well, Jasmine didn’t think so, and went on to find a better spot. And this is where she picked…
Here? Really Jasmine? She decided the chicken coop is a great place to dig a hole for her baby nursery. Right smack in the middle of a 10×10 chicken coop. Ah yes, now there’s a perfect spot, perfect for me to step in and fall to China everyday.
There’s no discouraging Jasmine from a chosen spot, she’ll tunnel from Timbuktu to get where she wants to be. Like I said, bunny nature, just go with it. After all, a bunny mom knows best.
Every good chicken keeper knows the importance of protecting their birds from predators. Most of us will, or already have lost birds to a coyote, hawk, fox, bobcat, etc, etc. It’s devastating to see the after mass, I know, it’s happened here, I lost seven birds after a coyote attack in 2016. That changed everything I loved most about keeping chickens.
Since the attack, my birds have been completely safe after building them a 10×10 predator proof enclosure. Unfortunately, that means their happy life of free roaming our acreage came to a screeching halt. To me, it meant never enjoying my birds out and about, it was now just a chore for their well being. Chickens live for the opportunity to scratch in the dirt and look for bugs, sunbathe in the morning sun, or finding that perfect spot for a dust bath. Since confinement, I’ve noticed the overall health of my flock has not quite been what it was.
The heat plays havoc on confined chickens in the desert southwest, heat stroke is real, and it’s deadly. Free roam flocks have a much higher rate of survival, and are quite resourceful in finding shade and cooler ground to burrow in. So this brings me to a dilemma, coop for safety from a predator, or free roam for quality of life and comfort from the extreme heat?
Quality of Life
Today I opened the gate and gave my flock the opportunity to live a happy life. After considering the risk, I decided being cooped up in 110+ would have the same outcome as a predator attack… both could mean a death sentence. I will do my part to protect them every way I can. They will be confined from dusk to late morning, but during the hottest part of the day they will be free to find comfort.
Here’s some of the girls who found a comfy place in the feed room… where there’s a giant oscillating fan and mist system. 🙂
