I have two flocks (by their choice not mine). One sensibly uses my real coop and run that leads onto a couple of hectares of pasture they freely range. The second flock refuses to. They fence hop (despite clipping one or both wings!) and sleep in trees, verandahs, car ports, etc. Their pooping is driving us nuts but we dearly love them as pets and some cannot handle exposure during our wet season.
So we've constructed an open house of their own near my verandah. It is oriented to protect them from winter winds, summer sun, rain and storms. A high ladder roost with open "nest" boxes are being made to mirror where they currently lay and roost.
It is not finished yet but I am trying to train them this is now their area for food and water. I'd love some tips for training them to accept their new fully serviced casita!
I have also recently removed the father and son roosters attached to each flock to bring in some new blood. I do not know if it is good to wait to get new a rooster or if a new rooster will help the roaming gang adopt their new casita???
Here is the gang that refuses to reside in the real coop (pictured behind) with the normal flock!
Like her hatch mates, she had her chicks on my verandah and they refuse to go to the coop:
Here is the new unfinished casita, its dimensions are similar to the real coop.
They're now fed there and their favorite garden furniture to poop on
has been placed inside:
So we've constructed an open house of their own near my verandah. It is oriented to protect them from winter winds, summer sun, rain and storms. A high ladder roost with open "nest" boxes are being made to mirror where they currently lay and roost.
It is not finished yet but I am trying to train them this is now their area for food and water. I'd love some tips for training them to accept their new fully serviced casita!
I have also recently removed the father and son roosters attached to each flock to bring in some new blood. I do not know if it is good to wait to get new a rooster or if a new rooster will help the roaming gang adopt their new casita???
Here is the gang that refuses to reside in the real coop (pictured behind) with the normal flock!
Like her hatch mates, she had her chicks on my verandah and they refuse to go to the coop:
Here is the new unfinished casita, its dimensions are similar to the real coop.
They're now fed there and their favorite garden furniture to poop on
has been placed inside:
Last edited:
they love attention and follow me like puppies but they're impossible to find even at night!
and I hope it makes it inaccessible to them so they'll return to their casita!
I love watching them and they love being talked to.... now if I can just catch the other 2 rascals!
