Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[debbier]

I spent half a day portioning off my wir with chicken wire to protect my new youngsters from the wicked oldies. It's a bit of a bodge, with a combination of bungee straps, cable ties, garden poles and a plank stapled along the edge as a makeshift door.

 

Having said all that (it does sound bad when it's written down like that!), I thought it was fairly secure, and it has indeed kept them apart for a few days now.

 

This morning the new minxes were in with the oldies. Goodness only knows why they wanted to, as they were being pecked pretty badly. Hopefully the bumper bits will arrive soon!

 

I've put an extra plank and a few bricks along any likely looking holes, along the floor, but, honestly, they don't look big enough for a chicken to squeeze through!

[Ms Tilytinkle]

ah bless them, time passes so quickly hope all is okay sooon enough, when they eventually merge & become one flock

 

MsTilythinksHeathRobinsonwould'velearntafewtricksfromyou-welldoneyou!!

Keepupthegoodwork,straps,grips,clips,poles -soundsjustthething-

mygardensfullofthemtoo

[Carol U]

My new babies did exactly the same thing, and in fact were getting trapped by the old girls in the sort of alleyway created by the extra wire. In the end I took the separation out, but we have some old tree branches in the run and the babies now roost up there when they want to escape. The others are too old and heavy to get up there. Seems to work quite well and the babies have become very good at leaping down and doing flying raids when treats are around!

[debbier]

In the end I took the separation out, but we have some old tree branches in the run and the babies now roost up there when they want to escape. The others are too old and heavy to get up there. Seems to work quite well and the babies have become very good at leaping down and doing flying raids when treats are around!

 

Great idea!

 

Also, my bumber bits came in the post yesterday. I'm planning on keeping them separate for at least a few more days until their bums are healed (the old ones really pecked at them when they could: they were red raw), and then reintroduce them. They do seem happy pecking around for corn on two different sides of chicken wire.