Chickabee Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 Be careful with the railway sleepers, they can get very slippy. I do believe you can get something to put on them to help prevent this though. I have steps made of railway sleepers. They look lovely, but a few people have slipped on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 Be careful with the railway sleepers, they can get very slippy. I do believe you can get something to put on them to help prevent this though. I have steps made of railway sleepers. They look lovely, but a few people have slipped on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted December 5, 2014 Author Share Posted December 5, 2014 The sleepers are actually concrete slabs made to look like railway sleepers and have a very rough wood grain texture in the concrete so hopefully be ok? I have some log rounds in the garden and know they can be lethal when wet to step on so I avoid them. Horrible forecast tomorrow but determined to get girls into their shed one way or another! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 Oh they sound like a good idea. Good luck tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted December 5, 2014 Author Share Posted December 5, 2014 Thanks, I'm gonna need it! Freezing tonight......no idea how the doodles do it, prob up in a tree! Rain and bit of sleet tomorrow and storm force winds on tues/wed...........lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Good luck with this redsunset, hope it stays calm for you! If you can construct a covered area in your run, maybe shavings would stay dry, if you cant get chips. Looking forward to seeing your new set up, bound to be chick heaven! Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted December 6, 2014 Author Share Posted December 6, 2014 Day wasn't as bad as forecast but the chooks are not impressed with the new house! Closed off the hen houses but as light was fading and much swearing from the chickens, I had to relent and open two of them back up! Left one closed and about 9 hens are in the new one huddled in a bundle in the corner. Lifted them onto the roosts but think most of them went to the corner again. Managed to get an Isa and a speckledy out of the willows and with much squawking put them in as well. Guess it's gonna take a while! The doodles cleared off to their usual tree. Sparkysmum the chooks don't have a run as free range (no fox). While I took a third of the garden back for me, they have the rest. Will see what tomorrow brings...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Blinkin' chickens. No pleasing them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 Well tonight the new lovely fresh smelling shed has........0 chickens in it! Epic fail! They are a stubborn lot and just don't like change, lol. Gonna have to leave it now until next weekend and I think the solution will be if I can get the head cockerel in first? Any ideas as if I shut down the other houses I think they will just mill around in a panic? Will leave the shed door open at least for a nice dry shelter as weather is cold and few light snow flurries forecast. Blinking chickens is right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 What about giving them their favourite treats in there at night. Failing that you might have to move them when they're all asleep. Big job for you. Or make a temporary run so they can only go into the shed at night. What a conundrum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 So ungrateful. What about moving their house into the new shed?......................pictures please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Every night when it is very dark move few of them. as you said the leading rooster or the lowest in the pecking order "they will get better perch" or as Chickabee said make a temporary run may be using birds netting and bamboo canes. if a few of them start sleeping there, others will follow. then you can close the ones you want to close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 What about moving their house into the shed? That's a very cunning idea - can you do that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 I think it's going to be a job of lifting them in once it's quite dark, and feeding them there the next morning and also not letting them out until lunchtime? We have severe gales due tues/we'd so it might not be until next weekend. I have closed one house down completely as I need to get that moved up to the top bit of garden near where the doodles sleep in the hope that they will come down off the tree in bad weather. What will probably happen then is a few hybrids will plonk themselves in it! Will have to shut the shed door tomorrow before the storms come. There is a pop hole in the side though The joys of chicken keeping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 not letting them out until lunchtime? Why not to leave them in all day that will force them to sleep in the shed?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 Yes, I will leave them in the new shed all day, maybe a couple of days once I move them. Closed the shed door tonight as 70-80 mph due possibly in next few hours until Thursday. One thing I did notice when down with torch just now is that the two boys are in the one coop (Samson the SLW has bagged a nest box!) and Goliath, the big Brahma boy is right behind him on a roosting bar?? That gives me hope that the two big guys can live in the big shed without squabbling once I get them sorted. The storm are due to start in the day time so will be interesting to see if the doodles go to a coop? I somehow doubt it as once they establish their corner? Mum seems to keep them separate from the main flock but want them to integrate. Think Samson knows the kids aren't his so gives them a wee peck if near his food, Goliath not so much. Three hybrids in the willows again.... Plus side is five eggs were laid in the new shed so it's a start Will try and take pics next weekend if weather not too bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 For those who asked re moving a coop into the shed, they are too heavy. But I do get your idea, so thank you. Two coops are going to be given to a friend who's chooks don't have proper coops so they are going to a good home keeping one in the hope the doodles will use it if snow comes..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Blimey redsunset I don't like the look of the isobars up your way! Hope the doodles are hanging on tight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 Me neither! ferries cancelled.....and prob for the next three days! Tesco were double stocking tonight and place heaving! Doodles up the tree (could see them by light of the car whilst turning tonight). All flat and calm just now... Really hope they don't attempt a tree tomorrow but........? Chooks are so daft and I am very late home the next few nights if no cancellations....so not a lot I can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted December 9, 2014 Author Share Posted December 9, 2014 Dreading tomorrow. All schools, public services closed etc. Storms of 90 mph forecast. Took my clients numbers home and am going to look and see if I have bits of wood I can tack to the windows of the shed as if windows blow in, then the roof may go. I'm closing down the chook hatches shortly and pray they are ok until the morning at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Oh no. Poor you. Wish we could help. Everything crossed for you. Sonya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted December 9, 2014 Author Share Posted December 9, 2014 Thank you, going to check and see where the doodles are!.... And knowing them, where I can't reach! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted December 10, 2014 Author Share Posted December 10, 2014 What a night! Chooks all survived just fine despite my worries! Storm due to peak this afternoon and then lessen slowly. Power going on and off so decided to cancel clients today to be safe. Two of them live over a causeway so may have been trapped, not worth it. They complied very happily. Chooks getting hot mash today to keep them warm. Can not believe the doodles survived up the tree, I have no idea how they did it, but very relieved as there was nothing I could do about reaching them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Glad to hear from you Redsunset! Hope everything continues to go ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 You must have properly tough girls. Hope they're all still ok. Can't understand how the doodles manage to fly into their tree in the wind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
