It's been a big week at "Chook World" here at Struan Farm, the paddock where "Cluckingham Palace" and our six new Hy Line hens are located. They spent the first week after arrival cooped up in their house to acclimate to home not-so-sweet home. On Monday afternoon I opened their little door hatch with ramp, encouraging them to venture out for a short time.
There was quite a bit of oohing and aahing over all that, they weren't so sure. I saw four-five of them peek out. One brave soul did come out and walk around, a second walked onto the ramp.
The intrepid hen, whom I've taken to calling "Braveheart," has decided she rather likes sitting underneath the coop. However I've decided that we don't want her nesting down there, so I go out and move her along after awhile.
Initially there was some discussion about naming the six hens after our grandchildren. But we've decided not to do that after learning of this breed's the relatively short (two year) peak laying cycle, since that would make replacing them a bit awkward in the family context. And unlike pet lambs, they pretty much all look the same; I didn't want us calling Violet Freya by mistake, that just wouldn't be right.
This week I also started to drop the top of the self-feeder in their coop as instructed. For the first week the top is propped open with a board so it doesn't move and scare them, after which the top is progressively lowered using clothes pins/pegs as the hens become familiar get with stepping on the ramp to pop the top open.
Clearly we're taking all things chook one step at a time.
I must say that at the moment my life is consumed by looking after chooks, pet lamb Tiger, and Clifford. Sometimes even John. The gardens (and myself) are way down the list. Hopefully things will settle down into more of a routine shortly so I can get my real work done around here.
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