Big Move

So this was "big move" weekend for the young roosters. We had built the chicken tractor to use as a move-able shelter for the chickens, but I was never happy with the top cover. It was made of wood material that was to be used indoors and, though it would be light, I was never confident that it would reject water. After some torrential downpours, my theory was proved correct; water seeps right through.



This weekend I replaced the cover with tin. The only problem with this design is that it's not nearly as easy to get into. On the day we need to cull the cockerels/roosters we'll have to pull the metal roof to get to all of them. But, most importantly, I believe they'll stay much more protected and drier than with the previous lid.



Moving the chickens was a bit of a trick. I had read that chickens tend to relax when you hold them upside down by their legs, catching them to hold upside down, however, was another story. At first they did just fine because they come right to the gate and wait for me to enter the coop when they hear my voice. They know I've got food, so they look forward to my visit. After capturing about 10 of the 20 or so I needed to move, the flock was panic stricken by my presence and I had to corner the chickens, turn them upside down, and try then try to catch more. I attempted to carry 3 with each transfer to their new home.



Most of the time I carried 3 once I got the hang of it. And, yes, they relax. But some of them will give you a fight and it's relatively frightening at first when the chicken starts doing these ridiculous upside down ab crunches to start biting at your glove and arm. Eventually they relaxed and let me carry them to their new home where I gently laid them in the tractor. They jumped up, turned their head and clucked. I think they were calling me a jerk!



I was happy to find that all the young fellas survived their first night in their outdoor home. We are, however, down one cockerel. My father-in-law went to feed the chickens on Friday and found one dead. No signs of distress or attack...just dead. I too found nothing obvious that was wrong. To date we've lost exactly 2: one when the chicks were transported to us from the hatchery and now this one. We have one that is having trouble with it's legs but does not seem to be sick. I believe he's outgrowing the strength of his legs. I may have to cull him sooner than the rest.

Funny Note: I had captured all but one cockerel. He'd figured out I was trying to catch him so he'd run as soon as I entered the coop. On my return I saw his head peeking out from behind this leaning board. When I looked at him, he ducked behind the board...twice! When I approached the board, he bolted but there was nowhere to hide and there's a reason why humans are at the top of the evolutionary ladder...we know where you're hiding.