While different breeds of chickens mature at different rates, the Rhode Island Reds are showing their maturity with right red combs and broader hips. I don't have photos today and it is a cloud filled day, so the photos typically don't turn out well on overcast days. I will get some photos soon. The pullets have been moved into the smaller coop (the one designed for three large hens) and are adapting to the new space. They had a lot of space while in the hoop coop because, of course, that was originally designed for two turkeys.
So the Rhodie's space is now about one-third of what they originally were maturing in. I will also take photos of the new feeder that D purchased that is designed to keep mice and rats out of the feed. His intent is to pick up another one if this one works. The rats and mice are thick in our fields, so it is always a battle to not feed them. The feeder is designed to close down when ever a mouse/rat pulls on the lever to get into the feed. I have a mini-cam that I will also be putting out into the run to see if this thing is actually working.
He purchased it last winter, but the Welsummers were not smart enough to figure out how to get their food out. He decided to wait for the Rhodie's to mature to the right height to see if they would figure it out. And they did, within minutes of it being set up. Go figure?
This was the coop that we discovered had been leaking last winter. We got the leak handled, but it did in the flooring. That has been replaced with painted particle board. We bleached down the walls, installed the floor and aired it all out for the new flock. We will paint the outsides of it soon, in preparation for winter. We have new shade screens for both runs since the weather has been harsh on the one we picked up several years ago. We also need to create some new wind screen boards this summer before the fall east winds kick in. With all the rain that we get, the wood rots and gives out after a couple of years, even when it is painted/stained.
We had a bit of a scare. When I was carrying one of the pullets to their new digs, I stepped in a hole and my legs went out from under me. I fell forward, almost crushing the poor chicken. It all happened so quickly, I didn't have time to react to let her go and we both went down together. She is fine and I'm healing.
Since the RIRs have hit "maturity" time, I have hay and a fake egg in the nesting box to help spur them into laying now.
Garden is better than last year. We have several bell peppers already, about four tomatoes on one early plant, the potatoes are ready for the dig out, the corn is about knee high, the onions are starting to grow, the first of the three bean plants is flowering, oregano, basil and dill, plus the carrots and radishes are growing quickly. The garlic is basically ready for the dig up, although they are smaller than I had hoped, but, they survived the winter, so that's a plus. I did notice some aphids on one plant, so that's likely to be the next battle. If we can have a relatively unhumid summer, we should have a pretty good crop of the plants in the ground. I am hesitant to mention it, for fear of jinxing anything, but I have not seen any slugs! Usually, by this time of year, we have massive slugs moving around. On the other hand, we have tons of snakes this year, and it may be that they are eating those slugs for lunch. Hope so. I would much rather have snakes than slugs in my garden, any day of the week.
