Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Chickens On The Porch And Morgan Has A Problem Or How To Keep Chickens Off The Porch, Deck, Patio

The chickens are catching the last rays of sun in a warm protected spot on the porch. The porch is radiating some warmth and I know the house is blocking the breeze.

Having chickens on the porch is not something everyone wants because of the chicken poo problem. Our chickens do not spend very much of their time on the porch so their droppings are not  a problem. I find that hosing off the deck takes care of any poo.
(wear eye protection when hosing off the deck)

If chickens are spending time on the porch it is because there is something about the porch that is more attractive to them than other places. In the winter our chickens come up on the porch to stand near the slider next to the wood stove. Chickens aren't dumb. They know where to go to warm up.

How to keep chickens off the porch or deck? Well, I don't mind having them on the porch, but I have a few ideas.

Don't give the chickens anything to eat or drink on the porch. They are going to show up again at a place where there was food. I feed my chickens treats on the porch so they show up every day on the porch tapping at the slider.


Make sure the chickens have places where they would rather spend time than on the porch. If they like the porch because it is warm and protected from wind then they need a warm protected spot of their own. They like dusting areas, if it's hot they like cool shady places that have been watered where they can scratch out a hollow in the damp ground and stay cool. If it is cold they like warm sunny places where they can sun bathe out of drafts and wind.

They like to spend time where there are food sources, water, and treats. Toss out a little scratch on the dirt so they have to spend time scratching for it, have an additional water source, when it is hot a little mud puddle is fun for them, and treats (cabbage, melon, pumpkin, etc.) can be put out for the chickens to lure them to a new spot you would like them to frequent.

The only way to keep the chickens off the porch that I know of that is sure to work is to keep the chickens locked up, keep a dog on the porch that the chickens are afraid of, or screen the porch.

I spent some time playing with my house plants and repotting them. I stuck two of the spider plants in the large planter box until I get a bigger pot for them.

I wanted to transplant some of the small ivy that's in the green garden into the chicken planter, but I couldn't find a start with roots. I'm going to have to use a shovel tomorrow and dig deeper than I can with the hand trowel.

And... then... Kristine came back here while I'm typing up this post and told me that Morgan has blood under her tail.

Oh dear... well after cutting off a lot of Morgan's feathers around her bum and tail we found a few cuts that were bleeding. The cuts may have been from when the groomer trimmed Morgan's coat? The cuts were not forming a scab because (we think) Morgan was licking them and keeping them open.

So, we came up with this t-shirt outfit for Morgan to wear to keep her from licking. We cleaned up her bum, washed with soap and water, rinsed, put on a little neosporin, and rigged up this t-shirt outfit. Hope she leaves it alone tonight. Kristine thinks she will take it off by morning.


[6 eggs today]
I've been watching Jeeves and Wooster here on YouTube. This doesn't have anything to do with eggs except Jeeves did put an egg in the fixer up concoction he made for Wooster. I love the opening music and the show makes me laugh. 

~:>
Smiles

15 comments:

Fuat Gencal said...

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diane b said...

Poor Morgan. You may need to get a better groomer. Have you got any suggestions for keeping possums from pooing on the porch?

lisa said...

Very good sound advice! I had left indian corn hanging on the porch and i had my rooster coming up on the porch and making a mess, as soon as I took care of the corn it quit coming up on the porch! Love the T-shirt!

Jen said...

I dont mind my chickens getting on my back porch... but my husband does, hes doesnt love them like I do, lol.

Melodie said...

I hope Morgan has a speedy recovery!

Little Messy Missy said...

I hope her bottom heals fast, poor thing.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

When we lived in Alaska we used to feed the geese on our deck and learned the hard way that this was a total mistake and one I didn't repeat because they really made a mess and they got to be a bit bossy when they didn't get fed.

I hope Morgan is better--I thought of you yesterday when I bought eggs from the local farmer--It was an "honor system" stand and they were charging $2.50 a dozen, but they only had a dozen left and six were light blue/green and the others were brown. But they had them in a basket for you to take with you, or a carton.

JoyceAnn said...

Hi Callie ~ Great tips for keeping the chickens off the porch and keeping them cool. I haven't had a problem with them getting on my porches , when they get near I just shhhish (LOL) them and they go away.

~ Be Blessed ~

Barbara said...

Sounds like someone needs a new groomer!!

LindaG said...

Hope Morgan is well, soon!

Marie Anne said...

Ouch! Poor Morgan.

I'm passing two awards on to you and you need to stop by http://gallongarden.blogspot.com/2010/07/awards-day.html to pick them up!

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Yepper those chickens could make quite a mess on the porch. You are lucky to have Morgan there..
We love our shirt Morgan.. You are really stylin..


Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Anonymous said...

Poor Morgan. I can't believe a groomer would leave such an injury and not mention it. Hope she heals quickly.

Teresa

Nancy said...

Chickens on the porch sounds nice and friendly to me. We used to have a pet turkey (an escapee from the turkey house next door) who would sit on the porch and look through the French door.

Mr. B and I watch Jeeves and Wooster every few months. He has read all the books but I would rather watch it.

Kateri said...

Know all about the poopy porch. Yep, seems like the only way to completely avoid it is to keep the chickens locked up.Do I do that? Nope. :) Glad Morgan is doing better and the chickens are back outside freeranging.