2nd night out in the coop, and now a storm is coming.... !

[looptloop]

We put our 4 twelve week old girls out in their tractor for the first time last night. The 4 five week old chicks moved into the dog cage the older ones had been in, and I put them out in the shed with the light on them. I barely slept last night, checking out the back door numerous times. Our neighbor warned of seeing a yearling coyote across the street in broad daylight hunting, so that probably didn't help any, and now, to make things even more stressful, a storm is coming.....

I think the younger chicks will be fine, they are in an enclosed shed, nothing can get in there, and they have heat. Now, my big girls are in a tractor my husband engineered to be like fort Knox, so I don't think anything can get in there, I just worry about the 'openness' of it. He built it with ventilation in mind. I tarped one side so they don't get wet, but still..... it could get into the mid 40's tonight. Oh boy, I hope I can sleep tonight. My dh keeps telling me not to worry, but I just can't help it!

 

[looptloop]

I must post really boring things! I kill my own threads

Everyone seems to be fine this morning. It is predicted to rain for the next couple of days though

 

[flockof4]

Your worry and concern just means that you really love your chickens. The temps of mid 40's should be no problem if they're fully feathered. The rain might be an issue if they don't have a spot where they can stay totally dry during the night. Just keep an eye on them and make adjustments if necessary. As far as predators, where you keep your chickens is either predator proof or not. There's not a lot of gray area with that. Take a look around the tractor for signs of something trying to get in. If you notice bent wire or signs of digging around the bottom, something might have already tried to get in and been denied. Then you can go back and reinforce those areas for peace of mind. It sounds like your DH made a secure tractor for them. Good luck.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Pssh! I kill my threads all the time too. I've considered changing my title to Serial Thread Killer.

As long as your chickens have enough shelter to get out of the rain with a roof of sorts over their heads, they'll be alright. You might even want to secure a tarp over the top and down the sides of the tracter for a little added shelter. If you're going to get rain for the next couple of days though, you're gonna have a soggy run area and the chickens running around in it will moosh it up even more. What I do when it gets like this is to toss in pine needles (if you have any access to those), if you don't, then grab a bale of straw to cover the run floor.

 

[mockcherry]

At 12 weeks you should be pretty good as long as they are fully feathered. I lost some chicks during one of our storms - no power. I didn't know for several hours (cuz it was in the middle of the night and I was sleeping). As soon as I realized, I tore down to their room and they had all piled and were very cold. Some had suffocated. It was very sad. I stayed awake the whole night with them in front of the fire - I was afraid it would get too hot for them and they would then roast. I lost Bob that night. He was such a pretty little chick. Looked like a fluffy cheetah baby. Then the first night they went out into the coop / shed. It poured like it had never rained before. I think they were four or five weeks old. Turns out it is definitely water proof. For the first few weeks I felt like I had a newborn baby again.

 

[looptloop]

Thanks for taking pity and posting! LOL!

I did just go put a large tarp over the entire tractor. The roof is slanted and I was afraid the rain would eventually make it's way in. I left it so they have good air circulation though. Absolutely no evidence of anything coming even close to the area out there, only my footprints in the mud.

When we first looked at this house last summer there was 1 lone chicken out in the 'run'. That poor chicken was out there for months, all by itself. They built this run off the side of a shed (shed is on a raised foundation). Then they just jammed rocks under the side that opens to the run. Countless critters could fit under this shed, and gain access to the run. Turns out to be no shelter in there either and not suitable for *my* chickens..... LOL! We figured we'd build a tractor (which turned into a coop on wheels) and we can use the run until I get electric netting .

 

[Kim_NC]

Quote:
Oh No, Fear Not. That title surely belongs to me.

 

[TK Poultry]

I just put 4 12 week olds out too actually they are 13 weeks old now but anyway they just went to a hutch in the garage where I keep bantam teenagers to a pen with hens. They did fine and they have been out there during 30* temps and a storm so all will be fine. thank goodness we dont have a predator problem thanks to the dogs.

 

[blacktailsmom]

Hmm. We are in Florida and we were concerned keeping them any longer in the garage would over heat them. So they are out at 3 weeks ... well, 4 weeks. But, I don't know that we have any roaming coyotes ... just a declawed tailless cat from next door.

 

[TK Poultry]

Quote:
I live in Indiana so mine stay in until I think they are fully feathered I think I over did it this time they are the size of my 1yo hen!!!! Oh well it didnt hurt them any. They are doing fine. I dont keep Large Fowl or my ducks in there nearly as long. Ducks just smell up the garage!!