Against the odds hatching thread (with pictures and questions)

[K0k0shka]

Got the “deep shade” part covered

 

[aart]

Got the “deep shade” part covered
View attachment 2179684

Perfect! Shade in summer and sun in winter.
My coop only gets shade, from one maple tree, until about 1-2pm....then it bakes.

 

[K0k0shka]

Perfect! Shade in summer and sun in winter.
My coop only gets shade, from one maple tree, until about 1-2pm....then it bakes.

Mine is fully under the giant tree and it’s really nice there in the summer. Shade all day, with just a couple small sunny spots here and there. I love the clear roof! They still get sunlight even in the summer. Otherwise, with the tree AND an opaque roof, it would get too gloomy (and bad for pictures ). This is the perfect spot for the chickens. I want to finish staining the rafters, and then I’ll take some nice photos for my build thread.

 

[K0k0shka]

The chicks are 7 weeks old now, and for the past week or so, they’ve been going into the coop on their own in the evening, and lining themselves up nicely on the top roost. No more shepherding! I do still open and close the manual pop door, in addition to the auto door, mostly because I want to be the one to let them out in the morning. They FLY out the moment I open the pop door, and then run and jump and flap around like little kids The utter joy of being let outside is heart-melting. So I want the positive association, so they know that I am the one giving them this joy And also, I just really like seeing it.

 

[K0k0shka]

P.S. Speaking of associations. I don’t give them treats (yet), and they have feed available at all times (30lbs feeder, lasts for days and they’re outside when I refill it), but they still do always run to me when I come in, and hop up in my lap when I sit down. They even come to my kids when they walk in as well, and like to hang out near them and flock around them. This has been sort of an experiment. I know that chickens are highly food-driven and you can bribe a chicken to “like” you, with treats and food. I wanted to see if they’d still like us without the food, but with LOTS of handling, talking and time spent together. And they do! And it’s not a matter of being used to the contact and tolerating it. No, they initiate interactions and come seek us out on their own, wanting to be close. We’re not the bringers of food. I don’t know what we are exactly, to them, but it sure does look like we are friends whose company they genuinely enjoy

 

[aart]

Imprinting...from all the handling since hatch.
But, yeah, it's pretty cool, eh?

 

[adirondak5]

The chicks are 7 weeks old now, and for the past week or so, they’ve been going into the coop on their own in the evening, and lining themselves up nicely on the top roost. No more shepherding! I do still open and close the manual pop door, in addition to the auto door, mostly because I want to be the one to let them out in the morning. They FLY out the moment I open the pop door, and then run and jump and flap around like little kids The utter joy of being let outside is heart-melting. So I want the positive association, so they know that I am the one giving them this joy And also, I just really like seeing it.

Wow , 7 weeks already ? This thread was so very interesting and informative , I have thoroughly enjoyed it . My daughters 9 chicks from my first hatch (inspired by this thread) are gonna be 3 weeks this weekend , they are most likely going in the coop by Thursday or Friday . They are quite the handful in the brooder .

 

[K0k0shka]

Wow , 7 weeks already ? This thread was so very interesting and informative , I have thoroughly enjoyed it . My daughters 9 chicks from my first hatch (inspired by this thread) are gonna be 3 weeks this weekend , they are most likely going in the coop by Thursday or Friday . They are quite the handful in the brooder .

Thank you! I’m glad it has been helpful. Your daughter’s chicks are going to love their gorgeous new coop.

 

[K0k0shka]

I built the chicks a log jungle gym. They love it!

 

[K0k0shka]

The kids and I baked special buns for the chicks - out of the ground up feed dust left at the bottom of the bag and the feeder (I always end up with a ton of it and the chicks don’t like it straight... have to mix it with water, which they really like). Gave it some yeast and water. They sort of look like bread buns, the chicks love them, and they can be used as treats without being real treats and messing up the chicks’ nutrition Win win for everybody.