It seems to be going well. The first night they wanted to stay on the roost in the run of the coop. I started to put them to "bed" at about 7:30-it took 1.5 hours. I counted heavily on Duke the leghorn rooster, because he seems to be the leader. He did end up getting them in there. Night 2, I took the roost bar out. They kept flying in the air trying to land on it and it wasn't there. Finally they gave up and went in. Night 3, Duke got them all in but he wouldn't go in until the ducks were in their house. As soon as I put them away, he called it a night. Night 4, one of the girls went in earlier then the rest. By night 5 they all went in on their own by 8:15. The ducks also put themselves in at the same time. I was surprised by the ducks, I didn't think they would be that easy. The ducks love their house.
We got some rain and they all got out of the rain on their own. The ducks even went into their house. One of the ducks did dig a hole and I found a toad in their pool, so I think that is somehow connected. The roosters are not to bad with the crowing. They crow in the morning and they are now crowing at about 5:30. They crow when they hear me come home at lunch and when it's time for their snack.
A couple little boys came to see the chickens and ducks, nothing like seeing a three year olds face light up when they see a rooster crow. The roosters were both great with the kids and I was pretty proud of them. I was all ready to get rid of them by day 2 outside, but I'm leaning towards keeping them. The one rooster was challenging the leghorn but the leghorn walks away. I haven't really saw any challenges after about Day 4 out there. As long as they keep going the way they are going, everything is good.
The dogs are completely neutral with the chickens. They check on them and go on their way. That is exactly what I wanted.
Now to integrate the 4 younger chickens. That should be fun.
We got some rain and they all got out of the rain on their own. The ducks even went into their house. One of the ducks did dig a hole and I found a toad in their pool, so I think that is somehow connected. The roosters are not to bad with the crowing. They crow in the morning and they are now crowing at about 5:30. They crow when they hear me come home at lunch and when it's time for their snack.
A couple little boys came to see the chickens and ducks, nothing like seeing a three year olds face light up when they see a rooster crow. The roosters were both great with the kids and I was pretty proud of them. I was all ready to get rid of them by day 2 outside, but I'm leaning towards keeping them. The one rooster was challenging the leghorn but the leghorn walks away. I haven't really saw any challenges after about Day 4 out there. As long as they keep going the way they are going, everything is good.
The dogs are completely neutral with the chickens. They check on them and go on their way. That is exactly what I wanted.
Now to integrate the 4 younger chickens. That should be fun.
