Update:
- Lost one of my 13 due to my granddaughter got squeemish when holding one. Lived that day, was gone the next morning...
- At 4 weeks, I was using what they called "Coop Clean" because they cautioned about them eating the tractor supply shavings and having problems. They still ate the stuff and the dust of it was horrible. The bin that was so big at 3-4 days old was now too much for the 12. So with the layer of dust in my living room, their crowded conditions and that it was now staying in the 60s for the next week or two in the evening, I let them go to the coop, closed in.
- I still have my 5+ year old New Hampshire Red but neither they or her want anything to do with each other. The first curious one got pecked and the other 11 quickly huddled in the corner. Thats another thing too... They still are very scared, unless I have food and water then they'll surround and peck me like I'm no concern.
- Yesterday I fenced in an approx. 12x12 area for them to leave the coop for the first time in almost 5 weeks to see if they would go back when it was evening. Every time a car or a bouncy loud trailer roared by the house, they would all scurry in. So I feel like that they know that is the safety zone to them.
- My fence is only 4 feet high and I have this feeling that if one jumps over the fence, the rest will follow and I'll have a cat and mouse Benny Hill chase scene on my hands. (Chasing Hot Chicks! LOL!... ahem...) Update: one flew out, luckily went to my daughter after a short chase will double height...
So... any way... The question is... Tomorrow is 9 weeks. Should I allow them to go out back and free range or wait a few more weeks?
- Lost one of my 13 due to my granddaughter got squeemish when holding one. Lived that day, was gone the next morning...
- At 4 weeks, I was using what they called "Coop Clean" because they cautioned about them eating the tractor supply shavings and having problems. They still ate the stuff and the dust of it was horrible. The bin that was so big at 3-4 days old was now too much for the 12. So with the layer of dust in my living room, their crowded conditions and that it was now staying in the 60s for the next week or two in the evening, I let them go to the coop, closed in.
- I still have my 5+ year old New Hampshire Red but neither they or her want anything to do with each other. The first curious one got pecked and the other 11 quickly huddled in the corner. Thats another thing too... They still are very scared, unless I have food and water then they'll surround and peck me like I'm no concern.
- Yesterday I fenced in an approx. 12x12 area for them to leave the coop for the first time in almost 5 weeks to see if they would go back when it was evening. Every time a car or a bouncy loud trailer roared by the house, they would all scurry in. So I feel like that they know that is the safety zone to them.
- My fence is only 4 feet high and I have this feeling that if one jumps over the fence, the rest will follow and I'll have a cat and mouse Benny Hill chase scene on my hands. (Chasing Hot Chicks! LOL!... ahem...) Update: one flew out, luckily went to my daughter after a short chase will double height...
So... any way... The question is... Tomorrow is 9 weeks. Should I allow them to go out back and free range or wait a few more weeks?
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