BDutch's bantam flock & natural breeding projects #5 🪺 🪺 and #6

[Skyeknight]

The bird flu made restrictions in the Netherlands: all hobbyists with poultry have to coop them up in a coop/run now to avoid contact with wild birds.

My run is big enough to keep 5 small and 3 bigger bantams (15m2) inside if necessary, but I let them free range a few hours each day if possible, until I get a warning/visit from an enforcer.
This is important IMo , to keep them healthy and happy. Whats a better precaution against sickness than happy chickens who search their own fresh food?

My moulting /oldies flock. Lots of feathers but no eggs at all last week.

I also won't coop up mine. My CX need to be able to go outside to forage, otherwise they will suffer from chronic hunger and then their quality of life will drop real fast. And sadly in my main flock the 2 older hens "bully" my pullets, so I preferably give them as much space as possible.