Can I let them mingle?

[spacemonkey333]

Just making sure they could see each other since I've seen some "no touch" chick set ups that are "no see" as well.

The coop actually has some clutter already, how about the run? Even if you free range some clutter closer to the coop would give the babies some options to take cover.

I do have another small pen that I could put in the run to give the chicks cover, but they would have to already be familiar with that in order to use it I assume

 

[spacemonkey333]

I’m getting stressed out

 

[rosemarythyme]

The run is pretty straight up wide open

Needs clutter, for sure. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. I'm always eyeing neighbors' free junk piles to see what I can grab to toss into the chicken run. Old patio furniture, pallets, stumps, plant pots, etc are all possible options. Example of some of my run clutter:

I do have another small pen that I could put in the run to give the chicks cover, but they would have to already be familiar with that in order to use it I assume

They'd need to be trained to use it. In my case I use my brooder (which is in the run) as the 100% safe spot, by making chick-only gaps on the sides, as by nature the chicks will run in there as that's where they were raised.

 

[spacemonkey333]

Needs clutter, for sure. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. I'm always eyeing neighbors' free junk piles to see what I can grab to toss into the chicken run. Old patio furniture, pallets, stumps, plant pots, etc are all possible options. Example of some of my run clutter:

View attachment 2808115


They'd need to be trained to use it. In my case I use my brooder (which is in the run) as the 100% safe spot, by making chick-only gaps on the sides, as by nature the chicks will run in there as that's where they were raised.

View attachment 2808113

Okay! I definitely have plenty of things that I can use for that. You are extremely helpful. Thank you!

 

[spacemonkey333]

Needs clutter, for sure. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. I'm always eyeing neighbors' free junk piles to see what I can grab to toss into the chicken run. Old patio furniture, pallets, stumps, plant pots, etc are all possible options. Example of some of my run clutter:

View attachment 2808115


They'd need to be trained to use it. In my case I use my brooder (which is in the run) as the 100% safe spot, by making chick-only gaps on the sides, as by nature the chicks will run

My cluttering has begun! Little by little…

 

[spacemonkey333]

The big kids are very curious

 

[Ebony Rose]

A little garden shade fabric (woven plastic) works wonders to obscure the view from above (aerial predator's can't see down through it) while also providing shade for your flock below. This can be used as a drape as well, to give the chicks a place to duck out of sight of the older birds. It's cheap and with a few zip-ties, easy to attach to existing fencing. Water and air passes right through it so you don't end up with a saggy, moldy mess.

 

[Quaen]

I am questioning their age due to the comb sizes and body sizes. I feel like they are older than 4 weeks

Do you have pictures of these questionable 4 week olds?

 

[spacemonkey333]

Do you have pictures of these questionable 4 week olds?

 

[spacemonkey333]

I let them out for about an hour today. My RIR is pretty aggressive towards them. She charges them a lot and tries to peck at them a lot. She hasn’t drawn blood. At times it is almost as if she is herding them. Other times she seems to be getting them away from her areas in the run. I put them back in their brooder for the day. This will be a process it seems.