Devorah
Songster
So today was the day I introduced my flock of 11 8-week old pullets to phase 1 of their own garden of Eden: the run. After transferring them from the brooder to the barn coop, I kept them in the coop for 1 week to make sure they bonded with it and saw it as their new home. At noon, I let them into the run. They were very curious, and after about 15 minutes they started down the ramp, rooster first and the ladies afterwards. They went nuts! It’s a big run with lots of sand, tree stumps, multiple diversions, and, of course, water and feed. To make it celebratory, I gave them a bunch of greens and a band (just kidding re latter). They ran around investigating, chirping and pecking for a few hours like kids in a candy store. Maybe 3 hours later, they all marched back into the coop where I found them huddled in the corner. The weather is in the low 70’s here, with a blue sky and breezes.
Is it typical for chicks to run back into the coop in good weather in full daylight?! Might it be the newness of the run and the outdoors?
Is it typical for chicks to run back into the coop in good weather in full daylight?! Might it be the newness of the run and the outdoors?