Chicken run for gold deathlayer

[Predoggg]

We have ordered 10 ladies and 1 rooster of the gold deathlayers and are excited to welcome them in spring. They will be 6+ weeks old when we pick them up. Currently are we making plans for their run and the coop. We plan to raise the coop up with 6 nesting boxes and have pear branches installed for roosting spots in the coop.

The run will be a fenced in area where we have a young walnut tree and mature pine trees.

1.) We are looking for suggestion of shrubs and small trees to plant for them since they like to sit in trees.
2.) Any other suggestion are welcome what we could build them to meet their natural desire to sit in trees / finding shelter.

 

[Stravager]

Berry bushes would make for a nice treat for them as well as shelter.

 

[Predoggg]

Any other ideas beside bushes?

 

[Tonyroo]

Don't put to much shrubbery for the chicken yard, predators will use them to ambush the chickens.

 

[Tonyroo]

Don't allow the new birds to have to much free roaming space. You need to teach them your place is there home first. That usually takes about 6 months.

 

[Tonyroo]

Stick with small trees of any kind that does well for your climate. And make a bed to grow fodder for them to snack on.

 

[lisa69]

Deathlayers can’t be sexed at 6 weeks old without genetic testing.

 

[aart]

Deathlayers can’t be sexed at 6 weeks old without genetic testing.

As can most other breeds.

 

[lisa69]

As can most other breeds.

At least I can’t sex them.

 

[Predoggg]

We finally got our flock of Gold Deathlayers with 6+ weeks age and it is clearly to see who the rooster is. The ladies have no waddles at this age and their comb is not much developed while the rosters comb and waddles are already showing good size.

We keep them for 1 week in the coop (coop is sized for 24 of them) before we allow them in the run to imprint it.