Chicks moved to an outdoor hutch today....

[Mehpenn]

And I'm not sure how I feel about it, to be honest with you.

My babies are growing up.

My grandpa raised chickens and rabbits when I was growing up.
There was one of his old rabbit hutches, still out next to one of his building and my father and I moved it down to my house today.
It needed some serious work... don't know why it didn't hold up, I mean it's only been sitting unused for 20 years.

I replaced the wire on the back, the rotten wood on top with a piece of metal and made a support for the back and legs, until DH can get home and replace all the wood. It's pretty sturdy, and is holding up well with the minimal repairs I was able to make.

I put their food and water and some dirt in there for them to scratch around in. They're in it now, stretching their wings and flying around.

I hope they do okay tonight... I hate to leave them in it, but they're just too big to live in their brooder now. And unfortunately with all the rain and storms and trees falling, DH's just not had time to finish the coop.

 

[Want Less]

How old are they? I'm thinking about kicking our youngest batch out of the brooder tonight (they spend their days outside now anyway) and they are almost 6 weeks.

 

[Mehpenn]

They're between four and five weeks old.

They've been spending their days outside, in their crate. Tonight will be their first night out. But they've got a light, and part of the hutch is boxed in, nice and cozy. They're at the barn, so they'll have a light on.

I keep thinking back to when my grandpa raised chickens.. his dibs were outside all the time. Even those he hatched from other's eggs... he'd put 6-10 together in one hutch and they were just fine.

I guess I'm just a worry wart.

 

[Mehpenn]

Well....... they all survived their first night out.
Went out first thing this morning to check on them and they were fine.
They greeted me at the door of the hutch, all six of them, wanting breakfast, chirping, flapping their wings.
I gave them fresh food and water and held Callie for a couple minutes.
A little while later I went back out to check on them and they were all in the box, sound asleep.
Awwwwwww.......... they are so adorable.

However, I have decided to rehome at least two of them. Probably a red and a white, possibly both light reds? We just do not need six chicks. Our goal was two or three.
My cousin, who lives below me might be interested in them, he's got a small flock and more room and patience to deal with more.