So, then I put up some shade cloth I bought from the Tek Supply Remnant page. It's a 70% filter, and I think I like it. Not sure I shouldn't have gone for 80% or 90%, guess I will see how they do with it. Now I like to say that I have learned to do most anything around my place myself. I built my coop. I do my own plumbing. Yada Yada. It may not be fast or pretty, but I can get it done. BUT, I sure would have liked an extra pair of hands when I was dragging and lifting that 20 X 9 piece of shade cloth around, trying to get it over my 6' run. Whew was I glad when that was done.
So last night 4 of my 8 week olds got brave enough to get onto the roost with the big girls (well, actually they have gotten on before, but not been allowed to stay). This time they stayed. It was really kind of cute. 3 hens on the roost against one wall. 3 hens on the roost against the other wall. 4 babies right in the center, with lots of empty space between the 3 groups of birds. Tonight I went in and the lineup was 2H..4 babies...4H. I couldn't stand it so I picked up the 3 remaining babies and put them in the center with their broodmates. Then I sat there for about 1/2 hour watching everyone negotiate who was going to end up where. Woulda been easier if the babies would have settled for the second unoccupied roost, but who am I to interfere with chicken politics. Hopefully I wake up early enough tomorrow morning to sneak out and see how it all ended up.
