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CheekinCheekin

CheekinCheekin

In the Brooder
6 Years
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Nov 3, 2013
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After loving chickens my whole life, I FINALLY got a small flock. I'd gotten too busy with owning a home and working to really think about them. Then my friend invited me to go along with her and her kids to the state fair. When we all went to the barn to see the bunnies, there were the chickens right next to them. So much for bunnies! I couldn't tear myself away and I had a big, stupid grin on my face. That was it. I asked myself, "Why are you 46 years old and STILL don't have chickens?"

So I ordered some within the next few days. I have five pullets: Camille the Barred Plymouth Rock, Sarah and Loretta the Red Stars, Bennie the Buff Brahma, and Henrietta the Light Brahma (who is definitely the runt, just starting to get her feathers).

My friend and I are finishing up the coop and run today. I plan on putting them out there either tonight or tomorrow night; I want to put them in the run and let them explore a bit before cutting them loose. I did a lot of research on safety from predators and so forth, so I'm not too worried about that, but they are kind of attached to me so I know they might freak out the first night or two.

I also worry about Henrietta. If she snuggles between her sisters on the roost, she'll be okay I think, but she might not think to do that. I don't want to keep her in here for a couple more weeks because she cries incessantly if she is more than five feet away from the flock. She's about the size of an apple, with sparse feathers, while everyone else is the size of a cantaloupe and fully feathered. She gets around great, and keeps up, but I'm worried about her getting too cold. Any advice on that would be appreciated.

I also have some questions on the Deep Litter Method. Their coop floor is wood; the run floor is earth. I can clean out the coop floor as needed, but it would be nice to have less work to do on the floor of the run. I have a ton of leaves to use, and I have about 3/4 of a big bag of wood chips. I also have a ton of fresh hay. Can I combine all the stuff? Also, just how deep should it be? I have heard to start with 2 inches of stuff and keep adding as it breaks down.

Thanks to everyone for any advice. I love my girls and I wake up and smile every day to the cheeping. :)
 
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chicks really shouldn't go outside till they are fully feathered out. It sounds like Henrietta has a long way to go. If you live in a warm climate I imagine you could get away with it. But for a lot of us, freezing night temps are already here and some areas have snow. For outdoor runs, most people like to use a lot of sand.
 
I guess I could keep her inside for another week or two, but it will be tricky. If I keep another with her to keep her company, there will only be three in the coop, which might not be enough to keep them really warm. If I keep just her, she will cry cry cry. However, I guess she'd be okay if she got to go out there with them in the daytime. Dang slow-growers anyway. Looking at her, it's hard to believe she hatched on the same day.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome to BYC! What drumstick diva said. If Henrietta is that small and has that few feathers she really does need to stay in for awhile longer. Is she a bantam perhaps? Does she seem fine otherwise? Sand is great for runs. Long Thread about it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/250190/anyone-use-sand-in-the-run-coop/310 I also tend to toss in fallen leaves or whatever in the fall also, usually save the hay for during the winter and toss it in every now and then to give them something to do.
 

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