From Civilian to Chicken Rancher timeline.

[joan1708]

"remote control chicken ranching". Kinda cool.

 

[gabrielle1976]

awsome thread

 

[gryeyes]

"Training roosts" are great for the chicks to practice their balancing skills. I found my various batches o' chicks always practice a lot during the day - like the Big Chickens - but at night still pile together on the floor. Until they are around 12 weeks old - thereabouts - they just don't roost on the bars at night.

Chicks with Momma hens will be encouraged by Momma to roost much sooner. They know they can snuggle under her wings or tight against her body and that's a great incentive.

It takes practice to learn how to stay perched up there in the dark and when they're asleep! They gotta have confidence to succeed.

 

[The Lazy L]

June 11

Chicks are 3 weeks old today!

1 is noticeably smaller then the others, has hardly any tail feathers and a more pronounced comb. Wonder is this is Lucky the Rooster otr the one that had poopy butt?

They will go into the Chunnel by still haven't gone down the ramp into the run. At the rate they are pooping in the Chunnel I'm going to have to cover the floor wood chips too.

 

[ailurophile23]

My how they have grown already!! You may have to resort to bribery - I suspect a trail of mealworms might encourage the wee beasties to traverse the chunnel and move into the run. Good luck!

 

[The Lazy L]

This evening I went out to feed them and 7 were in the run! Two were in the coop under the heater. I was wondering if they could figure out how to climb up the ramp and get back into the coop. As I was putting the feed and fresh water in the coop 4 chicks came to eat. So they must have figured out the ramp!

Stood and watch for a while and all 9 braved the new world of the run with sand instead of wood chips floor.

I now getting ready to go to bed. Check the coop cam chicken door is closed but no chicks. Walk out to the run, no chicks. Check the Chunnel, no chicks. At the far end of their roosting bar where I stack the bales of wood chips is sitting at least 5 chicks. All crammed into a L shaped corner. They look plumb tuckered out!

Not sure where the other 4 are at and I don't want to panic them, I'll wait until morning and see if the others show up.

 

[canesisters]

Wow! They grow up so fast. Fluffy little biddies one day, brave run explorers the next.
I hope that your 4 wayward ones are ok this morning.

 

[ailurophile23]

Glad to hear they decided to check out the run and that they know how to get back in the coop too. Hopefully the "at least 5 chicks" was actually 9 somehow and the others are in evidence this morning.

 

[The Lazy L]

June 11 evening and night

I've notice when they feel uncomfortable they do everything in herds. Exploring the run.




June 12

This morning I went out and did a peak count. 8sitting on the roosting bar.

Checked the run and Chunnel. No 9th peak

peep...peep...sitting clear at the top of the coop on a second rooster bar that I had put up there so the bar would be out of the way is number 9!




Breakfast time!!!

 

[ailurophile23]

What a huge relief! But how in the world did such a little chickie get so high?!?!