HELP!!! Picking up 6 baby chickens in 48 hours - What am I forgetting?

[RonC]

Nice looking coop/run. One thing to consider being placed there. Will they be able to use the top of the run as a "step" to jump onto and over the fence?

 

[Jim19053]

I didn't even think of that. The run is the same height as the fence. I guess if they can get on top of the run they can get over the fence anyway.

I just finished staining the coop, installing the roof, and hinging the doors. Tomorrow morning I will install the hardware cloth and take some more pics.

Should have some chickens in there by early evening.

Thanks!
Jim

 

[donrae]

So how large is your run total? I'm thinking it looks small for 6 hens

 

[SSTupperware]

nice work... once they know HOME, they really don't go too far...

 

[Chefswifey]

Everyone had great ideas on here! something i'd like to add though... in my experience 17-30week olds are the most curious, once you do let them out of the coop area (shouldn't take more the 3-4 days to adjust) you might want to move the coop away from the fence. Mine would jump to the highest point ALWAYS and might be tempted to jump over to greener pastures. I agree about the clip one wing because it throws them off balance. Another idea is to put a golf ball in the nest boxes to get them used to the idea at a young age...it sounds funny but 9 times out of 10 my chickens would all lay in the golf ball nest. Also, once you've had the chickens cooped up for a couple of days they'll learn where to go at night without any help from you(just patience ... and on the 3rd night about 5-6pm I'd open the door and let them explore when they're lower on energy... this will help curb their curiosity ... also, before you hand out the treats come up with a call that signals to the chickens you want them to come to you (i.e.ch-ch-ch-CHICKens) then immediately give them a treat. Believe it or not they quickly associate the call and its a great thing to be able to call them, place a treat in the coop area, have them all run in(mid-day) and close it up. This way you don't have to wait until they're ready to coop up!! ...HAVE fun!! Chickens are the funniest little creatures!

 

[lancetrace]

Still under construction but getting there. It is 10 ft long, 4 ft high- 6.5ft high at the roof peak. Half the run is under the coop, the other half is open. I will be putting perches in there also. Will upload more pics when it is completed. The fence in the background is 6 ft tall for size reference. The rest of the yard only has a 4ft fence which is my concern. Back to work!





Very nice coop. I have six babies, too. They are only four weeks old. I have them in the coop with a heat lamp at night. They just learned to go in the roost at night.