I learned the hard way, back in New Mexico, not to wrangle chickens in the heat of the day. They can overheat and die, because about the only thing harder to herd than chickens is cats. So now if I have to move hens when they don't wanna, I wait until it's dark and they have settled down, then go and pick them up. Glad to hear everyone survived your first night, including you!
We are moving our six-week old chicklets (or are they 7 weeks?) out of the well house tonight and into their new digs. The storage unit is being delivered at noon and I hired A Guy to assemble it while DH is at work. DH put up chain-link panels yesterday for a yard for them, a nice big yard! I know it's not varmint-proof, but our Sheltie Gracie's always on duty and I think they'll be fine. The big girls' pen isn't chicken wire, either, it's field fencing. Chain link panels is what we have, so that's what they get. The new pen is adjacent to the big girls' pen so they'll be socializing for weeks until ready to integrate. Let's see if I can post a pic or two....
Okay, I inserted as thumbnails, you guys tell me if that's the best way to do it please. The storage unit has no windows, of course, but the lid slides back so we can open that to ventilate for the first week or so during the day while they adjust to the new location. It has its own floor which I like for cleaning and safety. We will not locate it next to a fence so the little beggars can't jump on top of it and er, fly the coop when they get bigger. Sorry, could not resist!
We are moving our six-week old chicklets (or are they 7 weeks?) out of the well house tonight and into their new digs. The storage unit is being delivered at noon and I hired A Guy to assemble it while DH is at work. DH put up chain-link panels yesterday for a yard for them, a nice big yard! I know it's not varmint-proof, but our Sheltie Gracie's always on duty and I think they'll be fine. The big girls' pen isn't chicken wire, either, it's field fencing. Chain link panels is what we have, so that's what they get. The new pen is adjacent to the big girls' pen so they'll be socializing for weeks until ready to integrate. Let's see if I can post a pic or two....
Okay, I inserted as thumbnails, you guys tell me if that's the best way to do it please. The storage unit has no windows, of course, but the lid slides back so we can open that to ventilate for the first week or so during the day while they adjust to the new location. It has its own floor which I like for cleaning and safety. We will not locate it next to a fence so the little beggars can't jump on top of it and er, fly the coop when they get bigger. Sorry, could not resist!
