The chicks that I incubated myself are now six weeks old. One would think that is plenty old enough to strike out into the great outdoors, wouldn't one? But now I'm beginning to wonder if this little flock of hooligans is actually ready. I'd very much appreciate a second, third, fourth, heck 100th opinion on this matter. Am I pushing them out the door too soon? Or are they just being a bunch of pansy butts in not wanting anything to do with the great wide open?
Here's the situation:
Usually I buy day old chicks from the feed store right around the end of march to the beginning of April. This year I hatched instead. So, I've gotten nearly a month head start over past additions to the flock. Our temperatures have been running below normal. Daytime highs have been in the low to mid 40's whereas we should be up around the mid 50's at the very least.
This little flock of 18 are well feathered out now, and very healthy. (The fact that I all but pull back a bloody stump every time I feed them is evidence enough of THAT!
) They're energetic, boisterous, and all around fun! And are rapidly outgrowing their welcome in the closet in the home that my DH and I are currently building. Their first brooder was the bathtub. They very quickly outgrew that! The next step was to move into the closet where I could provide them with larger, safer accommodations, after two of these crazy little hooligans managed to accidentally fly out of the bathtub at night.
So, the DH and I put together a quick coop made out of a heavy duty plastic barrel. Here's what the outside of it looks like after we loaded it up on the utility wagon:
We loaded everyone up for the ride from the house to their new chick yard, next door to the big kids coop. Here they would be safe from all earth bound predators, and fairly well sheltered from hawks and the like. (Ravens will attack young chicks if you have them in your area by the way!)
Everyone loaded up and ready to go:
On our way to the new chick yard:
And once we got where we were going, do you think I could get anyone to come out of their new little house?
Not only NO, but HECK NO!!! No way were they gonna come out of there! Not even with their food and water dishes in plain view! And these little goobers are ALWAYS hungry and thirsty!
I finally had to take Evie out and put her down on the ground. My hope was that the others would see her eating and drinking and would then finally decide that it probably wasn't as bad as they feared it would be, and come out on their own from there.
Fat lot of good that did me!! Within about 2 minutes of being outside, all Evie was interested in was some warm snuggles and cuddles from Momma!
Please pardon my appearance. I'm in my work grubby's here. (in other words, my daily apparel!
)
All day long, I kept checking on them. Nobody, and I do mean NOBODY ever came willingly, of their own accord, out of that barrel coop! And as evening approached, I just knew in my heart of hearts that it just wasn't going to work. At least not this weekend.
So, my question to y'all is How soon is too soon? When are these little hooligans going to be ready to go outside? Am I going to have to wait until May before they go outside?
I've got the sinking feeling that I should have timed every thing just as I would seeds in the greenhouse. And that being that everything should be timed to be ready to go outside on May 15th. That's when the last frost is always predicted for gardening purposes in my area. Maybe it needs to apply to baby chickens as well.
As memory serves me, in years past, I always put the babies with the big kids along about their 6th or 7th week of life. But, in years past, I was usually only dealing with 3 or 4 new chicks at a time. Not EIGHTEEN!!!
This is a whole other ball game, let me tell ya!
Here's the situation:
Usually I buy day old chicks from the feed store right around the end of march to the beginning of April. This year I hatched instead. So, I've gotten nearly a month head start over past additions to the flock. Our temperatures have been running below normal. Daytime highs have been in the low to mid 40's whereas we should be up around the mid 50's at the very least.
This little flock of 18 are well feathered out now, and very healthy. (The fact that I all but pull back a bloody stump every time I feed them is evidence enough of THAT!
So, the DH and I put together a quick coop made out of a heavy duty plastic barrel. Here's what the outside of it looks like after we loaded it up on the utility wagon:
We loaded everyone up for the ride from the house to their new chick yard, next door to the big kids coop. Here they would be safe from all earth bound predators, and fairly well sheltered from hawks and the like. (Ravens will attack young chicks if you have them in your area by the way!)
Everyone loaded up and ready to go:
On our way to the new chick yard:
And once we got where we were going, do you think I could get anyone to come out of their new little house?
Not only NO, but HECK NO!!! No way were they gonna come out of there! Not even with their food and water dishes in plain view! And these little goobers are ALWAYS hungry and thirsty!
I finally had to take Evie out and put her down on the ground. My hope was that the others would see her eating and drinking and would then finally decide that it probably wasn't as bad as they feared it would be, and come out on their own from there.
Fat lot of good that did me!! Within about 2 minutes of being outside, all Evie was interested in was some warm snuggles and cuddles from Momma!
Please pardon my appearance. I'm in my work grubby's here. (in other words, my daily apparel!
All day long, I kept checking on them. Nobody, and I do mean NOBODY ever came willingly, of their own accord, out of that barrel coop! And as evening approached, I just knew in my heart of hearts that it just wasn't going to work. At least not this weekend.
So, my question to y'all is How soon is too soon? When are these little hooligans going to be ready to go outside? Am I going to have to wait until May before they go outside?
I've got the sinking feeling that I should have timed every thing just as I would seeds in the greenhouse. And that being that everything should be timed to be ready to go outside on May 15th. That's when the last frost is always predicted for gardening purposes in my area. Maybe it needs to apply to baby chickens as well.
