Introducing the Ideal Dozen

Auntiejessi3 · Jun 28, 2021

3KillerBs said:
And today I rigged up a little run for them. It's far from perfect, but will let them scratch around outside their coop and begin the integration process.

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That's perfect!

3KillerBs · Jun 28, 2021

Auntiejessi3 said:
That's perfect!

You have no clue how rickety it is!

3KillerBs · Jun 28, 2021

Auntiejessi3 said:
That's perfect!

You have no clue how rickety it is!

Auntiejessi3 · Jun 28, 2021

3KillerBs said:
You have no clue how rickety it is!

I can imagine

But as long as they aren't going gang buster on it, I'm sure it'll serve its purpose

3KillerBs · Jun 28, 2021

Auntiejessi3 said:
I can imagine But as long as they aren't going gang buster on it, I'm sure it'll serve its purpose

They ought to be too small and light to bust out. I won't guarantee that one of the bigger ones might not crash in, but I can't do better with the available materials.

janiedoe · Jun 29, 2021

3KillerBs said:
They ought to be too small and light to bust out. I won't guarantee that one of the bigger ones might not crash in, but I can't do better with the available materials.

I bought a second hand tsc coop on Craigslist a few years back. I knew it wouldn't last long but it was cheap and I wanted it for a broody hen. I still have it. It has been recycled so many times that I can't remember what it looked like in the beginning.

Half of it has become a permanent brooder in the run. The other half, I store for an, as needed, broody or segregation coop.

3KillerBs · Jun 30, 2021

They had their first encounter with a brief rainstorm this evening about dinner time. At first they didn't know what to do but then they rapidly fled into their coop.

I was concerned whether or not they'd figure that out but they have good instincts.

Tomorrow I will feed scratch and weeds right around their little run so that all the chickens eat together. I will also work on making refuges for them in different parts of the pen so I can move towards letting them out within another week or so -- while they're still small enough that they can get through openings that the others can't.

3KillerBs · Jul 1, 2021

6-week report, still growing like feathered weeds. They barely fit into the pet carrier together while I'm checking on them. Next week I'll need to change bands over for larger ones, I think. They're all still sliding freely, but I'm watching them.

Breed by breed photos next.