These pictures are so adorable!!!!! I love the one where they are checking out the view. I also love the portals. That is such a genius thing to do for babies. I was wondering, if you have time, could you let us know what they are made of and how you attach them?The Azygous chicks are branching out into new territory! Three days ago I opened one of the portals from the grow-out pen into the small pen where Flo the lame hen hangs out.
Also on the agenda for next week - moving into their coop.
Getting ready to enter the world of the big girls.
This was the big deal? Looks the same from this side.
Let's try it from this portal.
Flo has a good perch in her pen.
Let's see what's up there.
Oooh! A view!
Mom won't mind if we rest up from all that exploring on her cushion.
The Azygous chicks are branching out into new territory! Three days ago I opened one of the portals from the grow-out pen into the small pen where Flo the lame hen hangs out. It was tense until Flo understood that the four tiny chickens that just invaded her space weren't there to beat her up, which is what she's been used to from the rest of the flock.
It took all of one minute for Flo to calm her hackles down and get out of fight mode. The chicks have been making themselves at home in her pen ever since, and Flo is fine with it.
So today I opened the rest of the portals from the grow-out pen into the rest of the run, and the chicks ventured out with confidence. They understood what those holes in the fence were for, and that they represented safety. I did it during a period when most of the feisty young hens were out free ranging, and just the older hens were hanging around the run loafing.
Not only did the chicks explore the run outside their grow-out pen, but they also did a little vertical exploring. They made it up to the shelf under the big rear window in Flo's pen, and ended up back in their pen commandeering my cushion to rest up from all of their exploring.
They're not quite three weeks old, so I closed all the portals except for the one into Flo's pen when I'm not there to keep an eye on the big girls. In the past, when my chicks are four weeks old, they usually have full access to the rest of the run. In another week these four will, too.
I'm like aart, I don't want poopy chicken feet on me, or the poop either! But I do want mine tame enough to handle if I need to. Some of mine are real tame, some aren't. I think it's just how they are. My last batch of chicks I got from a breeder. There is a world of difference between them and last year's hatchery chicks. They are much calmer and more inquisitive then last years. They are also English Orps, which I have heard are even more calmer than even the American Orps.
I have a 5 gallon bucket I keep outside the coop. I take it in with me and flip it over to sit down. I'm not able to get on ground level anymore, my RA restricts my joint motions quite a bit.Maybe next batch I'll give this a try. I dunno - I have mixed feelings about it. I do like them to be independent of me, but just once it might be kinda nice to have a chick want to be a buddy for her lifetime. We'll see. But it sure works for you by the looks of the pictures of you sitting in the brooder pen with them. Oh, that's another thing. I have a lot of chickens out there, all ages, all fully integrated, and so clean places to sit are far and few between!
My winters don't get near as cold as yours do, but I used the cookie tin heater this past winter. It worked great with my bucket. Now aart has a great heater system set up for her bucket waterer, it would probably be just the thing you need.
Quote: Ditto on the bucket 'stool', I've got OA all over and knee injuries......
....and I recently found a 7 gallon bucket that didn't hold water anymore so salvaged it.......it's a few inches taller so knees don't have to bend as far
