Moving chicks for outside play time

[silarajc]

Once they taste "freedom", they want it! Glad it went well.

 

[ChxLadyCass]

silarajc, how are your chicks? My chicks are 2 months old today, but have successfully integrated in with the layers out in the big girl coop! I kept them in the run while the big girls free range in the day, then put them in a kennel in the coop at night. Integration successful! AND they stopped freaking out when going into the kennel now that I have no need to carry them back and forth outside! Go figure!
I have 4 chicks in the garage left whoa re 5 weeks old and will plan to do the same process for them! I found that the 4 chicks who were initially born and raised in an elementary classroom, are the friendliest and least afraid of me!! They are only really afraid of machinery and loud noises, but are transported outside no problem as long as I am near. They even love to just stand on my fingers. I love the little buggers!

 

[silarajc]

Hey, @ChxLadyCass! I meant to reply earlier, but with the school year ending things have been busy. My chicks were fine, we've put them in a three-sided shed and walled off the other side with welded wire fencing. Even started letting them out for the day to free range.

I went to let the chickens out this morning and found an owl in the coop. He was big! Inch long talons and a wingspan of probably more than three feet. Big yellow eyes. After I finally shooed him out, I looked for carnage. The chickens were all huddled behind the feeder stand and the feed bin. First thing I saw was a wing in the corner the owl came from. Then I looked around and finally saw the victim - she was dead by the trashcan. But I saw a lot of white feathers, and she was a red and white bird. So after I saw that, I scattered the birds some. Sure enough. Mr. Fluffy Pants, the White Wyandotte rooster, was holding a wing low. I picked him up, after a struggle with him, saw that the entire breast on that side had been ravaged. Still not sure if the skin was torn off, or some muscle too, but there was no skin at all. There was a slice where an air-filled bubble was coming through. I took him home to doctor up, since he was still alert and moving otherwise normally, but as I looked at the extent of the injury and at the topical wound spray I had, I knew I couldn't successfully treat him. I didn't even know how to cover such a large open wound. So I let the girls say goodbye and took him out to put down. It took me 4 horrific tries before I finally put him on the ground and put my foot on his head and pulled his head off. First time I've killed something that wasn't a bug. I'm a little upset right now. He wasn't quite a pet, but it was hard to lose him, and in that way. At least now I know what works for the next time. We are guessing the owl landed on the wire we nailed around the open side of the building and pushed in, making a gap, but couldn't get back out.

 

[silarajc]

I added some more fasteners for the wire wall, and some string to deter swoop attacks, and mylar tape that is supposed to scare off raptors. Chickens are scared of it...hopefully they'll get used to it. Hoping it scares the owl off my chickens!