SapphireVL
Chirping
- May 21, 2021
- 37
- 31
- 64
I have six (6) 10-week old pullets. They are: 1 buff brahma, 1 white cochin, 1 plymouth rock, 1 wyandotte, 2 orpingtons. It has been a struggle the past few weeks trying to integrate them from barn brooder to outdoor coop. They will eventually integrate with another small another flock (6 months old), so on the "warmer" days, I take them outside and place them in a smaller coop-run right next to the large coop-run so the other pullets can "see but not touch". The problem is the weather over the past few weeks has fluctuated tremendously from the mid-30s to 50sF at night to high 40s- low 70sF during the day, and it is windy much of the time. I started with a few hours outside per day several weeks ago and now I try to leave them outside longer. I want them to acclimate, but I can see that they are expending energy trying to stay warm in the cooler temps. They fluff their feathers and huddle together on a perch. I put tarps up tp protect them from the wind because they do not seem to want to go inside their (temporary) Omlet coop. I end up bringing them back indoors each evening, where they promptly run under the heat lamps, fluff their feathers, and go to sleep. Are they too young for this process or am I doing something wrong?