Almost a week later. The broodies wonder of more often and leave the chicks by themself.
The chicks get an hour on the grass each day and enjoy a few more meters behind the run. One or two of the broodies immediately jumps over the rabbit fence to free range. The first days the escaped broody clucked to the chicks that she found some food but they don’t do that anymore so often now.
We have to stay near to avoid that the chicks jump out of the run. Some regularly try or do so.
When I open the door to let the hens free range, one or two of the broodies come along too nowadays. And its not always the same broody that stays with the chicks. About the same is happening now if they roost. There are two broodies that stay with the chicks and a third broody sleeps on the roost with the hens in the larger extension of the coop.
A few chicks started to roost in the little coop for the night. Because its so warm they don’t need the mama’s anymore for the warmth.
We still don’t trust the big wide world outside for the little ones. This week I found a dead blackbird 2 meters from the cage with feathers scattered around. And my husband found a young blackbird between the terrace and the coop. The chicks are 6 weeks now, but the soze of them is still comparable with a blackbird. The Dutch chicks even a bit smaller .
Katrientje on the swing :
Apple time:
Kraai:
Kraai was broody for a few days. She claimed a nestbox but the mama’s got annoyed and there was a lot of fuss with the chicks. Glad she stopped after 2 attempts to sleep in there.
The chicks are happy with the shade in the run. Last week is was warm and sunny. Each day about 30 C.
on a branche in the run. 
