Out of the brooder and into the pen

[Chieftain]

Rooster, I used plain old builder's sand in the run, and I replenish it periodically with tubesand from Home Depot. Works great and provides constant grit...

loop, you called it...the top of that bucket has been a favorite roosting spot since it went in. We had to trim wings a few weeks ago because one of them was running laps and flapping over the bucket on the way by. It was only a matter of time till she went over the top...

And Alaska peep...I've been pondering what to use to put up some sort of shield around the edge because when they get to kicking and scratching, we have litter all over the place and it gets tracked from one end of the house to the other. I think I'll grab some posterboard and try putting some kind of curb between the liner and the fence....

Today I made the move official. The GSLs have moved into the coop with the 2 RIRs. Last time we had squabbles immediately, but over a week later everyone seems to have calmed back down. They have all been together out there since early this morning and things remain quiet. The GSLs have been out in the run for food and water and have already mastered the ramp. Nothing else to do out there other than give them all some time to get acquainted and figure out who is in charge.

After I de-funked the pen, cleaned all of the accessories, and replaced the litter, I moved our two Black Jersey Giants out of the brooder and into the pen. This pair at two weeks are the same size as the RIRs were at four. They are a lot more alert, and they take to people a lot faster than the others have. Hand feeding mealworms helps socialize them too, and they are a pair of chow-hounds for fresh mealworm goodness...

It's amazingly quiet in the house now. We have been so accustomed to the two GSLs in the dining room yapping and peeping at each other non-stop, we got used to the background noise...now it is pretty obvious just how noisy it was in here!

All proceeds very well with no casualties to report...

 

[norcal]

I want it!!!!! Waaaaahhh! Hubby is not being cooperative.

Mine are getting too big for the rubbermaid too.

 

[Chieftain]

Getting one of these pens is one of those purchases that if you think about too long, you will never, ever spend the money to get.

It's like building a chicken coop. If you go to the spouse and present a detailed plan up front that lists every screw, board, sheet of plywood and quart of custom paint required to build it, you will never get it started much less built.

Find the pen, and find a way to pick one up. PetSmart usually carries them, and they are a great deal...

Here's my 3 1/2 week old Black Jersey Giants just tonight...I keep a box of sand in there, with the 40 watt lightbulb on it it 24/7. They frequently dustbathe in it at night, and then sleep in the green bucket...the sand is sifted out of the run that they will eventually be in (about 2 more weeks...) so they will already be familiar with it and it should ease the transition to the outside coop and run.

At least that is my current working theory....

 

[norcal]

I'm contemplating building the round part out of old pallets and just lining it w/ a thick tarp. Mainly 'cause they cannot go in the coop w/ my yr old BR's. When they're around 8/10 wks we'll probably make a temp. spot for them in the old goat shed. But, I can't run electric there (fire hazard). Gack, more chicks, what was I thinking.

 

[norcal]

How do I delete a post here? It's late.....g'nite.

 

[MotherJean]

Thanks so much Chieftan for the very informative thread. Appreciate the photos...pictures worth a thousand words, and all that. I've been sort of wondering what I should do if this cold, rainy weather prevents the timely construction of the coop and run. Now I know.

My pug, Arnie, sends his regards to Gus.

 

[NattiFan]

Silly question...what's they green bucket for? Just a place for them to explore? Just curious. I think the girls here are getting a bit bored and looking for ideas to keep the happy. Thanks

 

[Want Less]

Quote:
Mine were about 2 1/2 weeks when one figured out she could get on top of the waterer... now they all take turns up there while the rest nip at their toes to get them off. Seems the cool chick place to be these days

 

[Chieftain]

Quote:
I don't believe in silly questions....I set the bucket in there and put a couple of inches of pine shavings in it, and they go in there to sleep. They are pretty well feathered up so they are not cold, and they seem to appreciate being out of view for a while. Our pug Gus likes to go sniffing them and I think they just like a place to escape to.

I bought a couple dozen of those mustard buckets with "O" Ring sealed lids last year from a fellow up on CraigsList, and they are extremely useful for a lot of things. My feeder in the coop is made out of one, and all of my chicken supplies are in (marked) green buckets. 2 of those buckets will hold 50 pounds of anything. I think I paid $1.50 per bucket so they were as inexpensive as they could be.

One caution: clean it daily. They poop when they sleep and if they are sleeping in the bucket it will need to be cleaned, but that means the pen stays cleaner too...