Raising the Galaxies

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 24th.
Last night was the Galaxies first night without a heat source. They handled it like champs. Everyone got up from their snuggle pile and grabbed some water and a bite to eat (its 230am) I assume they will go back to sleep bc I no longer leave the lights on for them. It's raining pretty good and will be most of the morning. The Galaxies are in their coop with the sliding door open

The coop temp this morning was 55 and the outside temp is 48 degrees.


SICK DAY FROM WORK.


went out and checked the Galaxies. It's 50 degrees in their coop, and they are running around happy as could be. I see some pecking order pecks starting to emerge...but they aren't harsh. Outside temp is 47 degrees.

915am the Galaxies all came out to stretch their legs. Even though the ground is wet (though I did soak up the big spots) drainage is an issue I am working on...slowly but surely.

It's raining again...while the Galaxies can and do (most the time) now have free range of the run and coop, if it's raining good I shut them in..
ESPECIALLY since I yanked their heat source. Wanna keep them pretty dry till they are a bit older.

Rain subsided and I went to let the Galaxies out again. Coop temp is 50 degrees. Outside temp is 46 degrees with a real feel of 41.

When I am home (until I can get the inside of the fence blocked off) I let them out as often as possible, but when I leave they go back in their coop.

Got more cypress mulch and laid it down in their run. It's already helping a lot, but I have a lot more to go but I definitely appreciate the difference when I walk in there. I am soaking wet!!!

Went and checked on the Galaxies. They are either dust bathing, hanging out on the roosts, or eating. Coop temp is 53 degrees. It's raining pretty good outside.
Outside temp is 48 degrees.

The mirror was popular today

Nothing but rain. Locked the Galaxies up for the night. Coop temp is 52 degrees outside temp is 48. Low tonight is 47 degrees.

I love the how their feathers are looking. Some have a better look than others...but I still love seeing them in groups of white and black

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 25th.

HAPPY 4WKS GALAXIES!!!
THEYVE REALLY GROWN SO MUCH!!!


It's 230am and I went out to check the Galaxies. They all got up from their huddle pile and stretched their wings. Grabbed a bite to eat and a drink and I turned the lights off. Coop temp is 60 degrees. It thunderstormed all night last night. Outside temp is 55 degrees. The seem to settle down at night and aren't crying out for their heat cave back.

730 let the Galaxies out. It's not raining anymore and the ground did a great job in soaking up the water. Coop temp is 52 degrees. Outside temp is 49 feels like 41 degrees. It's pretty windy out, but they don't seem to mind it.

Went out and refilled food and water dishes, and laid new bedding. The Galaxies still don't know what to think of the giant that is always in their space

One day they will learn

Locked the Galaxies in the coop when i left for an errand. Came back and let them back out for a bit. Coop temp is 52 degrees. Outside temp is 48 feels like 41.

The Galaxies will get locked in the coop again when I leave to run some other errands. It feels much warmer inside bc the wind is insane today.


Put some probiotics in one of their waterers.

Came home from errands and let the Galaxies out. It's sunny and NOT windy!!! Temp outside is 56, feels like 54. Coop temp is 60 degrees.
They are enjoying digging through the wood chips I laid down.

Put a new toy in the run. It's an old arch we used for our wedding. I took out some rungs, and pushed it into the ground. Idk how long it'll last but for now they are like kids at a playground!!!

Night check on the Galaxies. They all went in their coop on their own and I just went out and locked them up. Some eating, some getting situated in their huddle pile. Coop temp is 55 degrees outside it 52. Low tonight is 39.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 26th.
Morning check for Galaxies, 230 am. Coop temp is 43 degrees. Outside temp is 40 degrees. The Galaxies all got up to stretch their wings when I checked on them. Lights back out, door is shut. Hubby will open it later while I am at work.

This will likely be the last early morning check I do on the Galaxies. I hate for them to form the habit of getting up in the middle of the night for food and water. I don't usually keep food in the coop, so it's not something they will be able to access forever. They are doing fantastic without their heat cave. Just growing like little weeds.

Hubby opened their door for them. Sent me a pic of one of the Galaxies playing on the nesting boxes (it was blurry so I didn't save it)

Outside temp is 59, feels like 57.

Home on lunch. The Galaxies are all over their run. Coop temp is 75 and NO ONE is in it. Some are sun bathing, others are snacking.

Afterwork check. It's been a beautiful day out. Coop temp is 75 degrees. Outside temp is 69, feels like 69...AND SUNNY

The Galaxies are loving it. Some were chilling in the coop when I got home. Most others are enjoying the great outdoors.


Made the Galaxies a graze box. I am sure hoping that I can find one more pallet like this from work


Traded out one of the fountain type waterers for their bucket with nipples. I have to put more nipples on it before I leave it as their only waterer.

The Galaxies have been out pretty much ALL DAY! I am sitting out with them watching them run around and jump, and lounge and dig...and ALL.THE.THINGS!!!

they are super fun to watch. They keep coming up to the fence and eyeballing me.

Tempature outside has dropped to 65 degrees.


7pm, time to lock up the Galaxies. They have all made it back into their coop, and into their little huddle pile. Coop temp is 68 degrees. Outside temp is 62, low of 44.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 27th.
No morning check on the Galaxies, as I want them to get used to what would be their normal schedule. Hubby will let them out around 630 or 7am. Outside temp is 49 with... you guessed it....rain! 🌧

It's still sprinkling. Hubby opened the Galaxies sliding door. Outside temp is 45 degrees.

Hubby let the Galaxies into their run. It's 43 degrees out. Feels like 38 degrees.

The Galaxies have been out pretty much all day. The rain stopped early!!! When I got home some were out of the coop others were in. Coop temp is 50 degrees. Outside temp is 46, feels like 42.

I hung their feeders today. While I have no intention of having food in the coop, it is where it'll stay until they are on the same schedule as my current flock. It's still really dark in the mornings, and they are still so small I don't feel comfortable leaving their access to the run open at 3am just yet.

I placed the boards that the troughs were on in the corner to give them an option to roost at night. However, based on the poo ALL OVER the actual roosts, they could roost if they so wished.

They do enjoy roosting on the things I put in their run. The pallet being top choice (flipped it backwards bc it provides more space between the "roosts")

Went out to lock up the Galaxies. Some were roosting correctly, others were trying to make a huddle pile so I moved the boards so no one would get hurt.

Coop temp is 49 degrees. Outside temp is 46 degrees. Low tonight of 33.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 28th.
Went out to open the sliding door around 630. The Galaxies did their usual morning routine...stretch, flap, eat, drink. Coop temp is 38 degrees. This is the lowest it has been since I removed their heat source last wk. They don't seem a bit phased. Outside temp is 33 degrees.

Went out to check the Galaxies before taking my kiddo to the doctor. They are enjoying their coop currently. Some even roosting on the big roosts. Coop temp is 43 degrees. Outside temp is 41 degrees.

Got back from the doctors appointment and went out to let the Galaxies out into their run. Outside temp is 48, feels like 43, but beautifully sunny out!!! Coop temp is 55 degrees. A lot of the Galaxies are roosting, on the TOP roost!!! I am AMAZED lol.

Started putting broken limbs around the inside fence parameter. Did NOT take the Galaxies long to start playing on it

Gave the Galaxies a flake of straw. They went right to town playing on it and digging at it. They've been outside since I let them out around noon. This seems to be their new normal now. Once let out we check on them periodically, but for the most part they hang out like chickens!!!
It's so fun to see. Outside temp is 52, feels like 49.

I imagine, once we close down week 5. There won't be daily updates. I will likely update with pictures and updates wkly or biwkly.

Locked the Galaxies up for the night. Coop temp is 50 degrees. Outside temp is 41. Low tonight is 31

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

Wondering at what age should I introduce a cockerel or 2?? I kinda wanna wait for a yr till they are mature hens...the other part would like them to kinda grow up with the flock...

 

[Nero70002]

First I’d see if you have any accidental ones already in your flock

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

First I’d see if you have any accidental ones already in your flock

They are almost 5wks old...not seeing any signs of one, and have been looking pretty close. Barred Rocks are pretty easy to sex from my understanding. I don't have any that are looking like they are double barred, I also have none with red combs or wattles, also everyone seems to have black wash their legs.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 29th.
Went and let the Galaxies out into the run around 630am. Coop temp was 35 degrees (colder still from yesterday) outside temp is 31, and it feels like 31. The Galaxies are all running around their run, I think it's pretty safe to say they can handle any temp from here on forward.

Started mixing their crumble with Nutrena NatureWise All Flock. They are smaller pellets then what I normally see. I am in the process of switching my first flock over to this due to the fact it has more protien then what Ive been giving them. I had some left in the bag and decided now is as good a time as any to introduce the Galaxies. So i mixed some with the rest of their Nutrena NatureWise Chick Starter crumbles. The crumbles are 18% protein.

1120am I refilled the feeders and water. Coop temp is 67 degrees. Outside temp is 53, feels like 50. The Galaxies have been outside since 630 this morning.

I attached some thicker branches to the outside of the Chicken Chalet. I stuck one of the Galaxies up on the new roosts....she hung out for a bit then took off. Hoping introducing a few to them, the rest will find them soon too.

A little after 7, I locked the Galaxies up for the night. The coop is 59 degrees. It is 59 degrees outside. Low of 35 tonight.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 30th.
Let the Galaxies out for the day at 630a. Coop temp is 43 degrees. Outside temp is 40 degrees, feels like 34. All but 7 of the Galaxies are outside running around. The ones inside the coop are simply enjoying their breakfast .

1230pm coop temp is 78 degrees. Outside temp is 61. I noticed in the afternoons,the coop is reading much warmer than outside. I am interested to see if this holds true in the summer. I think it's bc of the sun hitting it.

Night time check. Coop temp is 69 degrees. Outside temp is 63 degrees with a low of 53. We are supposed to get rain tonight and tomorrow. In which case the Galaxies will remain in their coop.