Ready to move outside?

[rosemarythyme]

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these aren’t the best pictures and they were kind of random under construction ones but this is basically some of it. Sorry it’s dark out or I would take better ones.

That's a good amount of run space to work with. Here's some pointers on how to fill it up with clutter when it comes time to integrate! https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

For the time being plan on having the adults see (but not touch) the chicks in their little coops for at least a good week, if not two or more. Actually from looking at your fencing, you may need to hold off until the chicks are large enough that they can't pop through the fence, or you'll need to reinforce the fence with smaller opening mesh - I have chain link and a split run and the chicks were going under the diamond shaped openings between the two halves of the run up until 8 weeks or so.

 

[SamanthaDianne]

You said they’re 4 wks, right? I can’t tell the size of the coop in your pic, but I’ll bet you’re not gonna be able to keep 16 chicks in there for very long at all. If it’s bigger than the brooder, I’d go ahead and put them in there with the understanding that they can’t stay long in just the one and when they get crowded, open up the other coop for them and join the two runs with a little door or two.

I would set up those coops/runs right up against the existing run and after a while, when the time seems right to you, make a chick-sized door from their run into the adult run. That way the babies can always retreat to their run which is inaccessible for the adults. I would also contrive some places in the adult run for the babies to hide in and/or creep into that the adults can’t access.

That is a really good idea! I’m really just worried about splitting them up this week because it’s so much cooler outside then it has been!

 

[CindyinSD]

Thanks @SamanthaDianne ! I just saw the photos of your current setup. Really nice! I’m loving all your lush green grass. Ours is covered in cold white “fungus”.

You could make a skirt of hardware cloth around your current run to contain the chicks. If you have predators that could get through the large mesh wire, bend your hardwire cloth (I put a 2x4 or 2x6 on it and bend the wire around the wooden edge) so there’s at least a couple feet standing against the current fence and a foot or so laying out across the grass. You can tack it down to the ground with “landscape staples” (Amazon) and your grass will soon swallow it up. This will help keep predators out and chicks in. The upright portion can be secured to the existing fence with zip ties or whatever method you prefer. If you don’t have much for ground predators, you can use chicken wire instead of hardwire cloth, if you prefer, and add the ground-skirt if you want to for extra security against diggers.

 

[SamanthaDianne]

Thanks @SamanthaDianne ! I just saw the photos of your current setup. Really nice! I’m loving all your lush green grass. Ours is covered in cold white “fungus”.

You could make a skirt of hardware cloth around your current run to contain the chicks. If you have predators that could get through the large mesh wire, bend your hardwire cloth (I put a 2x4 or 2x6 on it and bend the wire around the wooden edge) so there’s at least a couple feet standing against the current fence and a foot or so laying out across the grass. You can tack it down to the ground with “landscape staples” (Amazon) and your grass will soon swallow it up. This will help keep predators out and chicks in. The upright portion can be secured to the existing fence with zip ties or whatever method you prefer. If you don’t have much for ground predators, you can use chicken wire instead of hardwire cloth, if you prefer, and add the ground-skirt if you want to for extra security against diggers.

That large board fence is wired thank god, so if something tried to dig, climb or jump it they are in for an unpleasant surprise.