Redinator's First Hatch-Along w Bonus Broody: And Everything Thereafter

[ella2025]

I didn't take the roof off the run. I took the roof off the 'chick hut', which is a doghouse I use in the run for shelter for my broody and her chicks. The roof has 6in or so of overhang on both sides and it won't go through the gate with the roof on it.

Oops!

 

[redinator]

As far as chicks go I have the 9 I hatched last time around and Sweety's 3. I might move them into the 9x18 run and integrate the new chicks with them as a Gen 2 flock.

 

[ChickenChick46]

So a little recap. I have/had, basically, 3 flocks. I say this because . . .

1) the Black Jersey Giants still roost in the Hen house in the quarantine yard
2) Sweety's flock; which only consists of her, Kettle, Pot, Buffy and Sweety's 3 chicks; still roost in the 9x18 run (slowly moving into the larger run)
3) And everybody else sleeps in the 10x25 run.

Everybody free ranges together during the day, but they sleep separately.

In preparation for the (unhatched) incubator chicks . . .(uh, I think I'll start calling the previous batch Cookie's bunch. .?) I'm attempting to move the 4 'adult' chickens and Sweety's 3 chicks into the large run.

For the last week or so I've made a point of only giving treats in the larger run so the 4 older birds start to hang out in there.

Buffy moved in the first night (1 Down). I think she quite enjoyed bossing the youngsters around and taking the top roost for herself. A few days later I added an 8 bay nestbox to the larger run and Pot moved in (2 down) and started laying eggs in one of the bays and Buffy followed suit. Well, once the breeding girls moved, Kettle (3 Down) wasn't far behind, lol.

That leaves Sweety and her 3 chicks, alone in the the 9x18 run.

Today I had to remove the roof from the chick hut to get it through the gate of the two runs to move it. Sweety was so upset when I started taking the roof off, she didn't attack, just kept jumping on my hand with drill and back to the roof, going in and out the door . . .practically begging me not to destroy her home. I picked her up gave her cuddles and kisses, told her it was for the best, and carried on.

Once I got it moved over I added clean bedding and a nesting pad. I called her over . . .yes she actually comes when called (usually, lol) . . she investigated it and seemed to approve. We'll see what happens when everyone goes to bed tonight, but I might be playing musical chickens for the next few nights, lol

Poor Sweety! I hope she and her babies settle in tonight!

 

[ChickenChick46]

Mom - Arctic Wolf and Alaskan Malamute
Dad - Timber Wolf and Siberian Husky

I bet those are gorgeous dogs!

 

[redinator]

Poor Sweety! I hope she and her babies settle in tonight!

She's nothing if not resilient. I about abandoned the whole idea when she started fussing.

I know she'll be fine though, the thought of her and the chicks alone in the 9x18 run bothered me more.

I'm hoping the move will encourage her to wean her chicks and they'll start hanging out with Cookie's bunch. Sweety's 3 have become a bit feral since the ordeal w Taz and Sweety being reclusive.

 

[ChickenChick46]

She's nothing if not resilient. I about abandoned the whole idea when she started fussing.

I know she'll be fine though, the thought of her and the chicks alone in the 9x18 run bothered me more.

I'm hoping the move will encourage her to wean her chicks and they'll start hanging out with Cookie's bunch. Sweety's 3 have become a bit feral since the ordeal w Taz and Sweety being reclusive.

Yeah they'll be happier in there with the rest of the flock, I'm sure. Even if they don't know that yet.

 

[redinator]

Yeah they'll be happier in there with the rest of the flock, I'm sure. Even if they don't know that yet.

Could you come tell her that?

Instead of moving them to the bigger run with the chickhut she took them to roost in the old run. At least they're making progress.

I knew it wouldn't happen overnight (but I hoped she'd cooperate), which is why I'm starting now. I have roughly (chicken math calculations: 18 days + 2 weeks = 32 days) just over a month to get this figured out.

 

[ella2025]

Could you come tell her that?

Instead of moving them to the bigger run with the chickhut she took them to roost in the old run. At least they're making progress.

I knew it wouldn't happen overnight (but I hoped she'd cooperate), which is why I'm starting now. I have roughly (chicken math calculations: 18 days + 2 weeks = 32 days) just over a month to get this figured out.

Maybe lock them in the new run?

 

[redinator]

Maybe lock them in the new run?

I might if she doesn't move on her own in a few days. I'm not in a rush.

Another option is give to them treats in the new run, then close the gate to old one, to see if she'll go in the new one on her own. I've been treating them in there for a few days now, so that might be less stressful.

 

[ella2025]

I might if she doesn't move on her own in a few days. I'm not in a rush.

Another option is give to them treats in the new run, then close the gate to old one, to see if she'll go in the new one on her own. I've been treating them in there for a few days now, so that might be less stressful.

Good luck! Chickens are so stubborn sometimes. They hate change!!!