- Apr 6, 2014
- 19
- 0
- 22
First of all thanks!!!
It is clearly a one-sided relationship as I am very new and can only imagine that someday I'll be able to answer questions for some other newbie years down the road. So again, and in advance, thanks!
I am preparing to assimilate 17 new chickens who are two months old + into a large outdoor coop that currently has 5 laying hens. Here is my question: What is the best way / time (age) for these new girls to go into their new coop?
I have been feeding them a mix of Starter Grower along with some pelletts on the ground to get them used to feeding that way. They are very well fed and seem to be in good health. They are big, and some of them seem quite ready to be out of the garage. Inside the garage, (where we leave the door open with fencing around to keep out any predators) they have an 8' x 4' x 4' brooder with a walkway up and down into it. We have fenced off 1/2 of the garage (normal car sized area) where they can get out and walk around. I estimate this to be about the size of a single horse stall. They have food and water both inside the brooder and out in the garage. They do not seem to be inclined to roost at night (inside the brooder) and stay "around" the brooder day and night. We turned off their heat lamp 10 + days ago. They seem happy and curious, and are a real joy for me and my family.
Outside in the back of the house there is a fenced off run of approximately 7500 sq feet. Additionally they will all be able to freely walk around our property (3+ acres) as the big ones do now; when they get used to being outside. The coop is large and by my estimates could hold as many as 30 hens comfortably (using the roost space available). I am also able to have food and water inside the coop, safe from falling poop and predators.
I guess the real question is....what now?
I have thought to just take them all out there put them in the coop for a couple of days and let them "figure it out". I am very attached to both the little ones and the big ones and want it to go well.
So, thanks again for reading. I haven't been able to write in a while, and will try and get back to your comments as soon as I can. As I said it seems that my relationship with BYC is VERY one-sided as I am asking (now my second question) and have little to offer back except my thanks.
Thanks!
JVAChickens
It is clearly a one-sided relationship as I am very new and can only imagine that someday I'll be able to answer questions for some other newbie years down the road. So again, and in advance, thanks!
I am preparing to assimilate 17 new chickens who are two months old + into a large outdoor coop that currently has 5 laying hens. Here is my question: What is the best way / time (age) for these new girls to go into their new coop?
I have been feeding them a mix of Starter Grower along with some pelletts on the ground to get them used to feeding that way. They are very well fed and seem to be in good health. They are big, and some of them seem quite ready to be out of the garage. Inside the garage, (where we leave the door open with fencing around to keep out any predators) they have an 8' x 4' x 4' brooder with a walkway up and down into it. We have fenced off 1/2 of the garage (normal car sized area) where they can get out and walk around. I estimate this to be about the size of a single horse stall. They have food and water both inside the brooder and out in the garage. They do not seem to be inclined to roost at night (inside the brooder) and stay "around" the brooder day and night. We turned off their heat lamp 10 + days ago. They seem happy and curious, and are a real joy for me and my family.
Outside in the back of the house there is a fenced off run of approximately 7500 sq feet. Additionally they will all be able to freely walk around our property (3+ acres) as the big ones do now; when they get used to being outside. The coop is large and by my estimates could hold as many as 30 hens comfortably (using the roost space available). I am also able to have food and water inside the coop, safe from falling poop and predators.
I guess the real question is....what now?
I have thought to just take them all out there put them in the coop for a couple of days and let them "figure it out". I am very attached to both the little ones and the big ones and want it to go well.
So, thanks again for reading. I haven't been able to write in a while, and will try and get back to your comments as soon as I can. As I said it seems that my relationship with BYC is VERY one-sided as I am asking (now my second question) and have little to offer back except my thanks.
Thanks!
JVAChickens