The Time Has Come

[3KillerBs]

With the temporary chick-tight mesh in place inside the electric net and the ramp built I'm going to let the chicks out for the first time in about half an hour -- hoping not to lose any and need a chick rodeo.

I'm figuring on half an hour to 45 minutes before dusk for their first outdoor adventure in the grass.

Wish me luck!

 

[Gallinarium]

Definite best of luck!

 

[NightingaleJen]

Good luck... Have fun!

 

[Gallinarium]

It's been over an hour... So how'd it go?

 

[3KillerBs]

The chicks loved it!

Up until the point where they figured out that they wiggle under the inner fence and either go through or get stuck in the electric net (which is not yet charged because we needed to get some pipe insulation to prevent it from shorting when the wind blows it against the poles of the picnic fly).

Time to invest in a whole bunch of landscape staples to pin that net down TIGHT.

It was a massive rodeo to get them in. Only one could be herded back up the ramp as the light dimmed. The rest had to be caught in the net and put back while DH guarded the pop door so that they didn't pop right back out.

I'm trying to get some photos downloaded of them enjoying themselves before the rodeo began.

 

[3KillerBs]

I had to put bits of grass on the ramp to lure them down. But once down they weren't going back in without a fight.

 

[3KillerBs]

Take Two!

It's threatening a storm later but good now so I've got the chicks out again -- this time with the plastic netting firmly pinned down with landscape staples. They've been out about 15 minutes with no escapes yet.

 

[3KillerBs]

OK! I got them back in with only minor chasing involved. I waited until it was fairly dark to try to herd them up the ramp. A couple got in just having their fluffy butts bumped to set them moving, but a couple had to be caught and put in.

Omelet kept trying to come back out.

 

[3KillerBs]

We did this again. Tonight as dusk fell they tried to go to roost on the cement blocks near the door.

I started catching them to photograph them before putting them inside, which disturbed them enough that the rest of them scooted inside without being either put in or herded.

I'm going to move updates and photos to my Greyscale Acres thread from now on. I'll get tonight's photos off the phone tomorrow since I'm sleepy -- having been up since 5:30 this morning.