Thistle the runt

[Lor]

This is the outdoor pen inside the enclosed run.
I need to come up with a top for the other pen so they can go out on the grass.

 

[rosemarythyme]

This is the outdoor pen inside the enclosed run.
I need to come up with a top for the other pen so they can go out on the grass.

Looks good!

As far as when to integrate, I'm a big believer in early integration, which would be done before 8 weeks or so (as the chicks will be too large to use chick/panic doors at that point). So my goal is to have the chicks start physically interacting with hens at around 2 weeks and moved into the coop at 4 weeks.

 

[Lor]

The hoolaghens are outside on the grassy area for the first time. Some garden fencing separating them from the older hens. The hens are ignoring them. Too interested in the new grass/clover.
A good sign?

 

[Lor]

Testing their wings too. Chicks flying every where. LOL

 

[Lor]

 

[gimmie birdies]

Sometimes I will take a runt, and get younger chickens to put the runt with so they don't get over welmed. The other thing is, keep rooster chicks separate if you have a lot, they can bully females from the food dish, and they grow slower.

 

[Lor]

They are all pullets, thankfully. She doesn't seem to get picked on. Many nights I find her in the middle of a chick pile when it's cool in the brooder as if the other chicks are keeping her warm. Sometimes just a couple of chicks laying with her. I'm surprised at how well she is doing. I was worried at the beginning.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Testing their wings too. Chicks flying every where. LOL

Since it doesn't look like the pen is covered, make sure to keep an eye on them so none of them fly out and get stuck out. I had a chick from my last batch "fly the coop" so to speak but she was smart enough to take cover elsewhere in the run for a bit.

 

[Lor]

Since it doesn't look like the pen is covered, make sure to keep an eye on them so none of them fly out and get stuck out. I had a chick from my last batch "fly the coop" so to speak but she was smart enough to take cover elsewhere in the run for a bit.

The run is covered in deer netting. It's black so hard to see.
I hear ya about the flying over. 2 chicks got up on the green garden fencing that separates the bigs from the littles. I added more to make it higher.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The run is covered in deer netting. It's black so hard to see.
I hear ya about the flying over. 2 chicks got up on the green garden fencing that separates the bigs from the littles. I added more to make it higher.

Yeah, I meant the mini chick area is uncovered (my run is also netted over, however I never bothered netting the chick area).

After the one chick went flying over I decided to just say f- it and instead of making the chick pen taller, I just lifted the chicken wire up on bricks so chicks could dart in and out for the rest of the day. That way if anyone went over, they could simply run back in.