My twelve chicks now range from 6-8 weeks old. They have been off heat for at least a couple weeks now and even the two youngest are fully feathered. They are also getting crowded in the brooder that looked so huge (4'x4'x2') when I got them back in April. Weather is looking good for the next few days. Warm but not hot, little or no rain. I do believe the time has come to move the girls (& two guys) out to their coop.
Coop and run are finished and as secure as I can make them, except for the apron and rain gutter, both of which I hope to finish up today. The chickens will be restricted to the coop at first anyway, so the apron will definitely be in place before they start accessing the run. Rain gutter is strictly for my convenience, so no worries there.
I am excited and more than a little nervous. I feel I've done a good job building a secure home for them, but still worry I might have overlooked something. In spite of that, I do feel they are ready ... even if I am not.
They are healthy and seem happy, but don't really enjoy being in the brooder any more. Everyone quickly flies out to sit on the top whenever I open it and I have to urge them to go back in when I need to close it back up. My fluffy babies aren't babies any more, but rather youngsters ready to enter their next phase of life. Yes, it is definitely time.
Just a nervous new mom trying to reassure herself as she takes a big step with her first chickens. Wish us luck!
Coop and run are finished and as secure as I can make them, except for the apron and rain gutter, both of which I hope to finish up today. The chickens will be restricted to the coop at first anyway, so the apron will definitely be in place before they start accessing the run. Rain gutter is strictly for my convenience, so no worries there.
I am excited and more than a little nervous. I feel I've done a good job building a secure home for them, but still worry I might have overlooked something. In spite of that, I do feel they are ready ... even if I am not.

Just a nervous new mom trying to reassure herself as she takes a big step with her first chickens. Wish us luck!