Today's the Big Day!

[britinpa]

Coop day! I'm ready, but not ready, a bit nervous really. At 7 weeks I'm sure they're ready. My question is, once we move them to the coop, can I (should I) open up the back door to let them out in the run also straight away, or will that be too much all at once for them? They haven't been outside yet, so would love them to get out in the open. I probably shan't sleep a wink tonight.

 

[imnukensc]

I would open it up and let them explore to their hearts' content.

 

[Folly's place]

As long as the run is safe, covered so nobody can fly out.
You may need to get them back into the coop at night for a few days, and roosting may take longer. It's all fine, and they will have a good time out there!
Make sure you have grit available for them too.
Mary

 

[britinpa]

I would open it up and let them explore to their hearts' content.

Thanks! They've been out there for a couple of hours now and only 2 of them have ventured out and in again - they're all curious.

 

[britinpa]

As long as the run is safe, covered so nobody can fly out.
You may need to get them back into the coop at night for a few days, and roosting may take longer. It's all fine, and they will have a good time out there!
Make sure you have grit available for them too.
Mary

Thank you! Yes, run is all covered and safe. We did put a little roosting bar in their brooder in the last fews days they were in there, and they all started to use it the last couple of nights, so hopefully that will have helped them to get the idea in their new coop. They're still curious of what's outside in the run, but they haven't all been out there yet. Is there not grit in their regular chick starter? If not, I will have to go out and buy some today. The last one to take a little wander in the run was eating ants.

 

[Folly's place]

When they only eat a crumble or pelleted feed, no grit is needed. ANYTHING else, and they do need grit.
Mary

 

[britinpa]

Took a while for all of them to venture outside, but after about 4 hours they did and they had a lovely time. I thought I'd leave it until almost dark to see whether they would make their way back into the coop; when I went out there most of them were all crammed in the doorway - I had to give them a little nudge to get them in, so I could close their hatch door. They were slightly panicked, as it's not the norm. I bought a small LED light today, and put that on a corner ledge in there facing away from them, just to give some dim lighting to keep them calm - hopefully once they are more used to their new surroundings and routine I can wean them from the lighting. When I left them, 5 were on the roost bar and 3 were huddled in a corner on the floor. Hopefully they'll all be okay in the morning.