Utah!

[Cynthia12]

If you haven't see this yet..a must watch!!

 

[Cynthia12]

Do you think I need to bring them inside to dry off first. They are now out in the backyard in the grass, and they are just soaked. And yes, they can get in the main coop, the shipping crate coop, and now since they are out in the back yard, they can even go under the deck, or the kids play house, they love that play house. Maybe because Ryan makes them pretend tea with treats. Hahaha, she loves her chickens what can I say.

I just can't believe they are outside in the rain like that, and its still raining. I guess its not bugging them. And they are so much more muddy now, they really were out in the mud digging. Guess its a perfect worm day.

I'm not sure how your coop is. It's raining here too. I kept the nursery closed up of course. But, my tweens have been out in the run, but that has a top on it. The older girls have been out in the rain, they are pretty wet too..not worried about them just going into the coop for the night. Having said that, I am not sure about the silkie feathers..they are so different. If you have a way to dry them a bit, might be a good idea.

 

[Ruralpearls]

I will have to try something like that.... I put in another roost that was a bit higher than their current one... It's a bit tight on extra space in there, so I'll have to figure out something that won't take up much space thanks!

Iluvmysilkies, did you just have extra feeders/waterers to put in your little separators?

Your tight space might be what is causing the bullying. With my first set of 15 chicks I had them in too small of a brooder and it lead to bullying, cannibalism and feather picking/eating. It was impossible to cure them of this. Even after I moved them to their 12x15 ft coop and 1/2 acre run they continued to pick at each other so badly and nothing I could do (believe me I tried everything under the sun) would stop it. I'm sure your situation isn't as dyer but I would watch very carefully that the bullying doesn't draw blood because it goes downhill fast. I would just try the grass. Shovel up a clump that has some taller sprigs. The chicks will love running through it and it will give the picked on one a place to dodge the bully (it will even distract the bully). Here is an example of my little ones hiding in some grass:





My grass is in a tupperware bowl but you could always remove some of the bedding and use the clump of grass as part of the bedding.

 

[sillycmoy]

I'm not sure how your coop is. It's raining here too. I kept the nursery closed up of course. But, my tweens have been out in the run, but that has a top on it. The older girls have been out in the rain, they are pretty wet too..not worried about them just going into the coop for the night. Having said that, I am not sure about the silkie feathers..they are so different. If you have a way to dry them a bit, might be a good idea.

Maybe I should go grab the 2 of them and put them in a crate in the garage to see if they dry up a bit before it gets dark, and then put them in the coop at bed time. The other girls have adventured out since its not raining as bad, just like a mist, but its cold out there, and they don't look anything like the Silkies. I can't get over how they look, its hilarious. I went to check on the 8 week old chicks to make sure they were still okay out in the grow out coop. They are just fine.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

I will have to try something like that.... I put in another roost that was a bit higher than their current one... It's a bit tight on extra space in there, so I'll have to figure out something that won't take up much space thanks!

Iluvmysilkies, did you just have extra feeders/waterers to put in your little separators?

Yep, I actually like to use the tiny automatic bird feeders/waters you can find at petsmart for the littler chicks. So that each spot has access to their own. I personally really like these feeders/waters because they hold alot of food but the dish part is small (so less mess) and less likely to kick bedding in there or scamper over it and get it dirty. Its been working great for me. They were like 5 bucks each at petsmart and just hang onto the wire

 

[sillycmoy]

Well I just finally got around to going outside to grab them, and they were already in the main coop between everyone else sleeping for the night, and their top feathers are almost fully puffy, and they don't feel that wet, mostly on the top, and they are not shaking, so I just left them. Do you think they will be okay? Silly girls. I still can't believe them. My husband just came home and I showed him the photos, and he just started laughing.

 

[bitsyhorse]

well, they still have quite a bit of space in there, I just like them to have a bit more open space, so they can scratch for the feed that they make a mess of in the shavings lol

I figured out something that will work. I have a 'chicky jail'. They can reach the water dish through the bars, and I've just been putting their food on the ground, because I can't keep enough in their container because they keep shoveling it out. They're also far enough from the light that they won't get too hot, but still have a spot that is close enough to it.

 

[bitsyhorse]

If you haven't see this yet..a must watch!!

absolutely adorable!

 

[Ruralpearls]

well, they still have quite a bit of space in there, I just like them to have a bit more open space, so they can scratch for the feed that they make a mess of in the shavings lol

I figured out something that will work. I have a 'chicky jail'. They can reach the water dish through the bars, and I've just been putting their food on the ground, because I can't keep enough in their container because they keep shoveling it out. They're also far enough from the light that they won't get too hot, but still have a spot that is close enough to it.

Cute littles!!! It looks like that will work wonderfully!

 

[bitsyhorse]

Cute littles!!! It looks like that will work wonderfully!

Thanks! I went out and checked a bit ago, and they're still in it... so I suspect that even the smallest offender (Pip, the OEGB) can't fit through the bars. We'll see how they act together in a couple of days...