I just have to say I've only had the girls all together in the coop for about a week now, but being a newbie I am just in love with the whole business of having chickens. I had mentioned a few days ago that three of our four girls were still spending their days in the hen house, while Whitey Ford, the LS, was happily strolling up and down the ramp, in and out and enjoying the 8X12 run all to herself. Well after my conversation with Zgoatlady yesterday, she suggested I toss the other babies out there too, since the Ameraucanas had only ever been outside in the X Pen on our back deck, and the Barnevelder, Mimi, had been too afraid to venture out on her own. Today was the perfect opportunity since DH and I had some work to do inside the hen house securing the roosts. So I "helped" them all find their way out into their yard and they were fine immediately, scratching and exploring.
This evening I was running errands and upon my return around 7 PM, went to see how they were doing, thinking I'd have to help them find their way back up the ramp to roost for the night. But no, I peeked through the window to find my big girls already tucked in for the night. They not only survived their first day on the ground, they came home before it got dark. It's a little thing, but it warmed my heart.