I have chickens ranging from 2 yrs to 1 week. Of course the babies are in a brooder. As soon as they get enough feathers to go out side I move them to a grow out coop. I have two for different size chicks each has a heat lamp so if temps drop. They move from brooder to Bantam house (converted Little Tykes cabin). Then to the Polish/Silkie coop. When they out grow the Silkies they move to the barn. The birds in the barn are let out in the morning and put up at night. The Silkie house only gets let out when I'm home. The Bantam only go out when I'm watching. I have 2 acres that has a chain link fence. I have a Lab on a 40 ft run on back of property and a rescue bulldog/??? on the front. I have a chiwheenie that is loose She guards the birds and chases the cats away from the chicks even though they don't bother them. When I want them in the coop I feed them they come running. A child's butterfly net comes in handy to catch any stragglers. Good Roosters are great for alarming to predators. The other day the chicks 3mth old were sounding alarm and running under my chair. I look up expecting a hawk and see a crow it did steal a fledgling from a bird nest in the tree. Now I make sure they have things to hid under near their coop. They have been in big coop for a month now and very seldom go far unless they are following me. I big birds always come down for a visit and to see if they have dropped and food. All my animals seem to co exist well.
The small coop is were the ducks stay at night.
The small coop is were the ducks stay at night.