Maybe there is competition for space at the feeders. My guineas were pecking at each others toes before they figured out how to use the feeder.View attachment 1085520 View attachment 1085522 View attachment 1085523 Thanks for the input folks. I'm feeding regular Purina start and grow, mill date less than 2 months ago. Never empty. Plus veggie scraps and shrimp tails. Honestly they are growing and feathering in so fast, I think they just want more room and more to do. I've never had chicks in a brooder longer than a couple of weeks before, so I'm winging it with these at almost 4weeks now. I expanded the square footage of the brooder over a week ago, to about 28 sq ft. Subtract feed/water stations and it's probably closer to 20 sq ft. Just not enough room.
Got them out about 3:00pm. Well got out 17 of them. The 8 most rowdy troublemakers stayed in the coop. They panted a bit, because . . . Summer in Texas! 97 F by the thermometer I put in there, but a bit of a breeze. I put the roofing panels over the cyclone fence and wrapped some wire fence scraps I had on hand around the bottom half with zip ties to keep them in. Worked fine since I knew we'd be out there much of the time. Put the horizontal nipple waterer I made in there. Took the first two about 30 mins to use it, but then it was "chicken see, chicken do." Electrolytes w/vitamins in water. Trough feeder for now. Dog crate and improvised roosts. They seem to like it. Already heard them alert to flying shadow (plane) and squirrel. Put a tarp lapped over west side to protect from sun later.
Worked more on coop. Had already gone to pick up more screws and lumber. Glad the roof panels were here already! Getting real close to putting them on, them siding and doors & windows. Then I can place the run permanently and reinforce it properly. Somewhere in there will be paint and last will be interior fittings. Still got a bulk feeder to make too, but that's just cutting holes in a storage tote. Got the street elbows already.
I'll bring them all in tonight, back to the brooder for lights out, then everybody goes out to the pen tomorrow. I'll see what I can do to make the brooder a happier place, but not spending much time on it now. I just need to get them through the next week without them eating each other!
ETA: the pictures make the run look smaller than it is. It's 8x8 ft, 4 ft high. My ultimate hen count will be 8-10 max. Selling off excess by POL. They will range the yard (approximately 1/2 acre of it) at least part of each day.
- I have roasted tomato bread rising, light rye to make and let rise, and garlic rosemary to make and rise x2. Then bake em - mostly rolls anD min loaves.
