My 18 new chicks are 2 months old. I also have 4 older reds that share the coop and runs. I have a light in my coop that comes on 6:30am and goes off at 8:30PM. The Chicks stayed for a week or two in the coop before venturing outside. Now they huddle in the corner of the run. They go up and down the ramp all day then come out at night. I have been going out at about 9pm to pickup and put them in the coop. I wonder if the big girls are intimidating the little girls. One of the big girls seems to be taking to mothering the chicks. She clucks around them all day. I did see her out with them once or twice at night. Had her wings covering the bunch. But she even gave up this week.
I just finally went and got a bale of straw today and put in the run for them to bed in. I watched several go up to roost while I was working out there about 5pm. I put one little one up that seems to have a sore foot. As soon as I was in the house I saw her come hopping back down the ramp. I am going to try tonight to leave them out. I guess they will make it or not. I already lost one big one that was being picked on. She would stay out until the others went to roost. She froze to death outside.
I just finally went and got a bale of straw today and put in the run for them to bed in. I watched several go up to roost while I was working out there about 5pm. I put one little one up that seems to have a sore foot. As soon as I was in the house I saw her come hopping back down the ramp. I am going to try tonight to leave them out. I guess they will make it or not. I already lost one big one that was being picked on. She would stay out until the others went to roost. She froze to death outside.
