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Barnyard Buddies:  Moving chicks outside  |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 18 2011 : 7:29:03 PM
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I'm in a dilemma because my 6 chicks are starting to get kind of crowded in their galvanized water trough nursery. They have all of their feathers except for the tops of their heads, and I can see the feathers coming in there too. The problem is that we've been having severe weather about every other day around here. Storms, lightning, and tonight possibly some hail. We had something like a monsoon this morning at about 2 a.m. I would kind of like them to get used to being in their new home and learning how to bed down in their coop area before they have to deal with thunderstorms. Their brooder is in our garage under a window that I've been leaving open. So they hear the weather and outside noises, but they are still a bit insulated from it. Is it good practice to bring them back to their brooder at night, or once they go out to their pen, should they stay there and learn how to be outdoor chickies?
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
A Beehive is the ultimate Home Sweet Home
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4263 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4263 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2011 : 04:48:28 AM
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It sounds like they will have protection from the weather, so they would be fine. Remember your pen and coop need to be varnit proof, so nothing can get in and kill them. When you do move them out, put them in their coop area. Then they will know where to go.
Have fun
Michele |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2011 : 07:26:08 AM
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i agree with michele. thet are probably ready. you could bring them in at night for a few days. it would help them get used to their new digs. do you have varmit secure pens? do they have a coop to sleep in safely? if so and they are feathered out, yes they can go out now. it is my favorite part turning them out in their pen. they seem so happy to run around and explore. good luck to you. let us know how they do. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2011 : 09:16:54 AM
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If your kids have most of their feathers then yes they are more than ready to go out in the coop even with all the nasty weather you are having...you may just want to keep the coop closed until the weather is nicer for them as a precaution....I would recommend a box or something tilted on its side with lots of bedding so when it gets really noisy they can all pile in there together & feel safe..You do not have to or need to bring them back in unless you get tornado warnings cause if you are like me you will want them to be near you & know they are safe....I lived most of my life in Missouri (springfield area) so I understand your weather problems.....I promise they will be fine but I bet you will be out there alot at first checking on them cause you will be missing them...:)...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2011 : 7:44:59 PM
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Well I got everyone transported via kitty carrier to the tractor today. The tractor is an A-Frame style with the coop "upstairs" and their foraging area below it. They spent the majority of day upstairs until late afternoon when they decided to come down the ramp and check things out. Then there was a major hen party including bug chasing and lots of poking around. Of course I checked on them every 30 minutes or so.  I kept an eye out for what they would do at dusk, hoping they would march up the ramp and go to bed...but instead they all started peeping at the top of their lungs. It was like "calling all coyotes!! Here we are, 6 little helpless chicks in the dark!!!" They knew it was time to go to bed but they didn't know how. So, after a few failed attempts to coax them up the ramp, I started picking them up and depositing them through one of the nest box doors into their coop. I could hear them settling in, still peeping, but more relaxed. The last thing I did before coming in was check the electric fence that surrounds their tractor...pulsing at nice strong 5000 Volts. I will still probably not sleep very well tonight....oh and yes, we are under a tornado watch until midnight.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
A Beehive is the ultimate Home Sweet Home
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Barnyard Buddies: Moving chicks outside |
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Moving chicks outside
