The day quickly came when the chicks outgrew their brooder box. Time to move them to the chicken tractor.
We left them in the tractor coop for a couple of days and then opened the door to the great outdoors.
Some of them seem to really like it outside, others prefer to stay in the coop. None of them is having trouble negotiating the ladder.
It looks like of the twelve, we have about 7 or 8 roos. That's about what we expected (sigh).
Moving Day for Little Chickens © Oct 2020
by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com
16 comments:
Fun!
That looks like so much fun! Sorry about the percent of Roos, but they must be fun to watch! This is a wonderful addition! Have an outstanding week!
Mine are close to moving outside. Another week or two. It's getting a little too nippy at night. Mine are still under the light yet.
Tpals, :)
Wyomingheart, that many roos is usually how it is with straight run. But it means chicken for the freezer, and hopefully, at least one of the pullets will want to be a mama and hatch a few more for us.
They are great fun to watch. They are having mock fights now (which won't be so fun when they get older, ha!)
Jo, we ended up putting the lamp in the tractor coop. But it's been fairly mild and we switched the heat bulb to a regular incandescent bulb (I actually still had one in the spare room ceiling light). But I'm guessing you get colder weather before we do.
Great home for those lucky birds!!
Pick a nice roo and keep him. Perhaps you will have good luck with your breeding program. The rest I assume are potential Sunday dinners. 4-5 good layers with good brooding habits could increase the layers over a few seasons and you will be on your way.
Funny they sort of remind me of a coming out party for debutantes back in the day. 😊
Looks like they are enjoying their lovely 'new digs'! Must be fun watching them.
Lots of bone broth! Hope your girls are all great mommas.
RT, it's funny because they are oblivious to everything except their own little chicken world. We haven't hand raised chicks in awhile, so it's nice to see them becoming friendly.
Goatldi, yes, that's the plan!
Rosalea, they certainly adapted quickly! I was glad to get them out of the four blank walled box and into a home with a view. :)
Renee, thank you! I hope so too. The chicken dinners and bone broth will be welcome too, though. :)
Nothin' like the taste of freedom! I'll bet the others will come around and start venturing out. Enjoy!
Isn't it funny how some of them seem overwhelmed at the thought of the great big out-of-doors and are so timid about leaving their little, secure sanctuary?
And, poo on so many roos!
Raising chickens is one of the delights I sorely miss (I love them myself, although I have to admit quail are a good backup). How often do you intend to move the tractor?
We buy all our chickens from a family that raises them in chicken tractors that get dragged all over a large pasture. They are THE tastiest chickens I have ever eaten and have spoiled me to the point I can barely swallow a chicken that comes out of a grocery store.
So 8 roosters would not bother me in the slightest. I would just look forward to the day they grace my dinner table.
Great photos Leigh, they all look happy. :)
Daisy, we finally moved the feeder and water outside and that seemed to convince the rest of them. :)
Mama Pea, yes, too bad about so many roos, but it wasn't unexpected. It's fun watching them learn about their new world.
TB, that's a good question. I'm guessing at least once a day, depending on the condition of the forage and ground.
Ed, that's an excellent plug for chicken tractors! Something about the more natural diet, I think. And yes, we'll enjoy the 8 roos in their own way. :)
Rain, thanks! All of our critters deserve to be happy. :)
Cute!!! I'm glad you got some pullets from that bunch :)
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