Change of plans

[Auntiejessi3]

Because of all the problems with the post office and chicks arriving dead I canceled my order. I decided to get 3 started pullets, 6 weeks old from a hatchery here in Texas so I can pick them up. This is my question, I planned on brooding my chicks outside in the coop with my current ladies. Can I still do that? This is a piece of my old prefab that I kept for that specific reason.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

@aart @3KillerBs

 

[aart]

How big is that, in inches by inches?

At 6 wo you won't need heat.

How big is your coop, in feet by feet?
Pic would help here.

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

Because of all the problems with the post office and chicks arriving dead I canceled my order.

that is so sad.... poor babies.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

28in Hx 28in Dx 45in W. My coop is 8x7x7ft tall. Didn't plan on any heat cuz I know they don't need it. Here's the set up

 

[Auntiejessi3]

My coop, 146sqft run
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-new-coop.1443937/page-6#post-24173337

 

[3KillerBs]

28in Hx 28in Dx 45in W. My coop is 8x7x7ft tall. Didn't plan on any heat cuz I know they don't need it. Here's the set up

That's almost 9 square feet less the space taken up by the feeder and waterer so it should be OK for a few weeks of growth and see-don't-touch integration.

After the initial adjustment, if you can rig a way that the littles can get in and out but the adults can't -- maybe using a hook and eye to prop the door open slightly? -- you can use it to provide a safe refuge further on during the integration process.

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

it is so clean (no poo all over the place ) and the grass in the run is.. well... there. Keep the pictures, it won't look like that long! Chickens are worst to grass than locusts.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Yep, it's a new run so I expect it'll be like the old one, lol, but I plan on doing a separate section to grow grass then open it back up, I'll rotate the run

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

I made the mistake of building a run that cannot be moved around. I'll need to make some fencing in new areas this summer. But honestly, they did such a 'scorched-earth' deal on the ground that was such nice tall grasses when they came, that I don't think anything will ever grow there again. It is worst than any forest fire.

you may need more than 2 spots to rotate through. Chickens work from sunrise to sunset, scratching everything out of existence. They barely leave the dirt behind.