Georedhead
In the Brooder
- Jul 23, 2019
- 5
- 8
- 11
Hi all, first post. I am chicken-sitting for a friend who is away (and out of contact) for another week. I’ve managed to get through one thunderstorm and two of the hottest days of the year, but tonight/tomorrow/Tuesday are supposed to continue raining.
I have two sets of chickens. 6 laying hens and 9-10 younger, non-laying pullets (I think that’s the correct term for them? They’re at least 8 weeks old, probably older, but I’m not 100% sure. Note: this also includes one rooster...). The hens have a coop and a separate domed run. The pullets were in the garage, but it was too hot and I couldn’t leave them in there. I moved them to a short (as in height, not area) run in the yard, separate from the full grown hens. Both runs have tarp coverings and some shelter, but they’re on the grass. I can’t move the pullets back to the garage because I disassembled part of the little pen they had to add shade to their run, but the run is now completely flooded (and will continue to be so over the next few days!).
I had to sprint earlier this evening to move the pullets from the flooding run into the coop, which is already occupied by the hens. The hens were sleeping so I’m hoping there won’t be any issues, but I’m worried about tomorrow. I’m not comfortable putting them back into the runs if there’s continued rain (and flooding...) but I don’t want to keep both groups confined to the same coop if they’ve not been properly introduced yet.
Am I right to be worried? Does anyone have any suggestions? I’m limited on materials and time in the morning, but I really want to make sure my friend comes back to safe and happy chickens!
Thank you very much.
I have two sets of chickens. 6 laying hens and 9-10 younger, non-laying pullets (I think that’s the correct term for them? They’re at least 8 weeks old, probably older, but I’m not 100% sure. Note: this also includes one rooster...). The hens have a coop and a separate domed run. The pullets were in the garage, but it was too hot and I couldn’t leave them in there. I moved them to a short (as in height, not area) run in the yard, separate from the full grown hens. Both runs have tarp coverings and some shelter, but they’re on the grass. I can’t move the pullets back to the garage because I disassembled part of the little pen they had to add shade to their run, but the run is now completely flooded (and will continue to be so over the next few days!).
I had to sprint earlier this evening to move the pullets from the flooding run into the coop, which is already occupied by the hens. The hens were sleeping so I’m hoping there won’t be any issues, but I’m worried about tomorrow. I’m not comfortable putting them back into the runs if there’s continued rain (and flooding...) but I don’t want to keep both groups confined to the same coop if they’ve not been properly introduced yet.
Am I right to be worried? Does anyone have any suggestions? I’m limited on materials and time in the morning, but I really want to make sure my friend comes back to safe and happy chickens!
Thank you very much.
