Moving my girls outside - Boise, Idaho - Ladder and Roost questions

[Tzippi613]

Hello everyone! We get to go down on a road trip to see family for a late Seder, and while I'm very excited to see family (some of whom are getting very up there in years, and haven't met their great-grandson in person yet), I am worried about leaving my girls. (I'm a first time chicken-haver and probably a little extra about all this.)

My six beautiful seven week old girls (two EEs, two PBRs, one Buff Orp, one Welsummer) are getting big for their inflatable pool brooder in my garage and looking to expand their living space. They are pretty well feathered out, see picture. They can drink from their nipple waterer and eat from the feeder that stops them spilling all their food in one go.

Lows in the coming week are flirting with freezing, but not quite making it all the way down. I have a warning pad that can go out to the coop with them in case.

I'm worried about their ability to manage the ladder in and out of the coop without me here to check on them throughout the day. My mom is going to check in daily, but I'm concerned about them roosting properly. Also, my husband wants to just leave the door of the coop open so they can go in and out with the light, but is that something they'll figure out on their own? We're going to leave Thursday morning (it's Tuesday night already). I'm worried about them not being able to get back in and either being cold, or piling up and smothering someone. And the coop has a window, so they'd wake up to the sunlight, but do they need time to learn about going in at night?

So should I keep them in the garage while we're gone in case? Or am I way overthinking it?

 

[sourland]

Is the coop large enough that you could leave them locked in the coop until your return?

 

[Tzippi613]

Is the coop large enough that you could leave them locked in the coop until your return?

It would definitely be a downsize in room for them, they're currently in an 8x4, and the coop is just 5x4. But they're you g and all get along well, so it would probably be ok.

 

[Tonyroo]

How high is the door to the ground?

Your chicken ramp looks useless, it needs to be a solid board. But if the doorway is around a foot high remove that twig ramp you got going. They will fly up to the door.

They will be fine being in there coop, just make sure the coop and run is predator proof.

Leave enough food and water for your time away.

Leave the coop door open all day and night, since I didn't see any ventilation in the coop.

 

[Tzippi613]

How high is the door to the ground?

Your chicken ramp looks useless, it needs to be a solid board. But if the doorway is around a foot high remove that twig ramp you got going. They will fly up to the door.

They will be fine being in there coop, just make sure the coop and run is predator proof.

Leave enough food and water for your time away.

Leave the coop door open all day and night, since I didn't see any ventilation in the coop.

The door is hip height on me, so about 3 feet up. I could tack on a platform there and then set up a chair so they could hop and hop.

 

[Poodlemum]

Mine needed a few days of me moving them from the run into the coop before they caught on, they were a similar age

 

[Tzippi613]

Thanks for all your advice! They spent a first night very happily in their coop, and I'm going to set up a mirror and some other toys for them to play with while I'm gone.

(Bangle has already discovered the roost, and Blondie, Jett, and Go-Go are looking around. Heart and T'Pau are off screen.)

 

[rosemarythyme]

(Bangle has already discovered the roost, and Blondie, Jett, and Go-Go are looking around. Heart and T'Pau are off screen.)

Gotta say I love the names! Didn't know anyone would remember T'Pau.

 

[Tzippi613]

Gotta say I love the names! Didn't know anyone would remember T'Pau.

We had the greatest hits CD when I was growing up, and we all need a little bit of Heart and Soul!

Their baby pics, and my most recent pic of T'Pau on her own. She's an EE and has cheeks for days.

 

[Tzippi613]

Thank you all for your advice! They're in the coop, my mom is visiting them. So far they've only ventured out the door once on their own, but it's looking wonderful!

Thanks for your help