The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: spikey_fridge on May 23, 2010, 09:22:11 am
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hi
just a quickie
i picked up 5 chicks which were just off the heat lamp. they are doing well and i have let them out in this glorious sunshine.
how old does this make them roughly?
and also i have been putting them back in the coop but will they go in there themselves as it gets dark?
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at a guess about 5-6 weeks. they can still get chilled so watch them. they need to be penned and would be better with a cover over them. lots of things will want to eat them. you need to make sure they go in at night.
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As well as making sure that they go back in - make sure nothing else can get in. Ie close the door behind them.
Thanks
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hi thanks, yeah, i have a lockable coop and wired run with strong netting secured on top. its nice to see them out and about. they can get in and out by themselves, i was just wondering if instinct would make them go in at night time
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Yes, instinct will take them off to bed by themselves - eventually.
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We find young poultry take ages to go to bed - they're still chooking about long after the hens have called it a day. Typical teenagers!
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Agree with Rosemary - My Buff Orpies are all tucked up by 8pm, the black rocks on the other hand start partying around that time and I have to shoo them in about 10pm!
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good news! went to put them in but running around in circles so left them while i had a cheese toastie... looked out of the window and they had gone in. closed and locked up until the morning. i'm very impressed, hoping its not just a fluke tonight