The chickens spent their first week in the coop learning that this is their new home. This is the warm, dry place with food and water. I want them to be able to free range on the property, but to return to the hen house each evening for safety's sake and also to lay eggs. It's no fun going on an Easter egg hunt through the brush every day.
*Note the steel trashcan. This is an easy, rodent proof and waterproof feed container.
That week passed and with some trepidation, I opened the door and watched to see what they would do. They started peering out the door getting more bold with each look. After about 10 minutes, the rooster hopped out. Soon they all followed and began happily scratching around looking for something to eat around the pond.
I went about my business and when I checked on them at dusk, all had returned and were safely in the house. Seven were on the roosting bars and three had decided to roost in the nest boxes. I picked up the three nest box birds and put them on the bars. If they develop the habit of roosting in the nest boxes, they will fill them with poop at night. That's not a good thing to have eggs covered in.
That's a good looking rooster!
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