Free Range

Our chickens have lived in our backyard coop for a week now, and they are already very much at home.  On Tuesday we let them out of the coop to wander the backyard for the first time.  They were out for a few hours then we chased them back into their house.  On Wednesday we let them out again after school but let them go back to the coop on their own at dusk.  Thursday and Friday worked the same way.  This morning Derek let them out first thing in the morning.  They'll have access to the yard all day long.  We'll see if our eggs still end up in the nesting boxes...

Speaking of the eggs, we are up to a grand total of NINE beautiful eggs.  Not quite as much as I hoped for, but there are a few hen things to keep in mind.  Hens slow their laying when stressed, and the move from Calhan definitely stressed them out.   They also don't lay as frequently in the winter.  Not because of the cold but because there is less sunlight.  Most chickens need about 12-14 hours of sunlight between eggs.  That takes longer in the winter.  It's nature's little way of giving the hens a break.

We have spent every afternoon outside this week, and it has been wonderful.  Our dog Cooper even hangs out with us watching the hens free range in the backyard.  We introduced her slowly, but now she shows no sign of want to chase those birds.  She's a lab mix and a very good girl.