Changes here! When I get three chicks, they are welcome guests in my house. When I have 24 chicks, not so much. The Todd Nebula moved outside last week, which was working pretty well. I sent them out as a big clump of Laikas to see what Outer Garage was like. I started them off easy, with their boxes lidded, and then left it off during the day, then l left the lids off all the time. They are over four weeks now (more than halfway to Carrousel) and are pretty well feathered out.

What does this factory make? Nobody knows.

Today’s innovation, as we moved the hens upstairs, was to connect multiple boxes with pop holes so they can move in between boxes. Again, with 3-5 hens on a normal year, I would be fine with one box for 6-8 weeks. Not so this year. I know this looks like a brokedown Hooverville, but it’s going pretty well. If I had a farm and was doing this yearly, of course I would dedicate a shed or build some large pens for young birds.

The hens explore their new space.

When they get flightier in a week or two, they will be completely covered or trellised.

The new space was disconcerting! Not all of the hive could see each other at once.

Kraienkoppe decided to be spokespullet for the first group that I had shoved through the pop hole so they could get the idea of where their food and water was.

Once she found her way back to the light, one of the new Easter Eggers took up the charge.

Idiots.

So, 24 chickens. I say to thee, “never again.”