All ten of our chicks have survived and seem to be healthy and happy. They’ve been out of their brooding box for a few weeks and are pecking around in the chicken run, though the brooding box is still available to them with its heat lamp, now set at 67°F.
So far, the chicken run has held them in and Vinda and Lu and Luna the Big Dog™ out, and there has been no evidence of hawks or mongooses. Luna does seem to enjoy lunging toward the chicken run and watching them scatter back but that, and similar action toward Vinda and Lu, is being discouraged.
Soon, I suppose, we’ll start learning how many are hens vs. roosters. We’re not expecting to keep any roosters, but don’t have a definite plan for the culls. Luna is lobbying for the stewpot.
—2p