Yesterday they were out for nearly 5 hours. They have a secure run, food & water and grit, shelter, and an electric hen. They don't use the hen very often, although they do try and all sit on the top sometimes.
When they are in the Shed brooder, I spend a lot of time (and patience) trying to get them to feel comfortable being handled. I now have about 6 of the ten who will wait for me to pick them up. The reward is a food treat (actually the lovely Garvo Alfa Chick feed which they love).. Several of them will come back repeatedly and stand waiting to be gently scooped up and rest on the palm of my hand. One or two don't mind being picked up, but they don't want to lie in the palm of my hand.
Yesterday I practiced picking them up while they were in the grass run. That went OK, but it's hard lying on the ground for so long!
While they were out I cleaned out the brooder. It wasn't really dirty, but it was a bit smelly - mainly from the excavated food that gets damp and then warm. Alittle while later, it looks much the same as it did before.
