Good ideas Kosk. My chicks are all itching to get outside (they literally rush the door when I open it), but I think they are still small enough to squeeze through the fencing and I'm fearful my dog, like yours, would also have a bit of a hay-day with them. She's OK with the neighbor's occasionally free-range full-grown chickens, but my tiny young skittish ones would likely be too much of a temptation.
I started with an even dozen chicks, allowing for some attrition hoping for about 8-10. All made it through the baby to middle school stage, but they've been in a safe and enclosed coop so far. Also hoping for a rooster, but so far no signs of one. How soon can I tell if a chick is a pullet or rooster? Do I just look for a longer tail being developed, or are there other tell-tale signs? When would a young rooster start crowing? My chicks are not yet 2 months old.
