4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[mrsm_jones]

I have just hatched 5 baby chicks under my lovely big Orpington, Kiev . She and all the chicks were outside in a separate accomodation, but we found 1 dead chick on Sunday , the day they were born, and OH insisted that we bring them inside, in case it was the cold that killed it.

 

The coop and all the chicks plus mummy hen is now in my hallway!!! , but this moning (day 2) there was an unholy stench coming from them, and apon further investigation, it turned out that Kiev had badly soiled the nest :vom:

 

Don't get me wrong....I'm glad they were inside, so I could deal with the mess quickly, so the chicks didn't get covered. And I'm glad they're all safe and warm in my hallway, but I've just had to cancel a coffee morning due to the smell and the risk of my friend losing her brekkie!

 

When do you all think it would be safe for them all to go back outside? Or am I just being selfish / soft??? They have a big nextbox with an attached covered run.

Thanks

[superjules]

Congrats on your new arrivals!

 

If they are with their mum, they will be plenty warm enough outside. Mine hatched 4 weeks ago and have been outside in the eglu with no problems.

[mrsm_jones]

Brill, thanks Superjules Think we just panicked when we saw the dead one!

[Lesley]

We have 5 outside with a Buff Orp. mum - they will be fine. We had a sixth hatch and it had died overnight - it was later than the others and we think she didn't look after it as it hatched

[superjules]

Some chicks just don't make it. It really wouldn't have been the cold. Broodies can also keep warm more chicks than eggs, as the chicks can tuck in behind mum's wings as well as underneath her.

 

Mine are thriving outside, and as they're pekins they were tiny at first - like little bumble bees. They even managed to get through the holes in the eglu run.