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

[SarahB23]

Hello

 

I have newly hatched pekin bantam chicks. I am planning to bring them into the house in a cardboard box to start with, and then transfer them to the playhouse. At what age will they be big enough to go into my eglu or into my wooden henhouse with a ramp? and should they stay with their mother all the time, or should they be separated from her at any point before they are big enough to join my other hens?

 

Thank you to anyone who can answer my query!!!

[Egluntyne]

If they have been hatched by a broody, so long as you have separate accommodation for them , they will be fine with their mother in the Eglu, kept apart from the other hens. She will teach them everything they need to know. I'd remove the roosting bars as they will not be able to cope with them, and put some sort of ramp at the door.

 

No point separating them from their mother, and I wouldn't relish bringing her indoors with them. If you do decide to rear them indoors without their mother, you will need a brooder.

 

Are your other hens bantams too?

[SarahB23]

Thank you for your reply. Yes they are all bantams.

 

It was the roosting bars I was worried about with the eglu and the chicks. I hadnt actually considered whether or not they would manage ok without the bars. Maybe this is the best option then. I have no desire to separate them from their mum unless that's something that needs to be done at any point.

So I guess now I just need to wait until they are big enough for me to move them, and then I will swap everyone over!! The other 2 can be free range again and sleep in the wooden henhouse, and mum and chicks can go in the eglu, with bars removed and a ramp added.

The mum wont reject them if I pick them up to move them into the eglu, will she?

[The Dogmother]

Just take the roosting bars out and put down some non-slip flooring for the first 2 weeks, then replace it with Aubiose when their legs are stronger. I use a bit of wood as a ramp at the eglu door.

 

If you want to move them, then I would consider doing it at night when the mother is a bit dopey and move all the original bedding with her too. She will give them enough warmth at this time of year, just make sure that you have a cover on the run. I put kick boards around the edges of the run as the stupid little things kept poking their heads out through the run mesh and the cats were far too interested!

[SarahB23]

This forum is fantastic! It's great having people to ask! Thank you for the replies.

 

Some more questions.... (I have many but will just ask 2 more for now!)

 

Alice is still sitting on 2 of the eggs, which are not going to hatch now, I would imagine. I guess she will give up on them at some point and get off them? I am planning to wait until after this time before I move them all into the eglu.

 

At what age can I tell if they are male or female? They all look the same at the moment!

 

Do I need a complete cover for the eglu before I put the chicks in? I just have the sun shade at the moment.

 

Sorry - thats 3 questions!!

 

 

Lovely photos by the way!! If I work out how to put them into a post I will add some of our newcomers!!