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[pumkinsmummy]

Dilys has just hatched 2 gorgeous chicks and is sitting on another 3 eggs still. They are in a coop on their own but is one of those off the ground and with a ladder to the coop (our original wooden coop pre the cube). Dilys during the hatching period has been coming out intermittently for a stretch and the other girls have been going in for a visit and a chat. However, with the chicks, how do I stop them falling down the ladder. Dilys still needs the door open to move freely, but I am sure they will try to follow her. We don't have a cockerel so will it be OK fo the girls to still visit? Surely this will make them accepting of the newbies and so less likely to get jealous when they are bigger. I have covered the floor of the coop in savings and they have water and chick crumbs in there. Will Dilys stay there with them a lot now? I know this is a lot of questions, but I want to make sure I do it right for them all, chicks, mum and aunties. Thank you

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Personally I would say stop the aunties visiting.......Mum could become over protective when the babes are all hatched & attack the other hens .......also can the house be dropped to ground level, the babes will want to follow mum out & will have a nasty accident if the drop is too great, alternatively make it a protected ramp rather than a ladder for access........they'll get out *plonk*, but getting back in will cause problems especially when they are wee

 

Keep it so the aunties can see the little family through fencing, but not so they have access.

 

I'm sure others have had experiences where the babes have been in with aunties from the word go, but I'd err on the side of caution

 

Good luck

 

Sha x

[Redwing]

Mum and chicks should be in a coop at ground level, a cube isnt a suitable option - a ground level rabbit hutch and run is ideal

 

The chicks need to stay separate with mum till they are 6 weeks at which time she can go back to the flock alone

 

The chicks then need to stay separate till about 18/20 weeks at which point they can carefully and gradually be introduced to the others

 

As already said the other adults will attack the chicks apart from anything else