Coop light problems!

[sparkysmum]

Little Peke & her chicks are doing just great. The chicks are 3 wks old & thriving. However one issue I could do with your advice on please. Mum is a pekin & the chicks are l/f, therefore already almost as tall as she is when they stretch. Mum has been on chick crumb since the chicks arrived but is clearly desperate for her own food. (when they come out for a play in the garden she makes a bee line for other hens food) So last night I put layers in the run for the Mum hoping it would be just out of the chicks reach but no they perform acrobatics to get to it and to make matters worse Mum actually gives it to the chicks. Needless to say I took the layers out pronto & they are all back on chick crumb. What do others do about this? Oh they are in a lovely house with an eglu classic run attached.

Would love to resolve this. Alli xx

[Egluntyne]

I've always just left the hen on chick crumbs until she tires of the babies and wants out.

[sparkysmum]

Cheers, Egluntyne What sort of age The chicks are only 3 weeks old so I imagine I would have a fair few weeks still to go Alli xx

[Egluntyne]

Generally around six weeks.

[sparkysmum]

Thanks, Egluntyne. Alli x

[sjp]

when they come out for a play in the garden she makes a bee line for other hens food

my lot do that, 4 differant feeders 2 have layers pellets 2 have growers pellets all the same make but the all have to be sampled just incase one of the other groups has something better

[vikchick]

give mum & chick growers pellets she will be happy with that and the chicks will be big enough not to eat them ..

[coco]

I put plastic cage cups at a height that mum could reach but the chicks couldn't as Mum was really hungry on just chick crumb.

[sjp]

I found with my 3 broodies that they won't feed themselves properly untill the chicks are about 4 or 5 weeks old by 6 weeks old the chicks have to get in quick else mom scoffs the lot Faith my current broody did lose weight but not alarmingly but now the chicks are on growers pellets and about 7 weeks old shes feathered up nicely, filled out and has started to lay again and got gobby again she's still with the chicks