Chicken boarders

[freya_chick]

Hi

 

We've currently got two pekins sitting on a dozen eggs - 6 Pekins and 6 Sablepoots. We're only a week in but so far both mother hens seem to be doing quite well. I'm trying to get prepared though for (hopefully) when we have actual chicks and need some advice on their housing really.

 

At the minute we have one set in the conservatory in a little chicken ark so she's pretty much all set up. The other one is in the porch in a cardboard box in a dog crate - not exactly ideal. I want to get another house so both mums can look after their chicks in peace - but do I need to or will the chicks and mum be okay for a bit in the box and crate?

 

I've already got an eglu classic but am thinking about getting another house with a ramp - will the chicks be able to get up the ramp okay? Or rather, when will they be able to get up okay?

 

We are complete novices to this and although we're doing lots of reading and trying to get things right it just feels like crossing our fingers and hoping for the best at the minute!

 

Thanks

 

Freya

[balti]

HI,

 

My bantam silke has just had 2 chicks in an eglu - you can make a little ramp - i had no problems -)

[sjp]

my chicks can get up on to a 4" concrete block at a few days old to get to the drinker and feeder and I've moved them into a coop that's 500mm off the ground at 3 weeks old before now all I did was change the ramp to steeps made out of concrete blocks laid flat on top of each other each layer half a block smaller than the last but I've seen them jump up and down the ladder in my main coop plus they will jump off the top of the self that is in front of the coop doors all my big girls coops or 500mm off the ground and my broodies and chicks FR from about a week old with the rest of the mob

[Redwing]

Mum and chicks will be fine in a crate for a while. In the early stages it's preferable as the chicks can wander too far from the mum sometimes

 

Afterwards a low coop is best, if it has a ramp then no more than six inches really. A rabbit hutch and run is ideal

[freya_chick]

Thanks for all your help! I'll leave them in the crate for a bit then and then swap - I might get a new house for my ladies and then let the chicks and one hen move into the eglu for a bit!

 

Freya