Please help a newbie: Chicks in the coop question

Date sort Score sort
Dgrundy14

Dgrundy14

Chirping
May 28, 2016
87
9
66
Leeds, Alabama
My 31/2 week old chicks have been in the main coop for over a week where I have food and water. They love spinach and will eat it out of my hands. I want to let them down in the bottom of the coop (which is secure) should I only have water, where they have to go back up the ramp into the coop for food? I want to make sure they go back up in the upper coop at night.

Thanks everyone for helping this newbie chicken lover! I'm also attaching my sweet baby girls and the coop I'm speaking about.

700

700
 
I would put a waterer both up and down, you don't want them getting dehydrated because they can't remember or don't want to go back up, I would also put food down there too. They are going to enjoy being out, but expect to have them take a bit to figure out going back up at night. As adults you can pick one spot.
 
Nice looking coop! I moved mine out to their coop at 4 weeks, and then included the run the next day. I have water both in and out but I only keep feed inside. The reason I don't put feed outside is that they tend to spill some of it, and I don't want to attract raccoons and possums scavenging for leftovers. The chicks love eating the grass, and also find bugs outside so there is a source of food out there. Do I see wheels on your coop? If so, moving it to fresh ground is always a treat for the chicks.
 
Last edited:
After reading your reply, I love ink I will wait until they are 4 weeks and not put food down but will provide water. For the first time tonight I saw all 4 chasing a flying bug trying to catch it. It was hilarious! Thanks for all the responses and wish me luck. I will keep you posted on how well they do. They turn 4 weeks on Wednesday.
 
Well I couldn't wait. I let them down in the bottom and they loved it. Last night I had to crawl under and grab them which was a little hairy because there was a storm coming. Today they go up and down on their own. So I think they have learned. Here is a picture of them under the coop.
700
 
I wonder what they think when they first see such a big open world. They look good, hopefully they keep putting themselves to bed.
 
Well, I just introduced my two malteses just now and when they first saw them they flew up on the ramp and went inside the coop but we sat there a little while and they came back down and wasn't really scared of the dogs after that. I think they know now that I that is their home so I'm excited to see how they do tonight.
 
I hatched mine under a broody and they have been out in their own choop with her since birth. It's really comical to watch them trying to copy their mother in digging and dustbathing. My other chickens are fascinated and line up by the fence watching so I'm hoping they will integrate well when they're old enough to join the rest of the flock
 

Similar threads

A
Moving chicks into the coop in Minnesota
Replies
5
Views
1K
NatJ
NatJ
sashanellie
    • Like
NEED ADVICE: Mama hen with 3 chicks. NY winter. Coop?
Replies
4
Views
1K
Lorraines
Lorraines
FlockinAround
    • Like
Food and water overnight?
Replies
7
Views
780
Debbie292d
Debbie292d
M
    • Like
Question about chickens being outside in coop
Replies
3
Views
1K
Miriahbrown
M
Se7en
    • Like
How young is too young?
2 3
Replies
27
Views
1K
Kiki
Kiki

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom