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When should I let momma hen take her chicks outside?

post #1 of 6
6/28/12 at 5:23pm
Thread Starter 

I'm a chicken newbie. I have a hen that hatched 3 chicks on Saturday. I've had her in the coop with them since then. I'm wondering when I can let her take them outside. All of the threads I've read refer to chicks without a hen. 

 

It's pretty hot outside (for here anyway) today - 90 degrees right now. So keeping them warm would not be an issue. I would round them up back into the coop (if I need to - they may go back on their own) for the night.

 

With the way my pop hole is situated, it would be possible for her go to out without the chicks (I have a board I can use for a temporary ramp. If I move the board, the chicks would not be able to get out.

 

When should I open the pop hole and let her take them outside? Momma is a free-range chicken, and I feel horrible that she hasn't gone out :(

 

Thanks!

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post #2 of 6
6/28/12 at 6:13pm

We let our hens with chicks out whenever we are around watching after the first day or two. It's also easier when they only have a few (1-4) rather then 6+. I don't think hens count very well! LOL.

 

Anyway, our hens will protect the chick from other chickens,, ducks, etc and will even go after a goat if they accidentally get to close. The only time we had a problem was when an older chick from the feeds store, 6-8 weeks, (that was also out because we were out) got to close to mama and her chicks in a confined area and she killed the older chick. At least that's what we think happened. The other chickens just take her warning and leave! I'm sure a hawk could be a problem too, but the hen is usually cautious and we've never had hawk problems and I don't think they are brazen enough here to try anything with dogs, kids, and/or goats out making a ruckus.

 

Oh, and even if we aren't doing supervised field trips we stick the hen out morning and night when we feed. She'll usually poop outside that way and they we won't have to clean it up out of the cage they are in. LOL. 

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post #3 of 6
6/28/12 at 6:26pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for your reply. I did some more searching on here (a lot easier on a laptop, I was using my phone before) and it sounds like I can let her take them out when she's ready. It's cooled down a bit, so I'll open up the pophole and see how they do. Hopefully I can get them rounded back in the coop for the night. 

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post #4 of 6
6/28/12 at 8:51pm
Thread Starter 

She elected to stay inside. Will try again tomorrow!

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post #5 of 6
7/2/12 at 9:07am
Thread Starter 

She finally brought the chicks outside this weekend! Soooo cute!

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post #6 of 6
7/2/12 at 9:32am

Aw what a good chicken mama! Hope your having fun with your little fluffy butts! 

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