- Thread starter
- #41
This is the first time that I haven’t separated the broodies with chicks from other flock members (now 3 hens).
There is no (not yet a) problem with the chicks and the other 3 hens. Only when mama Janice went out , maybe to poop/for a sand-bath , she was harassed by Kraai. Ini mini comes up in the ‘portal’ to eat the watery chick feed, but doesn’t disturb the broodies or the chicks.
Feed and water are near the nest-boxes in a ‘portal’ between the nest-boxes and the chicken ladder/board.
If the chicks leave the nest to eat or drink one of the mama’s is guarding the pop-door opening. I can’t close it because it needs to be open for ventilation.
One Dutch chick escaped
One chick escaped from this part of the tiny coop were the chick feed is and went down. I think I noticed it before the mama’s did. She was peeping and getting a bit cold. Of course I rescued her, but ferling this is a hazard. Even with 3 mama’s the chick probably escaped unnoticed and if there is no mama calling the chick the chick probably cant find his way up.
If all eggs are abandoned I hope the mama’s will go down to another bigger laying nest thats easy accessible and only a 2 inches from the floor.
What would you do?
Can I leave it to the mama’s to make the right choice. ?
Or.
Shall I put the mama’s and babies in the bigger nest box near the floor? I could do that now or maybe better tonight when they are all sleepy.
There is no (not yet a) problem with the chicks and the other 3 hens. Only when mama Janice went out , maybe to poop/for a sand-bath , she was harassed by Kraai. Ini mini comes up in the ‘portal’ to eat the watery chick feed, but doesn’t disturb the broodies or the chicks.
Feed and water are near the nest-boxes in a ‘portal’ between the nest-boxes and the chicken ladder/board.
If the chicks leave the nest to eat or drink one of the mama’s is guarding the pop-door opening. I can’t close it because it needs to be open for ventilation.
One Dutch chick escaped
One chick escaped from this part of the tiny coop were the chick feed is and went down. I think I noticed it before the mama’s did. She was peeping and getting a bit cold. Of course I rescued her, but ferling this is a hazard. Even with 3 mama’s the chick probably escaped unnoticed and if there is no mama calling the chick the chick probably cant find his way up.
If all eggs are abandoned I hope the mama’s will go down to another bigger laying nest thats easy accessible and only a 2 inches from the floor.
What would you do?
Can I leave it to the mama’s to make the right choice. ?
Or.
Shall I put the mama’s and babies in the bigger nest box near the floor? I could do that now or maybe better tonight when they are all sleepy.