Chicks on a ramp.

[RachaelR32]

What age will chicks be OK climbing up a ramp to the coop. Coop is 3' high and the ramp at a 46deg angle. They are currently shut in the coop with mama hen, but she wants to take them out and about.

Also, what do I do about food if they do go out with the others. The big girls have layers mash. I can't get growers mash, only pellets which they don't like too much. I also feed them some home mixee food (mixture of grains, seeds and pulses) but would the chicks be ok with that. The chicks look a bit small for the chick grit I've got.

The chicks are about 1 week old and include a bantam.

 

[azygous]

Chicks won't have any problem with the ramp as long as the mama broody teaches them how to go in and out. They will hop and fly onto most anything in another week.

But there could be a problem with the other flock members trying to pick on the chicks. It's better to have a protective enclosure for the little family while the chicks are so small and vulnerable.

The food is indeed a problem. Older flock members will naturally try to bully the chicks away from the food. It's another good reason to keep a safe enclosure for the chicks and broody, although it's her job to protect her chicks. Some are more than up to it, but some are not.

You're off to a splendid start with the chicks growing up withing view of the flock. They will be accepted into the flock very quickly and the need for a protective barrier between them and the rest of the flock won't be needed for long.

As far as feed goes, it would be best to have everyone on the same feed as the chicks. Everyone can eat an all-flock grower ration or they can also all eat the chick starter for the next several months with no problem as long as the layers have access to oytser shell on the side.

 

[RachaelR32]

Ok, thanks. I'll leave them a bit longer then. I don't know yet if I'm leaving them with my big girls or putting them in a separate coop. It depends how many are boys. If more than 3 are girls then they will go in their own coop as I only have space for 6 in my current set up and already have 3.