So, other than the look-no touch approach which I've always done in the daytime when gradually merging chicks to the flock, in the past, I've always put them in their own temporary coop until they are much older and then dismantling the temp coop so they can stay in the main coop. Probably through dumb luck that has worked, but I was looking for them a bit initially when it was time to head inside.
Fast forward to now (or at least in two more weeks from today when they will be six weeks old). In my old 'method' they always had food and water in their temporary coop at night. In this new method, my plan is to place them in a protected spot (initally) in the main coop with my two and three year old hens and rooster - but in the main coop I do not leave any food/water in the coop and keep that outside of the coop for when my hens and rooster eat and drink in the morning (cut down on rodent problems totally). Anyway, I was thinking that these little gals will be 6 weeks old. I'd like to do the same for them, that is they eat and drink in the morning but no food or drink inside their special coop enclosure. I figure not having the food in the in-coop 'isolation pen' will eliminate the hens/rooster from wanting some of their food - in other words drawing more attention to them than is likely warranted.
So, I have been trying to think this out before posting the question... What I don't know is if 6 week old chicks can NOT have access to food/water, at nighttime and still have enough reserve to wait and eat come morning? I have a little Blink cam in the chick brooder and I do notice, now and then, during the night, they'll venture out from underneath the brooder plate to have a midnight snack here and there. out to have a few bites to eat and then go back under the brooder plate. Of course they just turned 4 weeks today, so I wouldn't expect them to be able to 'hold out' long from eating. BUT when they are 6 weeks old will I safely be able to leave them without food and water at night in the coop (protected space initially) and have them eat in the morning (their own food) like the adult hens and rooster do?
Thanks in advance......
Fast forward to now (or at least in two more weeks from today when they will be six weeks old). In my old 'method' they always had food and water in their temporary coop at night. In this new method, my plan is to place them in a protected spot (initally) in the main coop with my two and three year old hens and rooster - but in the main coop I do not leave any food/water in the coop and keep that outside of the coop for when my hens and rooster eat and drink in the morning (cut down on rodent problems totally). Anyway, I was thinking that these little gals will be 6 weeks old. I'd like to do the same for them, that is they eat and drink in the morning but no food or drink inside their special coop enclosure. I figure not having the food in the in-coop 'isolation pen' will eliminate the hens/rooster from wanting some of their food - in other words drawing more attention to them than is likely warranted.
So, I have been trying to think this out before posting the question... What I don't know is if 6 week old chicks can NOT have access to food/water, at nighttime and still have enough reserve to wait and eat come morning? I have a little Blink cam in the chick brooder and I do notice, now and then, during the night, they'll venture out from underneath the brooder plate to have a midnight snack here and there. out to have a few bites to eat and then go back under the brooder plate. Of course they just turned 4 weeks today, so I wouldn't expect them to be able to 'hold out' long from eating. BUT when they are 6 weeks old will I safely be able to leave them without food and water at night in the coop (protected space initially) and have them eat in the morning (their own food) like the adult hens and rooster do?
Thanks in advance......