Baby chick but I’m on vacation

[autumnr]

I have a single chick that hatched the day before yesterday (it’s been adopted by a hen who seems like a natural mum). I’ve been keeping them apart from my two other hens but am leaving for a 4 or 5 day camping trip in a couple of days. I’m not sure what I should do to protect the chick, or if I can do anything at all. My hens roam free but have a chicken coop (where I can keep the hen and chick separated during the day). But the coop is too small to keep the hen and the chick for 4 or 5 days (I think? It’s a 3-4 chicken coop in terms of size). I don’t have any other way of keeping them physically apart. Should I do it anyway to keep the chick safe? The other 2 hens will have nowhere to roost for the night if I lock them out of the coop. Or should I just cross my fingers that then hen who adopted it is able to defend it? (The other 2 hens have tried to peck at the chick once already and I intervened) I am brand new to chicks and newish to chickens in general. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Battlepants]

I would put a board against the front door so the older hens have to hop over it to get out. This to prevent this chick from getting too close to the door and falling out - new chicks don't handle ramps very well. Other than that, I would just let your hen take over the job from there.

 

[autumnr]

I would put a board against the front door so the older hens have to hop over it to get out. This to prevent this chick from getting too close to the door and falling out - new chicks don't handle ramps very well. Other than that, I would just let your hen take over the job from there.

I’m more worried about the older hens killing the chick. Should I just let mama hen try to protect the chick?