Baby chicks in a raised coop?

[Cider240]

I have an 11 month old Buff Orpington who has gone broody. She has a clutch of six eggs under her. I’m happy to let her hatch them. I would like to be as hands off as possible, but I do have a concern about the coop. The coop is about four feet off the ground. I’ve attached the best pic I have to show the opening and the ramp into the run. The ramp now has double the rungs than it did in this pic. My question. Will mom and babies need to be moved? Will babies survive entrance and exit from the coop? I would prefer not having to separate them from the flock. Thoughts?

 

[Meri Maura]

I wouldn't risk it.

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

I would make them a separate brooder area, and then integrate them back into your flock when they are old enough to go off heat. I can tell you from experience, helping all the chicks into the coop every night will get old real fast. They can also fall out (or off the ramp) - and it's just dangerous in general for younger chicks. Welcome to BYC!

 

[Denise0708]

Hi so I am currently trying to decide the same thing. The mama is coming out no they are about 5/6 days old so they follow her out and I am really worried about them. Did you move them?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Nice photo. That shows why you want them to stay with the flock, they are doing great with the others.

Hopefully the original poster will respond to you, the thread is a few months old so it might help you to know what worked.

Could you please post a photo of your ramp? It might help us to see what you are working with.

My broody hens usually take their chicks out of the coop around Day 3 or 4. After that they take them out every day for all day, then bring them back in the coop to sleep on the coop floor at night. I don't have a ramp, I built steps out of pavers so the chicks could hop up. A ramp can be more challenging because the hen will often hop up on it and the chicks meet under her, not at the foot of the ramp. They should soon catch on about how to use that ramp but the first few nights you need to be down there as it is getting dark to make sure they do all get in. Any chick left behind should be chirping and making a lot of noise so they will be easy to find. You may need to toss the broody and the chicks inside.

This photo may give you an idea of what I did.

 

[Denise0708]

Nice photo. That shows why you want them to stay with the flock, they are doing great with the others.

Hopefully the original poster will respond to you, the thread is a few months old so it might help you to know what worked.

Could you please post a photo of your ramp? It might help us to see what you are working with.

My broody hens usually take their chicks out of the coop around Day 3 or 4. After that they take them out every day for all day, then bring them back in the coop to sleep on the coop floor at night. I don't have a ramp, I built steps out of pavers so the chicks could hop up. A ramp can be more challenging because the hen will often hop up on it and the chicks meet under her, not at the foot of the ramp. They should soon catch on about how to use that ramp but the first few nights you need to be down there as it is getting dark to make sure they do all get in. Any chick left behind should be chirping and making a lot of noise so they will be easy to find. You may need to toss the broody and the chicks inside.

This photo may give you an idea of what I did.

View attachment 2845015

Yes they have been doing great all together that’s why I don’t really want to move them but also nervous something is going to happen to them. This is her first full day out with them. Yesterday only 1 got at and she still stayed in the coop digging and then I ended up shutting the door and opened it to put the rest to bed. There is a ramp my husband put in the coop to get in the nesting box that’s where they been sleeping I put that picture in too

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd expect the chicks to have trouble with that ramp. Just be out there at dark and get them in. They will catch on but it may take a few days. A little patience could go a long way.