Chicks in raised coop w/hen?

[ahs]

We have a broody hen that this is the third time this year she has gone broody so we bought some fertilized eggs for her to sit on. If any of them hatch my concerns are about our coop. Our coop is raised off the ground. I worry about the chicks being unable to manage the ramp or falling out the door. Any thoughts on what we should do?

 

[SueT]

Welcome to BYC!!! You could make a wider ramp? The chicks do learn fast....what's the weather like there?

 

[ahs]

we are in KY. Usually in the 40's during the day. But right now it is colder and a little snow is expected next week. Eggs aren't due to hatch until right after Christmas. And the weather might be cold or it might by 60+....KY is weird like that.
My husband mentioned building sides to the ramp. The plan is to keep the run shut once/ if they hatch.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I think the sides to the ramp are a good idea, then just remove them after a few weeks and the chick(s) should be good to go. Hope your hatch goes well!

 

[SueT]

Making sides to the ramp sounds great! In winter it will be important that the babies don't get stranded. They will figure it out fast, but in cold weather, there's no room for error. How many eggs? That will a special Christmas present......Good luck, let us know how it goes! With pics!!

 

[chickens really]

I tried Raising Chicks under a Broody in a Raised Coop..My Broody would go up the ramp and leave all her Chicks peeping on the Ground...It was winter here too...

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don’t have any experience with raising chicks in an elevated coop with a broody hen. I have what amounts to a 4’ x 8’ box on the ground that I sometimes use for broody hens and their chicks in better weather when my coop is pretty full. After the chicks hatch I lock the hen and chicks in here for two or three nights. After that I turn them loose so she can raise them with the flock but she always brings them back here at night where I can lock them up safe from predators. For winter you might want to make it solid around the bottom for wind protection but have ventilation up high. Of course you could make it smaller. You don’t need roosts, nests, or anything else in here except enough room for food and water while they are locked up those first few days and in case of snow. This is part of an old chicken tractor I had and reused it.

 

[ahs]

Making sides to the ramp sounds great! In winter it will be important that the babies don't get stranded. They will figure it out fast, but in cold weather, there's no room for error. How many eggs? That will a special Christmas present......Good luck, let us know how it goes! With pics!!

7 eggs. Fortunately we will be off work until the 3rd so we will be able to keep a good eye on things that first week.

 

[ahs]

So 4/6 eggs hatched yesterday. Not really expecting the last two to hatch.
I am still concerned about the height of the coop. It still seems so high. And the chicks seem a bit uncoordinated( i know they are only a day old)...I just imagine one tumbling down the ramp.

Any idea when she will try to venture out of the coop?

I am still trying to figure out what to do. It is colder than normal here. Single digit lows. upper teens during the day.

Mama is doing fine so far taking them to food and water keeping them warm etc.

And I need a good solution to keep the water liquid in the coop during the day as well.