first time momma chicken

[labelcherky]

I put two babies under a broody who wouldn't give up setting. She's taken to them beautifully for the past three days.

Before putting them under her, I moved her from my big coop into the small grow out coop I keep. Until today she's kept them "upstairs" but today all were out on the ground with momma. She was very protective of them on the ground, but as it got dark she went up to roost and left the babies. I found them on the ground peeping frantically while she clucked to them from the roost. They weren't trying the ramp. I took them to her and she tucked them under her.

The chicks are four days old.... too young I think to be able to navigate their way back to the roosting area. I thought momma would keep them up there. So... should I move them into the main coop so they are on one level and hope she protects them or leave them be?

http://www.hayneedle.com/product/pr...sku=PPP257-1&gclid=COa6r_ii4ssCFUodgQodiokC9Q

Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

[labelcherky]

The pic is of the grow out coop.

 

[azygous]

You're right, four-day old chicks are a bit young to know how to use a ramp, but they will learn soon. Your broody may not be a super star mom, but she's doing pretty darned good for suddenly finding herself in charge of babies. Keep assisting her and the babies for a while longer, and I believe she and the chicks will get the hang of the ramp, and they'll get along just fine.