I shouldn't have looked...

[TJAnonymous]

chicks were $1(!!!!) at tsc yesterday when I went. It took everything I had to just grab the feed and checkout

Yeah, when I picked out my chicks, the store clerk pointed out several Sapphire Gems that were clearly older than the rest. She said they would end up putting them on sale to move them quickly. I had to mentally say "JUST SIX, NO MORE!"

 

[TJAnonymous]

I went out to feed this morning and the broodies had kept the chicks inside the coop. I took some chick starter and toss it around next to the coop. Now, let's just hope that the big chickens don't eat it first....

I went inside the coop and the same 3 broodies were still all jammed in one nesting box with the chicks. In this case, I'm really GLAD I built extra large nesting boxes. I chucked a small handful of chick starter and several little chicks came out to investigate. They looked like two of the existing chicks rather than the new ones, but I wasn't about to move broodies to find out after yesterday's debacle. I'll just keep an eye on the coop from the living room and see if they come out.

We are supposed to get heavy rain today (2"+). I tried to block off the area under the ramp to help the chicks figure out how to get back in the coop, but the goats (or other chickens) knocked it down. I guess their mamas are just going to have to teach them. It isn't a steep ramp. The opening for the coop is only about 9" rise or so off the ground. Ramp run is maybe 2 ft. If I had a calculator handy, I'd give you the angle....but the point is that it isn't steep or hard to traverse. The ramp is also wide....about 15-18" so it shouldn't be hard for them to figure out, right?

 

[Folly's place]

Try steps rather than a ramp! Chicks should be able to hop up two or three inches easily. We use pieces of wood or stone, or concrete, not movable by any of the chickens, and the babies have no problem figuring it out.
Mary

 

[TJAnonymous]

Btw, yesterday when I was getting attacked by 2 of the broody mamas, I noticed that one of them seems have to plucked nearly bald. I don't know when this occurred or if it was done by one of the other broodies or maybe by another hen who wanted in the box....but sadly she now looks more like a turkey buzzard than a Black Australorp!

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

Crossing my fingers for you! If you have heavy rains coming, I would be inclined to put a board or something across the bottom of the door so the babies can't get out of the coop today. Mine seem to take a few days to really get trained to come to/follow mama, hide under her to escape danger, etc. Plus if babies are still hatching, there will be a range in coordination between newly hatched and older babies. Maybe just a shallow tray with chick starter and then whatever you are using for water for them in the middle of the coop floor. Just my inclination. I can't see your set-up.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Glad there aren't any TSC s in the UK. I'd end up taking chicks home every day. I don't have any more room!

 

[TJAnonymous]

Crossing my fingers for you! If you have heavy rains coming, I would be inclined to put a board or something across the bottom of the door so the babies can't get out of the coop today. Mine seem to take a few days to really get trained to come to/follow mama, hide under her to escape danger, etc. Plus if babies are still hatching, there will be a range in coordination between newly hatched and older babies. Maybe just a shallow tray with chick starter and then whatever you are using for water for them in the middle of the coop floor. Just my inclination. I can't see your set-up.

I have a 2x4 across the bottom of the coop door to keep the goats out. The chicks have figured out how to get over it. I just went outside to observe. Two of the broodies have 6 chicks out, including some of the new chicks I put under them yesterday. The 3rd broody is still in the coop with several other chicks. I put a small waterer in there (which will likely get dumped over) and also tossed some more chick starter so the chicks in the coop can eat & drink.

Of course, it started POURING while I was outside. There are several places where the broodies can take cover with the chicks but it is likely that many of my other chickens will be crowding those same places to get out of the rain. These broodies are all first time mothers. They are only 9 months old.... I'm guessing they will need to figure it out. I will check on them periodically throughout the day. If they don't figure out how to get back in the coop by nightfall, I will manually put them back in. Trying not to repeat the debacle of yesterday....

ETA - when I was outside earlier watching them, the broodies are not hovering over them as closely as I expected they would. They have often "left behind" a chick or two who has to find THEM and catch up. Is this normal? They aren't going far away....but I'm surprised that they aren't making sure "they have everyone" before moving on to another spot.

 

[HappyDuckie]

Ahh I know the feeling. I can hardly ever resist the little floofs!

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

Sounds like things are going pretty well! If you're worried about that waterer, maybe a shallow dish filled with water and marbles?

 

[Chickstarrs]

I have a 2x4 across the bottom of the coop door to keep the goats out. The chicks have figured out how to get over it. I just went outside to observe. Two of the broodies have 6 chicks out, including some of the new chicks I put under them yesterday. The 3rd broody is still in the coop with several other chicks. I put a small waterer in there (which will likely get dumped over) and also tossed some more chick starter so the chicks in the coop can eat & drink.

Of course, it started POURING while I was outside. There are several places where the broodies can take cover with the chicks but it is likely that many of my other chickens will be crowding those same places to get out of the rain. These broodies are all first time mothers. They are only 9 months old.... I'm guessing they will need to figure it out. I will check on them periodically throughout the day. If they don't figure out how to get back in the coop by nightfall, I will manually put them back in. Trying not to repeat the debacle of yesterday....

ETA - when I was outside earlier watching them, the broodies are not hovering over them as closely as I expected they would. They have often "left behind" a chick or two who has to find THEM and catch up. Is this normal? They aren't going far away....but I'm surprised that they aren't making sure "they have everyone" before moving on to another spot.

I have a new broody with 4 chicks (all are eggs that I gave her). She sometimes leaves one or two behind when she wanders around the run. When they call to her, she calls back and they go find her. For this reason I have not let them out to free range with the other adults.