donteatbees
Chirping
- May 20, 2024
- 28
- 182
- 66
Hello! One week ago a bear attacked my coop and killed my mama hen and one chick (and some others, R.I.P.) and none of the other hens took the chicks. They're not broody, so I'm not shocked. I brought them into the house and gave them a safe place to live. I take them out for supervised play time when it's nice out, usually for an hour and a half after work before it starts getting dark.
They're four weeks old today, and Google says wait until 6 weeks to let them out in the coop full time. I'm not sure if I should let them out earlier because their are other hens and they do all sleep together. They seem fine with the chicks. They will go see them and before I come get the chicks they don't mind them perching in their with them. Would they let the chicks go snuggle with them if needed? Or would they hurt the babies? And how do I keep the hens away from the chicks food? They're too little for layer feed, and I don't think they can even get into the hens food, since they need to weigh a certain amount to open it (it's a rat-proof one). If I build a little shelter in the coop for the food would that work? Or would the hens get mad?
I really don't know what to do, I just want what's best for the babies. Please help. Any advice would be appreciated, even if it's not something I mentioned in the post. Thank you all in advance <3
They're four weeks old today, and Google says wait until 6 weeks to let them out in the coop full time. I'm not sure if I should let them out earlier because their are other hens and they do all sleep together. They seem fine with the chicks. They will go see them and before I come get the chicks they don't mind them perching in their with them. Would they let the chicks go snuggle with them if needed? Or would they hurt the babies? And how do I keep the hens away from the chicks food? They're too little for layer feed, and I don't think they can even get into the hens food, since they need to weigh a certain amount to open it (it's a rat-proof one). If I build a little shelter in the coop for the food would that work? Or would the hens get mad?
I really don't know what to do, I just want what's best for the babies. Please help. Any advice would be appreciated, even if it's not something I mentioned in the post. Thank you all in advance <3