Maternity Tent

[Karlkurla Chooks]

Last week I got two just-hatched chicks for my broody Clover. After they bonded in the nest overnight and a morning, I transferred them to a tent as a maternity ward.


Here is my pullet Caraway having a peep into the tent, which I opened earlier this morning to see if Clover would go outside (she sounded frustrated).

Should I transfer them and the tent to a separate chicken run, and keep the tent open (with fencing around it) so they can forage outside?

 

[DobieLover]

I would not isolate her from the flock. She should and can raise her chicks within the flock.

 

[Karlkurla Chooks]

I would not isolate her from the flock. She should and can raise her chicks within the flock.

I isolated them for their protection, also there is a stray cat lurking around. But I would prefer them to be with the flock.

 

[DobieLover]

I isolated them for their protection, also there is a stray cat lurking around. But I would prefer them to be with the flock.

Between the mother and the flock the cat will not be an issue. She will stay close to the coop until the chicks are larger.

 

[Karlkurla Chooks]

Between the mother and the flock the cat will not be an issue. She will stay close to the coop until the chicks are larger.

Okay I will look into it. I'm worried though if I put the chick crumbles for them in the coop, the rest of the flock will just greedily eat them up (even though they have two feeder boxes of mixed grain to eat, plus two yards to forage in).