LTAY1946
Chicken Wrangler
That's a 64 million dollar question. My head is spinning with no answers.would love some advice on what you would do. I will do my best to type this up that it makes sense.......
So I brood in my coop, I have a section under my poop boards blocked off for a brooder. My 6 weeks old still sleep in there and some of the 9 week olds, 2 sleep on the poop boards now.....
I have my mama and her 9 babies in a nest box in the coop with the rest of the crew. (and now have 3 other broody's!!!!! WTF! LOL)
Well we are going camping starting Fri and not home till Mon. So the babies with mama will be 6-9 days old while we are gone. Well my coop is raised and has a ramp. Last year I found that mama brings them out around day 4-6 but babies haven't been able to figure out how to follow mama back up the ramp for a few days since they jump up to the ramp on the side and babies have no clue where she went so I have to help them and after a few days they learn it and follow her up. Well I will be away around that time. I do have someone checking and collecting eggs but she normally comes once during the day and isn't always around at night so won't be able to check on them in the evening (last year the moms would head in between 5:30-6 so a couple hours before the rest).
So I have a few choices since I don't want mom bringing them out into the run until I am home so I can head out at night......
choice 1: Set up the dog Kennel (takes up a lot of room and the other chicks still hang out in the coop but for a few days they can deal) block the sides so teh new chicks can't get out of it and put mom and babies in there with food and water. Just hope she isn't too upset being locked in since she will have her babies.
Choice 2: kicked the other chicks out of the brooder and lock mom and babies up in there.
Problem with those 2 is my pet sitter would need to open them to give food and water. The food MAY last for the days we are gone but don't think the big water would fit in their and don't think the small one will last, she may be able to fill them through the bars in the run but not in the coop.......
Or option 3: Try to put something in front of the auto door to make it that the babies can't get over it and follow mom out, BUT if mom goes out and babies don't then the other chicks and chickens may pick on them, which mom would be right back in if they don't follow, but still leaves time.
which option would you go with?
Can’t wait to see them fluffed out!
Considering my roo colours, it looks like a full D’uccle!
