Hi All, I am looking for everyone's opinion. I currently have a coop (16 X 12) housing a group of 10 chicks that are 6 weeks old. They were brooded under a light. They are within an enclosure within the coop. My original plan was to simply remove the smaller enclosure and give them free range in the larger coop this week. BUT, I had a hen go broody and I couldn't resist giving her a couple chicks to raise. She and the chicks (about 10 days old) are in the same coop, outside of the enclosure. I had planned on keeping this set-up for another week or so till the younger chicks were older then letting everyone together. With the rain arriving here in the northeast this afternoon I am templed to remove the smaller enclosure to allow all the chicks move to wherever they want . The smaller pen is half out from under the plastic so it would have to be covered with a tarp to keep it dry, making it very dark inside. If everyone was loose things would be much simplier. Do you think the hen will be able to protect her two chicks with the ten 6 week old chicks running around? Sorry this is so longwinded. Ann
Could you move the hen and two chicks to the enclosure (or a dog crate within the coop) and let the others run about? Or...fabric stores sell clear vinyl (to cover picnic tables and such) by the yard. Maybe you could cover the pen with that so it's not dark inside??? I use this for windbreaks in my runs in the cold season. You could always "test" the situation if you have time to sit out and observe for an hour or so...see how they all do out and about...??? There's really no set answer, because all chickens act differently.
