We have raised a couple dozen chicks, a dozen at a time, keeping them in a large plastic tub with a heat lamp. These are chicks that we purchased from the feed supply.
Last Friday our Maran who has been sitting on fertile eggs hatched out 5 chicks. Once the chicks hatched we moved her and the chicks to a large dog carrier to isolate them. She seems to be doing well in terms of tucking them under her, and during the day they are out running around the dog carrier but she tucks them under her for the night.
The chicken coop is a well-built shed with insulation and dual-pane windows so it doesn't get very cold out there. I turn on a heater at night.
Are we safe to leave the chicks with "mom" and let her raise them or should we take them indoors and care for them in the tub as we would normally with purchased chicks?
Last Friday our Maran who has been sitting on fertile eggs hatched out 5 chicks. Once the chicks hatched we moved her and the chicks to a large dog carrier to isolate them. She seems to be doing well in terms of tucking them under her, and during the day they are out running around the dog carrier but she tucks them under her for the night.
The chicken coop is a well-built shed with insulation and dual-pane windows so it doesn't get very cold out there. I turn on a heater at night.
Are we safe to leave the chicks with "mom" and let her raise them or should we take them indoors and care for them in the tub as we would normally with purchased chicks?
