Questions about newly hatched chicks under mama hen

[Nikki90]

Hello! Sorry if these questions have been asked already. This is my first time hatching chicks with a hen. So far I have two chicks, one is 3 days old one is 2 days old and an egg yet to hatch (hope it's okay). Right now I have the coop door shut (food and water inside) and was wondering when is it okay to let mama take the babies out in the enclosed run? Will they get too cold? How long can newly hatched chicks be out from under mom before they catch a chill? The temperature here has been varying a lot lately, right now it is 80/60 but later in the week it will be 65/45. Obviously I will watch and keep checking that she didn't leave the babies outside if they can't maneuver the ramp

 

[Chicken Heel]

I have let two bantam hens set the past two winters and they had their chicks outside in temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The chicks were constantly in and out from under their moms but did fine. In fact those two broods are some of the hardiest chickens that I have ever had going back over 50 years now. It is smart to watch and make sure the chicks are not left to their own devices though. In my cases, the mother hens didn't try to get them up into the coop and just hunkered down over them on the ground inside their pen.

 

[Nikki90]

I have let two bantam hens set the past two winters and they had their chicks outside in temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The chicks were constantly in and out from under their moms but did fine. In fact those two broods are some of the hardiest chickens that I have ever had going back over 50 years now. It is smart to watch and make sure the chicks are not left to their own devices though. In my cases, the mother hens didn't try to get them up into the coop and just hunkered down over them on the ground inside their pen.

Thanks for the reply! Wow 20 degrees !! I'm sure mama is tired of being cooped up, I felt so bad! Oh, also, what about the last egg? How long can it go without being sat on? Will she forget about it?

 

[fluffycrow]

Thanks for the reply! Wow 20 degrees !! I'm sure mama is tired of being cooped up, I felt so bad! Oh, also, what about the last egg? How long can it go without being sat on? Will she forget about it?

If the hen has already left the nest, then yes, she has already forgotten about it

 

[Chicken Heel]

If the hen has already left the nest, then yes, she has already forgotten about it

Which is typical in my experiences, in nature only the strongest survive.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

The chicks will not be able to use the ramp. I would shut mama and chicks out of the upper coop. Some new mamas don’t realize the chicks can’t follow them up and the chicks end up abandoned on the ground.

Give it a week or so and the chicks may be able to figure out how to use the ramp.

 

[Nikki90]

Thanks for the replies! I bought an incubator just in the hopes of saving it, but I'm not going to get my hopes up.