Raising peeps with the flock. Feed and coop concerns

[faeryrose]

My Leghorn just hatched three eggs. She's taking very good care of the babies but I do have some questions. I have (medicated) chick feed out for them but the adult hens peck at it a little too; is this okay? Will their eggs be okay to eat? Conversely, will the chicks will be okay if they snack on some layer crumble?

I also have to figure out some way for them to get from coop to run and vice versa. The coop is raised about two feet off the ground with a hole in the floor for access to the enclosed run. The ramp has been gone for ages and the hens just jump it. Today I guess the peeps fell down into the run, and there they will stay... I can't seem to fix a new ramp that both hens and peeps can use. Mama has plenty of soft dry hay for nesting down on the ground, and she's protected from the rain, but I still worry. Any ideas? Tiny chicken elevator?

 

[AmberRex]

In regard to the food I would just read the label.. It depends upon what kind of medication it is. It probably won't harm them but it MAY mean that you can't eat the eggs. The feed bag should have the withdrawal period written on it.

Instead of a ramp. Why don't you cut a small hole in the floor with stairs that fold up at night or that you could hole up some how to prevent predators. Of course it might just be easier to build a sort of "mini-coop" for mummy and the babies in the run so that at least they have somewhere secure to go at night...