Separating Baby Chick & Hen

[1muttsfan]

I do use medicated feed, and would rather do that than risk ill or dying chicks. As Ridgerunner said, it is not an antibiotic, does not kill off the parasite so you still get natural exposure and development of immunity, and is safe for the hen to eat.

 

[Nonnie195]

Does grit need to be provided? or oyster shell?

 

[Ridgerunner]

If the hen is not laying eggs, she does not need oyster shell. She probably would not eat it anyway, at least not much

Grit is not as clear-cut. If all they eat is chicken feed, (mash, crumbles, or pellets), they do not need grit. It has already been ground up for them. But if they eat about anything else, they should have grit. Obviously if they eat yogurt they don’t need it but if they eat grains, seeds, bugs, or greens, they need grit. A way to think of it is that if you would grind it in your teeth instead of just swallowing it whole, they need grit to eat it.

You can buy chick grit. If they have access to the ground, they will find their own. You can give them a coarse sand like construction sand for grit, don’t use play sand because it is too fine. You can give them coarse sand from a stream bed. You can cut a chunk of turf with the grass and roots intact in the dirt and give them that. They’ll eat the dirt for grit, enjoy scratching that apart, and eat the grass and roots as a treat.

 

[Nonnie195]

Wow. I didn't know that. When I use a shovel to "edge" around the flower beds, I guess I can put the "scrapings" in the run.

 

[kfreckle]

I have 2 hens that each have 5 chicks, they are each in there own space within the coop. We have 25 hens and 2 roosters. I was skeptical about letting them with the others. They can all see each other and are now 2 weeks old. I am thinking is should be fine to let them all be together now, but just want to make sure.
From what I have read on here they should be fine. But please give me all your thoughts1

 

[kfreckle]

This is the coop we have them all in. I worry that in the confined space the chicks wil get picked on!