Too young to roost with the big guys?

[MarlaMac]

I have a broody momma who hatched one little chick (long story). He/she is 26 days old today.

Their current sleep space is 1/2 of a 4x6 extension to our larger coop. The other half of the extension is taken up by a broody setting on eggs.

Yesterday, and then again today, momma has been going to the large coop to roost there when she goes in for the night. Up until yesterday she has led the baby into their space.

The large coop has about 26 linear feet of roost space on three levels. Momma goes to the top bar and the little chick follows her. I am a little frightened by this because that space will need to be shared with 12 other hens and a rooster. While there is plenty space, the top bar is prize territory and the hens can get demanding as they jostle for the perfect spot.

I am afraid that this little one will get thrown off the roost. The top bar is probably setting at 4 feet off the floor. The floor is LVP with a thin yoya mat on top.

Both nights I have taken baby and put him/her in his/her space and momma comes over to calm him/her down and join in their space. There is no roost bar in that area, but I can rectify that tomorrow.

Am I right to worry and move the baby to safer space or am I just being paranoid? I want to trust that "momma knows", but I a question this move by her.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If it's feathered enough to be able to fly down than it may be okay. It doesn't hurt to be a bit cautious for a while yet, and continue to put it somewhere safer for the night, especially if it makes you feel better.

 

[MarlaMac]

If it's feathered enough to be able to fly down than it may be okay. It doesn't hurt to be a bit cautious for a while yet, and continue to put it somewhere safer for the night, especially if it makes you feel better.

Thank you. He/she flew up - I watch that on our camera, so I assume it would be able to fly down.

We will see what happens tomorrow!

Thanks again.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We had two hens hatch one chick each recently also. When they were 3 weeks old both mothers pretty much abandoned them but by that time they were fully integrated into the flock of about 20 hens and a rooster, and were sleeping on the floor of the hen house. There is only one roost, about 3.5 feet high. Exactly one week later the chicks were roosting with the big girls and there were no problems. All the "aunties" just accepted them as part of the family. Hopefully your chicks will receive the same treatment but it won't hurt to check on them.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

am afraid that this little one will get thrown off the roost

Worst case scenario, IMO, is not that the chick will get thrown off the roost, but that it might get pecked. If that happens, it will likely just move to a lower level roost.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd let Mama do her job and stop interfering. I'd expect Mama to take care of it until she weans it. I've had hens wean their chicks at three weeks, I've had some wean them close to three months so I cannot tell you when she will wean it. Once she weans it the chick is on its own. It will likely sleep somewhere else if the other hens threaten it but it should be able to handle that.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You might like this sequence, where I screenshot on coop cam what happens when chicks are trying to find their roosting spot amongst adults. For reference the youngest chicks here are 38/39 days old and there's no mama hen for protection. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ed-store-to-coop.1617102/page-5#post-27711325

 

[Mrs. K]

I would leave them be. Sometimes I will put a plank across a couple of the roosts, just to give a wider area. My chicks start roosting with the flock by 4 weeks +/-.

 

[MarlaMac]

I'd let Mama do her job and stop interfering. I'd expect Mama to take care of it until she weans it. I've had hens wean their chicks at three weeks, I've had some wean them close to three months so I cannot tell you when she will wean it. Once she weans it the chick is on its own. It will likely sleep somewhere else if the other hens threaten it but it should be able to handle that.

Exactly what I decided tonight. She lead the little one into their space for the night. I will let her decide when to do what. Thanks.

 

[MarlaMac]

I would leave them be. Sometimes I will put a plank across a couple of the roosts, just to give a wider area. My chicks start roosting with the flock by 4 weeks +/-.

Just what I decided today. Thanks.