What accommodations for mamas with babies?

[kryssa]

How do I accommodate my hens with chicks?

I live in the city limits, so I only have hens. I had a broody hen that just would not quit. After a month, I threw away her nest, and she gathered up more laid eggs laid by our other hens and started sitting on those. Then another hen went broody. So, I bought some fertile eggs from a lady out in the country and divided the eggs between my hens. I wasn't sure it would work, and I guess I didn't think it through all the way. One hen has 4 chicks (2 days old), the other hen has 3 chicks (born last night).

Problem is, our chicken coop is up on legs 4 ft off the ground with a ramp for the chickens. I don't think the ramp is safe for babies. My plan was to put the moms and babies in dog kennels, which I used to bring my hens in during severe cold weather. But when I set the wire kennels up, I realized that the chicks could just walk out the sides between the wires. We also have a fenced, covered run that is ground level for the chickens, and I thought about just adding a couple nest boxes to the run and putting the babies and moms there. I had a predator manage to reach under the wire and kill a young chicken a year ago. I patched that spot, but I'm not sure the babies will be safe at night in the covered run. Chicks and moms are safe for now, but I need to make a better plan. We are going out of town in a couple weeks. Someone will be at our house to care for our pets, but I want to make it easy on her. I could really use some suggestions, examples of how people have housed their moms with babies.

 

[nuthatched]

Can you put them in the kennel and add cardboard to the sides? I'd bring them inside at night

 

[kryssa]

Can you put them in the kennel and add cardboard to the sides? I'd bring them inside at night

That would probably work. How long would you bring them in at night? The first batch has been in our house in a recycle bin. My husband isn't crazy about chickens in the house. He's tolerant, but not exactly thrilled.

 

[nuthatched]

That would probably work. How long would you bring them in at night?

I'd bring momma and biddies in all night because dog kennels aren't predator proof.

 

[kryssa]

Thanks! My original plan was to put the dog kennels inside the fenced run, so there would be basically two fences with space in between. I'll try adding cardboard to the dog cages and bringing them in at night. That will give me a chance to see if the chicks stay in and how it works before our trip.