When can baby chicks safely sleep alone?

[Foxdog]

I've been gifted a coop, baby chicks, and the mother hen and everything seemed to be fine, but tonight, she wanted to roost, instead of having the chicks under her. I was afraid for the baby chicks, so I got in there and removed the roosting bars and she went back to nesting in her box, with the chicks, but I don't know if I was overreacting.
The chicks are about 4 weeks old now, very active, and they tried to get under her wings on the bars, but they couldn't fit. Every time another chick got under her, another would fall down, endlessly, like musical chairs.
Should I trust the hen, or not?

 

[rosemarythyme]

The chicks are old enough that the hen might be trying to wean them already. If the chicks are having issues with the bars, it's probably more from them pushing each other out of the way than them not being able to roost, as chicks younger than that can manage to roost successfully in most cases.

I'd let them sort it out on their own, provided they aren't falling so far as to hurt themselves.

 

[bobbi-j]

I've been gifted a coop, baby chicks, and the mother hen and everything seemed to be fine, but tonight, she wanted to roost, instead of having the chicks under her. I was afraid for the baby chicks, so I got in there and removed the roosting bars and she went back to nesting in her box, with the chicks, but I don't know if I was overreacting.
The chicks are about 4 weeks old now, very active, and they tried to get under her wings on the bars, but they couldn't fit. Every time another chick got under her, another would fall down, endlessly, like musical chairs.
Should I trust the hen, or not?

Trust the hen. She knows a lot more about raising chicks than we humans do. Four weeks is when many of my hens have weaned chicks. They'll be fine. It will encourage them to figure out roosting if mama is on the roost.

 

[Foxdog]

Thanks for the advice! I was afriad that the new surroundings and different weather stressed them out too much.
They went from living in a 2x2 box to this big 4x10 coop and the first night, something rattled the bars and spooked them.
After that, I've been overly attentive.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks for the advice! I was afriad that the new surroundings and different weather stressed them out too much.
They went from living in a 2x2 box to this big 4x10 coop and the first night, something rattled the bars and spooked them.
After that, I've been overly attentive.

They'll adjust.

 

[chickens really]

Leave Momma to do as she thinks is right. I never interfere and my Hens always have great success..

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

My chicks are 2 weeks old and roosting with the rest of the flock under mama. Trust your mother hen. She knows what she is doing. Good luck and have fun with your chicks!

 

[Rysktal]

Ohhh lucky you to have a hen raising them! I can't get my 11 week olds to roost