- Aug 7, 2012
- 43
- 1
- 34
I did a search, but must not be typing in the correct words. I'm sure this has been answered somewhere on this site, but can't find it so I apologize in advance. Also, I hope this is in the correct forum. Anyhoo....
Three broody hens have accepted their new baby chicks and are all three doting mothers. I have them in the bottom of the coop with food and water. I added chick grit (poultry grit...not sure if chick grit is smaller than poultry grit) to the food since they are on the ground eating what the adult birds are eating. The chicks are crawling all over the place then run back to moms when they want to get under the wing/breast to warm up or rest. We (normally) leave the coop door open during the day and shut the chickens back up after they put themselves to bed at night. The adults usually spend the day around shrubs about 200 yards from the coop. Should I go ahead and open the coop door now? Will the mommas monitor the babies if they scramble out of the coop? I suppose I'm worried about the poo all over the coop floor. I cleaned it out but you know how quickly it gets yucky again. I don't want the chicks to get sick from crawling around poo all day. I've read the healthiest chicks are the ones who get out of the coop early, but don't want to do it too soon.
Three broody hens have accepted their new baby chicks and are all three doting mothers. I have them in the bottom of the coop with food and water. I added chick grit (poultry grit...not sure if chick grit is smaller than poultry grit) to the food since they are on the ground eating what the adult birds are eating. The chicks are crawling all over the place then run back to moms when they want to get under the wing/breast to warm up or rest. We (normally) leave the coop door open during the day and shut the chickens back up after they put themselves to bed at night. The adults usually spend the day around shrubs about 200 yards from the coop. Should I go ahead and open the coop door now? Will the mommas monitor the babies if they scramble out of the coop? I suppose I'm worried about the poo all over the coop floor. I cleaned it out but you know how quickly it gets yucky again. I don't want the chicks to get sick from crawling around poo all day. I've read the healthiest chicks are the ones who get out of the coop early, but don't want to do it too soon.