[North Devon Dumpling]

We been talking about buying in 6 week old chicks (don't have the wherewithal for younger at the moment), but are not entirely sure of the housing they would need.  Our current hen house is an upstairs house with an enclosed run (sides and top) and of course small chicks won't be able to get up there.  They will need chick crumb as feed of course.  Just an idea at the moment, needs some thinking about.

[joyfull]

at six weeks they should be starting to be fed on rearers (also called growers) feed. chicks of that age should be able to go up the ramp to bed once you have shown them how (you may need to lift them in for a few nights). What breed are you thinking of getting because at that age you often cannot tell the sex they will be so you could end up with 6 cockerels. The run may be suitable for 6 chicks but when you have a feeder, drinker, dust bathing there will be very little room for them when they start to grow (in about 2 weeks time). I would suggest you get a large run sorted out first (a minimum of 1 sq mtr per bird although 2 or 3 would be better) and then depending on the size of the sleeping area (excluding nest box) decide how many birds to get (allow 12 inches of perch space per bird - 8 for bantams).

[North Devon Dumpling]

Thanks (sorry been away).  The house we have had 4 birds easily in it re perching with two large nest boxes.  The enclosed run (where we keep them if we go out) is 5ft by 20ft, the rest of the time (most of the time) they will be free range but not while they are very small as we have lots of hungry buzzards and allegedly a sparrow hawk around (never seen it myself but our nearest neighbours have.  Thanks re the feed, shows how much I don't know!  Think for the moment will probably just get more pullets, easier to deal with, but the advice has been very helpful (as always) and something to think about. 

[francais]

my 5 week old light sussex & two odd bod chicks we have all make it up a ramp and take themselves to bed already.