[indigo]

Hi
I had my two chicks hatched last friday and saturday.  We moved the two remaining eggs from under the hen yesterday, and found they were both rotten. So we do only have the two.  they are still in the coop where they were hatched.  It has the nesting box and an area about 18" x 18".  I open the door of the pophole by day - but block it off with netting as there is a ramp down to the floor and i know the chicks wont cope with that yet.  I have got a rabbit hutch and am going to move them into that for a few weeks till they will cope with the ramp. I think it is too cold now to put them outside, so am going to put the hutch in the shed.  This will give them a lot more room all on one level.  Is this ok - or should i be putting them outside.

[joyfull]

if they are with their mum they will be fine, she will keep them warm. She needs to bring them out to teach them to scratch etc

[indigo]

Thanks for that - its just they are so tiny! And the weather has cooled off a lot now to what it has been! I will let them out to have a run around later, and put them in the hutch in the shed at night.  I need to give the coop and nesting box a really good clean as she has been in there for 4 weeks! I found mites in there the other night (re an earlier post) and put de in there.  I havent seen them since, but would like to give it a good sort out before they go back in there.  I will get some pics when they are out and post them on here later.
Thanks again

[joyfull]

they will be fine, if they get cold they will huddle under mum (remember she has her feather duvet to keep them warm), I have several lots of chicks hatch out in the hedgerows every year and some never go into a hutch their mums keep them well hidden until they are big enough to roost overnight in the trees.

[orchardlady]

I'm in agreement with Joyful here. I've had broody hens hatch out clutches in the hedgerow in November and the chicks have been just fine with Mum.

Orchardlady.