[Vivian]

Hello there folks.  My Welsummer chicks are 3 weeks old now (9 of them) and I have kept them inside up to now with their mother.  However, they are quite big and I think they want to go out, the mother certainly does.  I am worried though that they might get attacked from the other 4 adult chickens while I am not there to watch them.  Also there are buzzards and hawks about where I live.  What age would you normally let them out please?  Also how do you feed the chicks without the other hens eating the crumbs?

Vivian

[mercury]

You could realy do with a covered run vivian  

[Jellyhead]

I was really protective over my chicks at the beginning of the season but have found that the hens take really good care of them. we never had any bother from the other 15 or so chooks. They are in a pen but its about 100' x 50'. we have lots of buzzards out here too but they havent been a bother.
They have a large shelter as well as the coop which helps.

[Flyin Chickens]

To ensure that the chicks get enough food you should fence off a small area, leaving an entrance only big enough for the chicks to get through.  This was the chicks can feed when ever they require without the problem of all the food being taken by the larger hens.

[muntjac]

coup[le dozen bamboo canes with jsut enough space for the chicks to get to the food not the hens

[Vivian]

Thanks for the very useful advice.  Its a nice sunny day here in Cumbria so I am going to bite the bullet and let my chicks roam in the orchard (for a while at least).  That is until I panic and chase them back in doors.  That should be a site for sore eyes.  They are quite mischievous already.

Thanks again

Vivian

ps what a great site this is!!!!!!!

[Aunt Sally]

ps what a great site this is!!!!!!!

Sure it  :!:  

Don't forget to post some pictures for us to see Vivian.  They sound cute