Fast-tracking flock integration?

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wow, great info! I'll be thinking about this for sure when were building our new coop...thanks!
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Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I'm concerned about my integration of broody hen/chicks into the flock. My broody, Rosemary, has been within the main run in her own broody box/small run for the past four weeks. The chicks hatched last Sat/Sun so my chicks are 6-7 days old. The other 2 hens (about one year old) have been able to see/hear the chicks the entire time. The broody run doesn't have a floor and when I came home last night, with all the scratching near the wood, 3 chicks were on the outside of the run. The were hiding between the run and the fence for the big run. Ended up getting everyone back in the broody run.

This morning, I tried to let Rosemary take all the babies into the main run with the other 2. At first, I locked the other 2 in their coop and let Rosemary and chicks wander around the main run. When I let the other 2 out, Ginger very aggressively ran and pecked one of the chicks. Rosemary tried to get in between and the chick ran, but I'm afraid she's going to be very aggressive with the chicks. She's been overly interested in them since they hatched.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Rosemary used to be top of the pecking order and Ginger was bottom of pecking order. I realize things have changed a bit, but she didn't mess with Rosemary at all, just kept checking out the chicks. I put Ginger/Olive back in the coop until I could get Rosemary and babies back in their pen. I expected Rosemary to be more aggressive with protecting the chicks.
 
Usually the broody mother will be VERY aggressive about protecting her chicks. My broody Mille Fleur d'Uccle was on the bottom of the pecking order and blew herself up like a puffer fish to stand up to the bigger hens for her chicks. Maybe Rosemary just needs a few more opportunities to show the others who's boss? What breeds are they?
 
kharmon320 said:
Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I'm concerned about my integration of broody hen/chicks into the flock. My broody, Rosemary, has been within the main run in her own broody box/small run for the past four weeks. The chicks hatched last Sat/Sun so my chicks are 6-7 days old. The other 2 hens (about one year old) have been able to see/hear the chicks the entire time. The broody run doesn't have a floor and when I came home last night, with all the scratching near the wood, 3 chicks were on the outside of the run. The were hiding between the run and the fence for the big run. Ended up getting everyone back in the broody run.

This morning, I tried to let Rosemary take all the babies into the main run with the other 2. At first, I locked the other 2 in their coop and let Rosemary and chicks wander around the main run. When I let the other 2 out, Ginger very aggressively ran and pecked one of the chicks. Rosemary tried to get in between and the chick ran, but I'm afraid she's going to be very aggressive with the chicks. She's been overly interested in them since they hatched.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Rosemary used to be top of the pecking order and Ginger was bottom of pecking order. I realize things have changed a bit, but she didn't mess with Rosemary at all, just kept checking out the chicks. I put Ginger/Olive back in the coop until I could get Rosemary and babies back in their pen. I expected Rosemary to be more aggressive with protecting the chicks.
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Are there places for the chicks to shelter in the run and coop?
Not all mamas defend their chicks well....hopefully she get it together to take charge and kick butt.
 
Rosemary is a Wyandotte, Ginger is an Ameraucana, and Olive is an Easter Egger. Rosemary was much more aggressive while sitting on the nest. Ginger stopped laying when Rosemary was sitting on fake eggs in the main coop because I think she was afraid to go into the nestbox area. She's always been the bottom of the pecking order. My other thought is to separate Ginger.

Rosemary has been a fantastic mother showing them how to do everything, but the most aggressive thing I've seen her do is get in between them. I locked Ginger in the coop a minute ago and let Rosemary/babies out. Olive didn't pay them much attention at first, but then she started pecking them. I'm afraid I'll wind up with dead chicks if I'm not there to supervise.

The only place the chicks can hide at the moment is in between the broody box/run and the fencing of the main run. The hens can't get in there and that's where I found the 3 hiding yesterday. Rosemary and the babies will be okay in the broody box/run for another week or so, but after that it will be tight with one huge Wyandotte and 7 growing chicks.
 
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I'd keep trying to let them mingle a couple times a day.
Can the chicks get back into the broody box...is that where they hatched?
Can you post a pic of your setup.

It might be better to start a new thread out of respect for the OP and link it here.
 

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