I was planning on getting some new chicks to add to my existing flock in the spring. I impulsively and stupidly set a small clutch of eggs to hatch and got only 1 to hatch. So then I ended up getting that one some pals, and now I have 4 chicks that I will need to integrate into the coop.
First of all, I am worried about my current hens accepting these ones, but the other worry is how do I get them ready to be feathered enough for winter? I live in Nebraska, our weather is bipolar so I have no idea how cold winter will be, but I know it will be too chilly to move them out with nothing if I move them early-ish. If I keep them inside longer, I'll be moving them out in December, which sounds awful too. And I definately can't keep them inside until March.
My thoughts are that I would move them to the coop as soon as everyone is fully feathered, in an enclosure within the coop, with a brooder plate. I feel like I need to get them outside as soon as I can so that they can grow all their feathers for winter, and hopefully at the same time start the integration with the big ladies. And then doing some monitored free range time together before moving to monitored run time together. Does that sound like it would work? Or any other tips for integrating when it's gonna be cold?
First of all, I am worried about my current hens accepting these ones, but the other worry is how do I get them ready to be feathered enough for winter? I live in Nebraska, our weather is bipolar so I have no idea how cold winter will be, but I know it will be too chilly to move them out with nothing if I move them early-ish. If I keep them inside longer, I'll be moving them out in December, which sounds awful too. And I definately can't keep them inside until March.
My thoughts are that I would move them to the coop as soon as everyone is fully feathered, in an enclosure within the coop, with a brooder plate. I feel like I need to get them outside as soon as I can so that they can grow all their feathers for winter, and hopefully at the same time start the integration with the big ladies. And then doing some monitored free range time together before moving to monitored run time together. Does that sound like it would work? Or any other tips for integrating when it's gonna be cold?