I currently have a batch that was hatched five weeks ago.....here they are at under two weeks exploring in the run with the rest of the flock
Last night three of them attempted to roost with the flock (they have been living in a corner of the coop on the floor that mama chose once the chicks hatched and she moved out of the nest box above) - they went wrong by trying to snuggle up to one of the top hens and were promptly invited to move back to the floor, but I forsee mama weaning them in the next week or two and them being on the roost for good.
Mama does a great job of keeping the flock from being nasty but also allows the flock to set appropriate boundaries such as giving a chick a quick peck if he/she gets too pushy or forgets their place - she's a pretty good judge of what is appropriate discipline from a fellow hen and what needs her intervention.
Last night three of them attempted to roost with the flock (they have been living in a corner of the coop on the floor that mama chose once the chicks hatched and she moved out of the nest box above) - they went wrong by trying to snuggle up to one of the top hens and were promptly invited to move back to the floor, but I forsee mama weaning them in the next week or two and them being on the roost for good.
Mama does a great job of keeping the flock from being nasty but also allows the flock to set appropriate boundaries such as giving a chick a quick peck if he/she gets too pushy or forgets their place - she's a pretty good judge of what is appropriate discipline from a fellow hen and what needs her intervention.
