LilyBird
In the Brooder
I got my very first flock of chickens at the beginning of July. I was sold 6 "pullets" 3 australorps and 3 orpingtons...but all 3 of my australorps turned out to be roos. Sooo, I took them to a poultry swap. Long story short, I came home with 3 younger birds (EE, Australorp, & Araucana)........and a free silkie hen (chicken math got me) LOL
So here's what my flock is now...
3 orpingtons - 20 weeks old
3 babies - 4-5 weeks old
1 silkie hen - no clue how old, but apparently its just starting to lay?
The orpingtons have a nice big run and coop to themselves (run is 16'x12'). The babies and silkie are in the garage under quarantine. But I'm not set up for two flocks....I just have a backyard, not acreage. Its starting to get cold at night as well, so I really need them to get into the coop with the big girls as soon as possible, and not just stuck in my garage in a dog crate. Silkie and the babies are in separate crates...not sure if the silkie and babies will get along. The crates arent all that ideal either.
How should I go about introducing the babies and silkie to my girls?
Could the silkie be introduced to the big girls on her own? Or would it be better to introduce the silkie and babies, and then introduce all four together? I did have the silkie and babies together for a little while, but she started pecking at them.
I don't want anyone picked on.
How old should the babies be before I introduce them?
How do I do this and make everyone get along and be happy? (A roo isn't going to happen, I have neighbours).
So here's what my flock is now...
3 orpingtons - 20 weeks old
3 babies - 4-5 weeks old
1 silkie hen - no clue how old, but apparently its just starting to lay?
The orpingtons have a nice big run and coop to themselves (run is 16'x12'). The babies and silkie are in the garage under quarantine. But I'm not set up for two flocks....I just have a backyard, not acreage. Its starting to get cold at night as well, so I really need them to get into the coop with the big girls as soon as possible, and not just stuck in my garage in a dog crate. Silkie and the babies are in separate crates...not sure if the silkie and babies will get along. The crates arent all that ideal either.
How should I go about introducing the babies and silkie to my girls?
Could the silkie be introduced to the big girls on her own? Or would it be better to introduce the silkie and babies, and then introduce all four together? I did have the silkie and babies together for a little while, but she started pecking at them.
I don't want anyone picked on.
How old should the babies be before I introduce them?
How do I do this and make everyone get along and be happy? (A roo isn't going to happen, I have neighbours).