16 vs 6

[micareli]

we are down to 25 chicks from our original 40, approx 4 roos, after the weasel attack we bought 21 straight runs to add to the brood.

the newbies are 6 weeks old, the oldies are 16 weeks old

about 10 days ago i tried to release them into the coop and several olds want having anything to do with it.... I cordoned off a 10x12 area built a small shelter and gave the newbies their own space......

one or two hens have been watching them I thought it was a motherly instinct, I opened the gate this morning into the cordoned area, an old hen about charged through the area ad began to peek at any chick she could get too.....

so closed the area off.... and now the question

How do you socialize the old ones to the new ones

do we isolate the ornery old one, sell her, make her a caged bird, or what. ( we currently have about 5000 SF free range pasture for them do hate to cage even one

 

[Happy Chooks]

Give them a week or so of being able to interact through the fencing. When they get to the point that they are ignoring them through the fencing, that's when you let them out. Also if possible, make the opening to their own space large enough that the babies can get through, but the hens can't. That gives them a hiding spot if they need it.