I have 6 Black Aussie (mixes I think) that are 3 weeks old and out in their coop (coop only not the run) 24/7. I have 9 1 weekers (mix of RIR and BRs) inside in the brooder.
I took 3 of the Aussies and placed them in the brooder today. 1 was a bit peckish so I took them out and put them back in the coop, the other two were fine but the littles were huddled in the corner, so I took 1 more biggie out and left 1 biggie with the 9 littles. They seem fine together.. I don't see much pecking going on.. mostly the little ones investigating the bigger one.
Is this a bad way to go about introducing them? Will I harm my big chicks psychie by removing her from her age mates and putting her, alone with the little ones.. or is this a good way to get a big chick to be protective of the smaller ones? Should there be 2 bigger ones with the littles..
The little chicks will head out to the coop by the second week of May.. I can't supervise them out there like I can inside the house (I have 3 little human chicks myself that preclude me spending all day sitting in the coop)...
Am I going about this wrong?
I took 3 of the Aussies and placed them in the brooder today. 1 was a bit peckish so I took them out and put them back in the coop, the other two were fine but the littles were huddled in the corner, so I took 1 more biggie out and left 1 biggie with the 9 littles. They seem fine together.. I don't see much pecking going on.. mostly the little ones investigating the bigger one.
Is this a bad way to go about introducing them? Will I harm my big chicks psychie by removing her from her age mates and putting her, alone with the little ones.. or is this a good way to get a big chick to be protective of the smaller ones? Should there be 2 bigger ones with the littles..
The little chicks will head out to the coop by the second week of May.. I can't supervise them out there like I can inside the house (I have 3 little human chicks myself that preclude me spending all day sitting in the coop)...
Am I going about this wrong?
