4 chicks ready to move outside

[mararva]

My chicks are almost 5 weeks old and seem ready to join my 3 hens outside. They have been seeing each other for about an hour each day, but haven't been together. Should I introduce them in the run or in the coop? I know they will need hiding spaces and separate food/water, but what else should I do to make the transition easier?

 

[Ridgerunner]

If they were free ranging you could probably get away with just turning them loose but it doesn't sound like you free range. The tighter the space the less likely this is to work. Also, if you do that, you have no idea where they will want to sleep at night.

I don't know what your coop or run look like or how big they are. All I can do is assume. My generic suggestion without specific knowledge is to have a pen out there that is predator safe, can be in the coop or run. (I prefer coop so they will be a lot more likely to return to the coop to sleep when you do turn them loose.) Let them get used to each other for at least a week before you turn them loose to mingle and they learn where to go to to sleep. This doesn't always work but it often does.

Sometimes it is as easy as turning them loose (especially with lots of room), but it can also be a disaster. So when you do let them mingle it's good to be there to see what happens.

 

[HenHouse Henry]

My chicks are almost 5 weeks old and seem ready to join my 3 hens outside. They have been seeing each other for about an hour each day, but haven't been together. Should I introduce them in the run or in the coop? I know they will need hiding spaces and separate food/water, but what else should I do to make the transition easier?

Just take your time and let them get used to each other. It may take a few weeks but they will soon be one big happy family

 

[Ridgerunner]

The coop only has 2 windows for ventelation plus the run opening. I feel like it would be too dark for the chicks, if they were there for 24 hours.

I don't know how dark it really is in there. They need enough light to eat and drink, no more. It's not like they are going to be in there forever. My coop only has one window and it is on the north side, mine have plenty of light. But your coop is different from mine so I don't know how dark it really is.

If it is predator safe leave it in the run.

the hens only go in there to sleep or lay eggs.

Would be enough.

 

[K0k0shka]

Lots of feeding and watering stations once they start sharing the same space, but they don’t need separate kinds of feed. Lots of people freak out about hens eating the chick starter or chicks eating the layer feed and keeping feeds separate. You don’t need that juggling act. Feed everybody flock raiser (which is meant for all ages), and provide calcium on the side for the layers (crushed eggshell or oyster shell). That’s the best way to feed a mixed flock (or any flock really).

 

[Linnre]

Thanks, everything seems to be going well so far. The four younger ones stick together and the three older hens remind them to stay out of their way (but not too aggressive). My concern now is when to take away the chicks "safe zone" where they eat and sleep. I want them to use the coop at night with the older hens eventually. Do yours all sleep together?

They have been for about a week now. At first I put them on the roost. Then the next night they were in the coop (got run up there by the big girls) and got up on it themselves. Unfortunately they chose the roost the big girls use and got pecked off it and onto another one where they now roost themselves. One of the little tried it once more (roosting on the wrong bar) and got pecked away again. Hasn’t happened more than that. Usually they get chased up to the roost by the big girls. Once this week I had to put them in myself - they were happy to stay in the run. But once there they roosted for the night. I have two feeding places in the run and two waters so when they are all together they can each get to it.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Is there a way you can separate them eith the coop and run, meaning a 24/7 look but don’t touch?

 

[mararva]

Is there a way you can separate them eith the coop and run, meaning a 24/7 look but don’t touch?

I have a 7 foot chickenwire "playpen" I use for the chicks to explore outside. The older hens free-range for about 2 hours each evening. I have a small wire cage that I put inside the run during the day, but I'm not sure how I would keep them apart at night unless I move the cage into the coop?

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I have a 7 foot chickenwire "playpen" I use for the chicks to explore outside. The older hens free-range for about 2 hours each evening. I have a small wire cage that I put inside the run during the day, but I'm not sure how I would keep them apart at night unless I move the cage into the coop?

if you can supervise the chicks allow them to free range with the older hens but have clutter where they can escape if needed.
My aggressors stopped once they were allowed to free range together in an open area. They weren’t new chicks tho so that may change for me.
I’m sure in time they will all find their place

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have a 7 foot chickenwire "playpen" I use for the chicks to explore outside. The older hens free-range for about 2 hours each evening. I have a small wire cage that I put inside the run during the day, but I'm not sure how I would keep them apart at night unless I move the cage into the coop?

Get a smaller cage if needed for the coop, or if you feel the run is predator proof enough, you can leave them caged in the run instead.

They really need to be around the hens most/all day for about 1-2 weeks of see but not touch, before I'd let them out to actually meet face to face. 1 hr a day isn't enough, you want the hens to see them, get used to them, and lose interest in them.