4 chicks ready to move outside

[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.

 

[Ridgerunner]

1 hr a day isn't enough, you want the hens to see them, get used to them, and lose interest in them.

It seems to work for mine but more could be better.

 

[Linnre]

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?

How are they all doing? I think we have chicks similar in age. My three are now 10 1/2 weeks and I started integrating them with my 3 hens a week ago. It’s going okay but the hens still chase and try to terrorize the little ones. I think we are past worrying about bloodshed so that is good. I hope yours are doing well!

 

[mararva]

How are they all doing? I think we have chicks similar in age. My three are now 10 1/2 weeks and I started integrating them with my 3 hens a week ago. It’s going okay but the hens still chase and try to terrorize the little ones. I think we are past worrying about bloodshed so that is good. I hope yours are doing well!

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?

 

[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.