5 week-olds and a lonely hen

[LCEchickens]

A little background info: When we decided to get chickens, I got lucky and came across a reasonably priced coop with attached run on craigslist. The day before we picked up the coop, I got a call from the seller saying that she "forgot" to mention that the coop comes with one hen!! Well of course we couldn't leave her homeless, so she came with her coop to our backyard. She is a New Hampshire white and has earned her keep with an egg a day for the last several weeks. So here is my question: We have 3 BR pullets that are almost 5 weeks old. One nice days, they go in the run while the hen free ranges. They have seen each other several times. The hen has never shown any aggression towards the chicks. Everything I have read says you should wait to introduce chicks when they are close to adult size. Does anyone have any experience with introducing chicks to a single hen? I feel bad that the hen is living alone and the chicks are quickly out-growing their dog crate brooder!! I really don't have a way to house them next to each other for any length of time....just daily trips out to the run/coop. Our coop is 3 x 4 (although I found a free 4x4 doghouse last week that will soon become an addition!) and the run is 8x8. I don't have a lot of background info on the hen, but she has lived with other hens in the past. We have become quite attached to her and our chicks...we just want to to be one big happy family!! Any advice? Thank you!!

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Can you let them free range together for a bit to see how they react to each other?

 

[coloradochick]

Put them together and see how they do. The sooner they get used to each other the sooner they get used to each other

(not trying to be a smart alek)

 

[LCEchickens]

I've been too nervous to let the chicks free range!! They are so fast! I did think about doing that yesterday when they were in the run and the hen was free ranging. I've been so tempted to just open the door to the run when the hen comes over to investigate the chicks.... Maybe if the rain finally stops, I will try a free ranging introduction this weekend!

Thanks guys!

 

[KYChixMama]

Quote:
I'd recommend this, but do it toward the evening (so they're easier to catch), and scatter lots of goodies (cooked pasta, etc) around to keep the babies from wandering away.

 

[LCEchickens]

Thanks! I will try that. Right now the only treat the chicks will eat is pasta...they are afraid of everything else! I'm going to pick up some mealworms tomorrow...maybe that will keep them close to me!

 

[mamahen82]

I know every situation is different, but we had a very similar thing happen last year when a lone hen turned up living in our apple orchard for a few weeks. I decided to revive an old abandoned coop on our property to take her in - and I was officially into chickens! We bought three 6 week old pullets and I divided the coop with chicken wire for the first few weeks so that the hen and the three pullets could see eachother, I left the food & water directly across from eachother on either side of the wire so they were eating/drinking in close vicinity but still safe.

When I finally let them mix (and certainly earlier than adult size for the pullets) there was the initial day of pecking and whatnot that is so stressful, but then within a day or two they had it sorted and all was peaceable, even if the old gal was a bit of a loner. Now, a year later, she and the remaining pullet-turned-hen are best friends (two ended up being roosters and are no longer with us).

When you do let them mix in the run, make sure there are places for the littles ones to hide or perch if need be - even just plywood sheets leaned up against the side of the building, or ours liked some big branches we had cut down anyways and then leaned up in a corner of the run.

 

[LCEchickens]

Quote:
Thank you for sharing your experience! I was hoping to hear from someone that had tried something similar! I am feeling more positive about the eventual introduction now.