7 Domonique chicks hatched and mailed out to me today!

[Flame80]

Well, got a e-mail saying my 7 Domonique chicks hatched yesterday and are being mailed to me today. Should have them by at least this Saturday. Post office is suppose to call me. My 6 white leghorns are now about 8 weeks old and doing fine. I have a "brooder" made out of a HUGE plastic dog kennel awaiting my day olds. Brooder is locked inside my shop so no varmits can get to them. I plan to keep only 2-3 of these birds to keep my flock to about 8-9. Neighbors want the other ones. Had to buy so many to meet the hatchery minimum. Don't think I can keep 7 birds in that dog kennel for 6 weeks!! Not sure what I am going to do. They are too small for my big coop and run. Any suggestions? I read on the forum not to introduce them to the other flock until at least 6 weeks old. I have a small and a large arrangement but need something for in between.

 

[linsybird]

How exciting! My Dominiques are some of my friendliest birds.

What I do, is make a little area in the run that is a safe space for the little ones. I use chicken wire or deer netting, and I make sure the big ones can’t get in. I put them outside during the day, supervised at first, then when I know for sure the big ones can’t get in, I leave them unsupervised. After a while, I make an opening so that the little ones can get in and out, but the big ones can’t. THen when they are more use to each other, I make a little area in the coop where the big ones can’t get them, and they start spending the night out there. I had an old crib that I took apart to use for that. The bars are the perfect width for the little ones to squeeze through. Once I notice everyone getting along, I take the crib sections away.

 

[Flame80]

Linsybird, at what age are you speaking of? And my 6 white leghorns will be 14 weeks old when these Doms are turning 6 weeks old.

 

[linsybird]

Linsybird, at what age are you speaking of? And my 6 white leghorns will be 14 weeks old when these Doms are turning 6 weeks old.

I do it whenever it’s warm enough for them to be outside. I’ve started it as soon as 3 weeks, but I’ve also waited longer. It just depends on when I want them out of the house

Here’s what I have for small groups of chicks. I zip tie the top piece on, and put the open side on the right, against the wall of the coop. I put a chick feeder and waters inside. For bigger batches of chicks, I use the the other crib pieces to block off the area under the poop boards.

I also make sure that I have plenty of “clutter” in my run, and places for the smaller ones to hide.

 

[Flame80]

Ok, my "coop is built above ground and my "run" is 8 ft x 16 ft underneath it. When you referenced "coop" did you mean your "run" or do you have a HUGE coop??

 

[Alaskan]

If the brooder is in a fully secure area you can make a huge one out of cardboard duct taped together.

Or... make a chicken tractor, chicken tractors are super handy to have.

 

[Flame80]

I'll bite...what's a chicken tractor??

 

[linsybird]

Ok, my "coop is built above ground and my "run" is 8 ft x 16 ft underneath it. When you referenced "coop" did you mean your "run" or do you have a HUGE coop??

It’s a little smaller than 8x4

 

[linsybird]

I'll bite...what's a chicken tractor??

A chicken tractor portable pen/coop. It’s lightweight and designed to be moved around, like to new grass.
this one isn’t mine, but it give a general idea.

 

[Alaskan]

A chicken tractor portable pen/coop. It’s lightweight and designed to be moved around, like to new grass.
this one isn’t mine, but it give a general idea.View attachment 2233753

X2

There are many different designs.

Just useful to have. They can be used for a broody, to isolate for whatever reason, or fun fresh grass time that is safe.