8 week old chick is being bad!

[chickengeorgeto]

The hen and chicks should already have been introduced to the rest of the flock. While under her protection is the perfect time for the chicks to be introduced to the pecking order. As I have often said, the mama hen will do all the heavy fighting for her own chicks. This will result in much better success when integrating new chicks into an existing flock.

 

[Below frigid]

They are integrated with the exception of their sleeping courters. Chicks are doing some wandering individually. They are not all joined at the hip so to speak. Momma still watches out for them and they listen to her most of the time. They feed with the big girls as well. They forage well on the fenced half acre and just started exploring outside the gate. So move Momma and the chicks into the big hen house from the Brooder house ?

 

[aart]

So move Momma and the chicks into the big hen house from the Brooder house ?

I would have done that at about 1-2 weeks.
Does mama and chicks have access to the main coop,
so she can choose to take them there?
By 8 weeks you should be able to tell gender of chicks,
might want to start making cockerel decisions now.

 

[Below frigid]

Yes they have access, but seem content in their little coop. Some I can tell the sex and some I am not sure ( olive eggers ), trying to get some decent photos but they move around so much.

 

[lazy gardener]

If your coop/run has enough room (at least 4 s.f./bird in the coop), you could and should integrate Mama and babies into the big coop. No need to every separate Mama from her brood. Sparring between chicks is normal. However, if you find the cockerels harassing the pullets, you will need to separate the cockerels into their own grow out pen. And sooner or later, you will need to do this.