Adding 8 week old chicks to 8 adult hens (the smell is killing us)

[ben is a terror]

I have 12 chicks they need to get out of the house before we all die of toxic fumes. The chicks are 9 standards and 3 bantams. I have 8 adults 5 standards and 3 bantams. Should I pen them it a section of the coop? For how long? Should it have a lid? I will be getting 2 ducklings and a gosling (maybe) in June what about them? The ducklings might be house ducks if all goes well.

 

[sourland]

The smell of chicks is killing you, and you are going to keep ducks and goslings in the house?

8 week old chicks are far too small to integrate into your established flock. Seperate the pen so that they can see one another, and then once the chicks are as large as your flock start the integration. There will be conflicts even then, but the chance of serious injury will be somewhat less.

 

[Missouri Chicken Chick]

If you put the chicks in the coop with the older birds inside a cage of any sort, make sure that the big birds can't peck through the holes. And, yes, you definitely need a lid. The older birds will basically kill the younger ones if they can get to them.

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
EGGZACTLY!!!........Pop

 

[ben is a terror]

2 ducklings can't smell as bad as 12 chicks. Can they? If so maybe I'll rethink the ducklings. Seriously rethinking the goose.

 

[sourland]

With frequent cleanings, 2 ducklings should not smell, but they can create a real mess when they play with their waterers. The resultant moisture/feces/wet feed can get really stenchy.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Quote:
Oh, definitely rethink the goose. They can leave bigger piles than a dog.

Introducing chickens is a time consuming process, just so you know.
Never just throw new chickens into an existing flock. The results can be catastrophic. You need to have an introduction period of at least a few days to a week, preferrably with the new ones fenced off so the "old" ones can't tear them to pieces. A 30 day quarantine is highly recommended as well (for new adult birds). Disease is easily carried from flock to flock, even on your shoes. I usually quarantine the new birds for at least 30 days, well away from the main flock, then put them in a pen near the main flock for a few weeks. You can then either divide your run into 2 separate sections or put the newcomers into a cage inside the run for a few days to let them get used to each other. Then I let them out to free range together for a few days/week, eventually they will fight it out and the new ones will blend with the original flock.
If you have chicks, the general rule for adding new birds to an already existing flock is to wait until the newcomers are roughly the same size as the established birds. That way, they can at least defend themselves. Unacquainted chickens are going to fight, and unfortunately there is not much that can be done about it. It is just in their nature. But I would suggest that when you do finally put them together for the first time that you have the garden hose ready just in case anyone gets a little too out of hand. One quick shot of water should do it.

 

[ben is a terror]

No goose for us! I'll start building a outside pen for the little ones this week end. Can I put the chicks out in the pen during the day and bring them in at night?

 

[froggiesheins]

Quote:
You sure can! And the little darlings will love ya even more with all that handling too. I have 2 hens that go out everyday and come in every night ----its for MY enjoyment they come in....hee hee

Everyone has given good adivice about intergating S L O W L Y.......let them look touch beaks but keep that fence between them till the "old timers" decide that the "new-bees" are not worth a second look. IF you have to break up a sqwabble, just thump the attacker on the back of the neck and growl at him/her OR you can grab the offender [to basically spook him] and again growl. Doesn't take them long to figure out YOU are the boss.

LOL

 

[drdoolittle]

sourland wrote: smell of chicks is killing you, and you are going to keep ducks and goslings in the house?

My thoughts exactly! Yes, 2 ducklings can smel as bad as 12 chicks! I have 36 chicks indoors right----although the oldest are only about 3 weeks----and they have only had a slight odor. Mine will hopefully be moving to the garage this weekend----if my son cleans it up and makes room!

I would never, ever consider having a "house-duck"-------the mess they make outside is bad enough (I have 10 ducks and 2 geese). Good luck with everything!