Adding chicks to a solo hen- a few questions

[Lizzy733]

Geeze... Glad I'm in a temperate climate and still in summer. Maybe bring your old girl inside to kick off a bit of integration early. Poor lil bubs, having to deal with that chill. So cold!

 

[member 615286]

Geeze... Glad I'm in a temperate climate and still in summer. Maybe bring your old girl inside to kick off a bit of integration early. Poor lil bubs, having to deal with that chill. So cold!

So cold
Trying so hard, the cold is an added challenge. I just want to get him outside to be with her all day! Wish it were spring.

 

[member 615286]

I have two 5 week olds (Easter egger and welsummer) that I am prepping to transition to share a run/coop with a 10 month old silkie (last one standing, she’s been on her own for 2 months).
Questions (re: food & behavior):
1. How do I keep the chicks eating the starter grower feed and silkie eating the layer or should I just put both out and let them eat whatever they choose?
2. I’ve read up on the “see no touch”/general practices for integrating them. Being new to chickens, any special considerations with the dynamics of a *single* hen and *two* chicks? When the barrier is removed,
Id like to better understand/anticipate any pecking/bullying behaviors (in general and considering the dynamics). What might I see exactly? Ok behavior versus something to “break up” (I’ve read let them do their thing unless there is blood. What might this look like? … puffing of chest, chasing, pecking, all out wrestling match/flapping disaster looking like they might kill each other (and to be ok with it?). When does it become concerning ?

When they “meet” for the first time (without separation) should I do one at a time so the chicks don’t gang up on her ? (Collectively they are bigger than her), or just let the three of them work or out?

trying not to break something up prematurely resulting from my own panic

Grateful for any redirection to other posts/ blogs as well.
Thank you!

Hi everyone. The silkie hen has done some charging but otherwise seems disinterested. Are there any indicators to suggest they are ok left unsupervised?

 

[aart]

Hi everyone. The silkie hen has done some charging but otherwise seems disinterested. Are there any indicators to suggest they are ok left unsupervised?

Are the chicks separated by wire from the older bird?
Do the chicks have their heat source?

Was only yesterday(or the day before) you said you would start weaning the chicks off heat, needs more time than that.

 

[member 615286]

Are the chicks separated by wire from the older bird?
Do the chicks have their heat source?

Was only yesterday(or the day before) you said you would start weaning the chicks off heat, needs more time than that.

She is inside the garage with them, where their heat source is.
I Have been doing the see no touch for several days.
In regards to them sharing a space (garage with heat), are there any indicators they are “ok” to be left unsupervised following some charging but otherwise uninterested ?

(I’m jumping on work calls in an hour and wondering if I should move her back outside). Thank you

 

[member 615286]

Are the chicks separated by wire from the older bird?
Do the chicks have their heat source?

Was only yesterday(or the day before) you said you would start weaning the chicks off heat, needs more time than that.

 

[aart]

She is inside the garage with them, where their heat source is.
I Have been doing the see no touch for several days.
In regards to them sharing a space (garage with heat), are there any indicators they are “ok” to be left unsupervised following some charging but otherwise uninterested ?

(I’m jumping on work calls in an hour and wondering if I should move her back outside). Thank you

I would not leave them together without supervision after only 2 days of see no touch.
Is the see not touch set up in the garage?

 

[member 615286]

I would not leave them together without supervision after only 2 days of see no touch.
Is the see not touch set up in the garage?

Yes. I’ve received recommendations in previous integration posts/questions to skip the see no touch and put them together supervised sooner than later considering she’s been alone for several months and why the chicks are being added. But erred on the safe side and have been doing this in the garage where the chicks currently are over the last week.
Your recommendation is I take her back outside correct?
I added a photo of the space where the chicks are and where I had hoped to add her for the cold snap.

I will need to bring her into the garage in coming nights as the temperatures will be subzero. I can set up another location for her if it’s too soon to integrate them.
Thank you.

(They all seem disinterested and have shared from the same feeder of it helps with giving direction. Thanks)

 

[Lizzy733]

If she's charging, keep things slow and don't mingle until she starts behaving more positively. You can try offering treats across the cage barrier so they can 'share a meal' without being in danger. I'd keep to a bit of integration time each day, but probably wait a week or so before actually trying them together, and then, you may need to hold onto your older girl and introduce them one at a time to be ready to hold her back if she tries to strike. Any big displays of aggression, go back to see but don't touch. - some integrations take time and you have to go by their attitude. It sounds like this nay end up being a slower one.

If she is still causing issues when they're getting ready to go outside, you can reverse things and pen your oldest and give them free access to the run. This will allow them to get to know the layout and where they can flee to if she tries to run them off.

Even once she accepts them in the run, she may still chase them out if the coop at bedtime, so watch for this as you may need to step in to ensure no one is left out in the cold.

 

[member 615286]

I would not leave them together without supervision after only 2 days of see no touch.
Is the see not touch set up in the garage?

If she's charging, keep things slow and don't mingle until she starts behaving more positively. You can try offering treats across the cage barrier so they can 'share a meal' without being in danger. I'd keep to a bit of integration time each day, but probably wait a week or so before actually trying them together, and then, you may need to hold onto your older girl and introduce them one at a time to be ready to hold her back if she tries to strike. Any big displays of aggression, go back to see but don't touch. - some integrations take time and you have to go by their attitude. It sounds like this nay end up being a slower one.

If she is still causing issues when they're getting ready to go outside, you can reverse things and pen your oldest and give them free access to the run. This will allow them to get to know the layout and where they can flee to if she tries to run them off.

Even once she accepts them in the run, she may still chase them out if the coop at bedtime, so watch for this as you may need to step in to ensure no one is left out in the cold.

Thanks. Im receiving conflicting advice (don’t introduce them separately; if there isn’t any major aggression allow them to stay together since she’s otherwise alone, etc).
She charged a couple of times, did not make contact as they ran away, and have shared from the same feeder within 30 minutes. Mostly disinterested tho.
I put her back outside as I’m headed back into work calls
But need to bring her in for the cold snap (-7F), ideally they share a space and can sleep separately, otherwise will need to create another space for her and locate another head source.