adding smaller birds to flock

[whittychick]

They are simply staying out of the big chickens way. Avoiding them. My young ones usually fly up to the roosts when the older chickens are on the coop floor to avoid them though sometimes some hide under the nests, which are fairly close to the coop floor.

From what I know it's good that the chicks are staying away from hens and not engaging back with them! It could be a bloody mess if they faught back! My chicks are doing better today! The big girls peck them here and there but not too bad! Ahhhh I just hate it! I hope it's over tomorrow and they're a big happy family! Haha!

 

[Chickenlady2013]

I got a leghorn 16-20 wks old. She gets along with my four 7 wk old ch

 

[Chickenlady2013]

Computer being crazy. I want to put the leghorn in with my flock of 2 roosters and 8 hens. Do you think she will be fine with them. Her being the only one but older. The othrs are between 6-9 months. I was oing to wait a few more weeks to add the younger chicks.thx for any input.

 

[jdoane]

Just wondering if it is easier to add an older chicken to a small flock of younger birds. I have "one spot" open in my little flock of 8 week olds and would consider taking in an older pullet or hen.

 

[Chickenlady2013]

I put my 16-20wk old pullet in with my four 7wk olds and they did fine. I did this with four older ones and 6 younger ones which also did fine.

 

[ozzyman778]

Just wondering if it is easier to add an older chicken to a small flock of younger birds.  I have "one spot" open in my little flock of 8 week olds and would consider taking in an older pullet or hen.

I would reccomend adding in pairs at a minimum. At least this way the pair will be close together socially and not be completely singled out of the flock. This last time I added 4 pullets to a flock of 8 and transition went much smoother than when I only added 2 to 6

 

[jailbirdjulie]

I'm very excited! After having my 10 week old chicks in a dog cage for a couple weeks in my chicken run I put them in the coop 4 nights ago with the hens. Then I let them out early the next morning and they were fine. The chicks huddled in the corner. I had to catch them to put them in the coop that night and the next night but they are going in there on their own at night now. The hens chase them a little if I give them vegetables or a treat but otherwise they are tolerating the chicks quite well! They don't seem to mind the chicks going into the coop to eat which I thought might be a problem but so far so good! My silkie torments them when she is out but she's broody right now so she is leaving them alone for the most part.The chicks were roosting when they were in the dog cage I had them in but now they just huddle together at night on the floor in the back corner of the coop! Will the chicks start to roost again on their own? Is that something I need to be concerned about? I switched the hens to grower food and have oyster shell calcium available for them and so far so good!

 

[whittychick]

I'm very excited! After having my 10 week old chicks in a dog cage for a couple weeks in my chicken run I put them in the coop 4 nights ago with the hens. Then I let them out early the next morning and they were fine. The chicks huddled in the corner. I had to catch them to put them in the coop that night and the next night but they are going in there on their own at night now. The hens chase them a little if I give them vegetables or a treat but otherwise they are tolerating the chicks quite well! They don't seem to mind the chicks going into the coop to eat which I thought might be a problem but so far so good! My silkie torments them when she is out but she's broody right now so she is leaving them alone for the most part.The chicks were roosting when they were in the dog cage I had them in but now they just huddle together at night on the floor in the back corner of the coop! Will the chicks start to roost again on their own? Is that something I need to be concerned about? I switched the hens to grower food and have oyster shell calcium available for them and so far so good!

I am experiencing the same thing! My chicks are on the floor all huddled together! I think after a few weeks they'll be fine! My big girls for the most part are leaving them alone too! Glad this transition wasn't so bad!

 

[jailbirdjulie]

Yay tonight all 3 of my chicks started roosting in the coop with the big girls instead of hiding in the back corner on the floor!

 

[whittychick]

Oh that's great!