- Feb 21, 2014
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I have 10 chicks that range in age from 5 to 7 weeks. They all get along great. I've got 8 more that range from 4 days to 4 weeks. I put the 4 week old in with the big girls and all seemed to be ok, I needed the space in my little brooder for my little bantams so that's why I moved her to the big brooder with the bigger girls. She was in there for a week and all seemed ok. I moved the bigger girls out to the coop because they are fully feathered and I needed the space. Well, 4 week old girl stayed in because she isn't all the way feathered but I noticed she looked weird. Start to look closer and she has a big hole in her back from being pecked and she's got some bald spots from the big ones. Chickens are ruthless!! Now I'm hesitant to put the 2 groups together when the little ones get big. My leghorn girls seem to be the jerks of the group.
So, my 4 week old red chick is in with 3 assorted bantams, 2 black giants, 2 EE, and she is playing mama. She huddles the bantams under her wings and they all follow her around. It's super cute. Is that normal for such a young chick to take on the babies like that? im trying to decide whether to build a second coop or expand my current one to accommodate the whole group. Space isn't a problem, I have a few acres so I'm not too concerned about taking up space, I just want everyone to be ok with as little fighting and stuff as possible. Thoughts? Sorry if it's all over the place, still working on waking up! Thanks!
So, my 4 week old red chick is in with 3 assorted bantams, 2 black giants, 2 EE, and she is playing mama. She huddles the bantams under her wings and they all follow her around. It's super cute. Is that normal for such a young chick to take on the babies like that? im trying to decide whether to build a second coop or expand my current one to accommodate the whole group. Space isn't a problem, I have a few acres so I'm not too concerned about taking up space, I just want everyone to be ok with as little fighting and stuff as possible. Thoughts? Sorry if it's all over the place, still working on waking up! Thanks!
