Anybody have chicks shipping Monday August 27?

[DianaMallory]

How old are your older girls DianaMallory? I'll be watching to see how it goes, as I work on integrating my chicks into the flock as well.

My 11 golden comets are 5 months old. I get 9-11 eggs a day from them. I tried getting 5 raised pullets and that was ugly, my lead hen tried stomping them to death! So I gave them away and came here and read what I did wrong. I then went and bought the new babies. I am going to be going at this real slow. So far all I have done is let the older girls see them and get use to them being around but, there is fencing between them.My plan is to move them to the coop separated by chicken wire. And have them side by side for one month. Then when they are 2 months old at bedtime I am going to put them on the roost and remove the chicken wire. And pray it works!

 

[Tootie123]

I have some chicks that are about 2 weeks old, a little over. Have two Rhode Island Red hens that
are about 6 months old. When is a good time to start getting them integrated? I plan to keep the
chicks in their cardboard box at least till they are about 1 1/2 months old. I have a separate pen
to put them into for awhile after they are old enough to go outside. Figured the chicks should
be fully feathered out or almost before I put them out in the elements.

Thought would let the older chickens sort of free range with the younger ones awhile
before I can put them into the bigger coop with the two older ones.
What is this putting them into the larger coop at night? Is that suppose to keep them
from fighting?

 

[DianaMallory]

I have some chicks that are about 2 weeks old, a little over. Have two Rhode Island Red hens that
are about 6 months old. When is a good time to start getting them integrated? I plan to keep the
chicks in their cardboard box at least till they are about 1 1/2 months old. I have a separate pen
to put them into for awhile after they are old enough to go outside. Figured the chicks should
be fully feathered out or almost before I put them out in the elements.

Thought would let the older chickens sort of free range with the younger ones awhile
before I can put them into the bigger coop with the two older ones.
What is this putting them into the larger coop at night? Is that suppose to keep them
from fighting?

Go to the learning center before you try to integrate your chicks and read the steps they have there. I tried to put some other birds in with my flock to quickly and it was ugly like I said in my last post.The last step you do is put them on the roost with the rest of the flock at bedtime. That way they wake up together and if you have done the other steps hopefully it will go well. I believe it says to do that at 2 months old. Mine are 3 weeks old and they are going to be going in the big coop with rest of the hens but, they will be separated by chicken wire in the coop and in the run for 1 month. That is suppose to get my older girls used to them being there. I have been taking them outside and putting them in their own run right next to my older girls and the older girls are still squawking at them like they are a threat. So go read this subject in the learning center and go slow! And I will never free range again! Way to heart breaking! I love my totally enclosed coop!

 

[Tootie123]

Thanks for the suggestions, have not been on the learning center page. That is quite helpful.
Will try it the way they suggest. I will eventually have a fully enclosed run for them but time
permitting. My son is my coop builder/designer and it is when he has an opportunity to
spend the time. Right now the older ones are free ranging and I do worry about something getting them.
Appreciate it.

 

[chickencoop789]

My girls spent the night in their coop for the first time

Is anyone else in their coop yet?

 

[DianaMallory]

My girls spent the night in their coop for the first time

Is anyone else in their coop yet?

No and I am so jealous! I had big plans but no helper this past week. My hubby had another project to work on! I would have done it myself but he had all the tools I needed with him. Including the truck so I couldn't even go get the materials I needed! So how did yours do in the coop the first night? Do you have any older chickens?

 

[BGinVA]

Congrats on gettting yours in the coop. Mine are going to need a couple of more weeks as I'm trying to integrate them to my 12 week olds, its going so so. They seem to do well together for several hours but then the big kids get bored and like to pick on them and they start peeping to go home, lol.

 

[Urbanchickenmom]

My girls spent the night in their coop for the first time

Is anyone else in their coop yet?

So since they are almost 4 weeks do you think I could put mine in the coop too?
I do have two older girls EE who is 15 weeks and a Buff Orpington 10 weeks
they have been in a big brooder out in the garage with wire separating them but they can see each other through it.
I have let them out in the yard to free range with each other and the older one Sarah EE came over and let them know who was boss but that was about it. Do you think when the coop is ready.......which better be TODAY I could put them in together right away?

 

[chickencoop789]

So how did yours do in the coop the first night? Do you have any older chickens?

Mine did really well. I left the coop door open for about an hour or so to let them get used to going in and out. At around 9 o'clock I closed the door and they all jumped up on the roost and went to sleep. I dont have any older chickens in the coop with them.

 

[chickencoop789]

So since they are almost 4 weeks do you think I could put mine in the coop too?
I do have two older girls EE who is 15 weeks and a Buff Orpington 10 weeks
they have been in a big brooder out in the garage with wire separating them but they can see each other through it.
I have let them out in the yard to free range with each other and the older one Sarah EE came over and let them know who was boss but that was about it. Do you think when the coop is ready.......which better be TODAY I could put them in together right away?

I dont really know too much about them sleeping with older girls, but it seems that they do good with each other. I would try it.