Are they ready? W/pics

[riverlane91]

I have 5 bardrock hens. They are 5 weeks old, fully feathered, weened from the heat source and are quickly outgrowing their horse trough.... Are they ready to meet their 8 sisters outside??
If so how should I do it?? They girls outside are very very laid back for big hens but it still makes me nervous..

 

[RitzHomestead]

I will usually put them in what I call a grow out pen, it is made of wood and hardware cloth and have it right next to the run or where the other hens are. This way the hens can see them and get close to them without actually touching them. I do this for about a week and then I will let them all mingle together while I keep a close eye on them for the first few days. If you have laid back chicks it helps, but the new additions will still have to work in the pecking order and as long as no one is causing injuries it should be fine.

 

[riverlane91]

Ok that helps! Now at night instead of keeping them outside in the "grow out" pen should I take that into the coop with the other birds that way they are out of the weather and predators? Good idea or no?

 

[RitzHomestead]

It's all about protection at this point from the other hens. If you can fit the grow out pen in the coop then if you want put it in there that would be awesome My grow out pen is not very big at all 4'x2' that they have a small area at the end that is covered and if its going to be a cold night I put the lamp on that end to give them some warmth during the night. It is very protected as it is completely wrapped in hardware cloth so nothing is getting into it.

 

[azygous]

Introducing the chicks for just during the day is a cinch. All you need is a safe area, I like to call it a "panic room", for the chicks where the big girls can't reach them. You need to keep them separate for at least a week until the big girls get used to the idea of the chicks being part of the flock.

The second week, I open 5 x 7 pop holes in the panic room so the chicks can explore the main run. (Or put up barriers with a seven inch clearance for the chicks to scoot under.) They scurry back to safety when chased of bullied or pecked. Food and water needs to be kept inside this safe enclosure or else the chicks may be bullied away from the food and water, not getting what they need. Also, during this period until the pullets start laying, you should keep them from getting layer feed as the added calcium is not good for growing pullets. I feed an all-flock feed during this time, actually I gave up feeding layer feed years ago since my flock hates the taste.

Introducing the chicks into the roosting portion of your coop/run is going to be tricky. I usually do it two or three weeks after the chicks have learned to deal with the pecking order, having had full access to the run and have been mingling with the flock for awhile.

I install the chicks in the coop early in the day, after the big girls have finished laying, then lock them out, leaving the chicks to explore the coop and make themselves at home. Have food and water in the coop for them since they'll be in it all day long.

At nightfall, let the big girls in. They may or may not harass the chicks. Just referee if they do. If you do it just as it's getting dark, they should leave the chicks alone. In the morning, the chicks will be chased out and they'll know to run into their panic room. You may need to teach them to go into the coop at night by putting them inside. It takes a week or two for them to learn to do it by themselves.

There's an outside chance the big girls will accept the chicks without any drama, but don't count on it. Provide a safe retreat for the chicks and it will go as smoothly as chicken world allows.

 

[riverlane91]

Thank you so much for the detailed steps!!! Very helpful! You wouldn't have a pic of your guys' safe places that you could share would you??

 

[Peeps61]

I have 9 fully grown hens and 7 chicks. The chicks are in a chicken tractor. The oldest chick escaped the other day and was chased mercilessly by the bigger hens. I finally cornered and caught her. She was very relieved to be returned to the chicken tractor! They visit through the chicken wire daily. Once they get to be a similar size to the other hens, I'll open the run up and let the younger birds come out at their own pace. Once they feel comfortable doing that, they usually begin to mingle with the bigger girls with few problems-some minor pecking and chasing. At night, the big girls go to their coop, and the younger girls go to theirs, so there's not much grumbling about who roosts where. As they get used to each other, they start to mingle and roost in different coops. Eventually, I train all of them to go to the big coop and roost there so I have my chicken tractor for my next batch of chicks in the spring.

 

[riverlane91]

The chicks went in on Sunday and seem to be doing fine! Thanks for all your help