Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[Fancychooklady]

Mama and babies were never seperate from the rest, and the 17 juvies had 2 weeks of integration before moving into the main enclosure. Everyone was fine, the hens a bit snippy,but it has gotten worse and the rooster is joining in, even to the 6 babies who he previously ignored. It is stressing their mum out too.

The Alfa hen will always ' call the shots ' , I would remove momma and chicks from the danger.
I have 6 chicks currently in a coop inside the coronation run. They are 7 weeks old and I let them out during the day then they return to their own coop at dusk. They will eventually assimilate into their own coops by breed but generally not until they are similarly sized to the birds they are to join. Usually 12-16 weeks, depending on breed. Silkies are usually the exception .

 

[appps]

@Sidhe13. Could it be a space thing that has set them off perhaps? How many square metres is your run for your 27 birds?

 

[spicychicken42]

Anyone here have ISA browns? Could you send pics? Also chicks?

 

[sjturner79]

Mama and babies were never seperate from the rest, and the 17 juvies had 2 weeks of integration before moving into the main enclosure. Everyone was fine, the hens a bit snippy,but it has gotten worse and the rooster is joining in, even to the 6 babies who he previously ignored. It is stressing their mum out too.

I think it sounds you need to separate the Juveniles back out again for a while longer. How old are the Juveniles and the chicks ?

 

[sjturner79]

Also with 22 chooks you want at least 4 sq meters of coop or you will not get them to stop fighting, that's assuming the free range out during the day.
If they have an enclosed run you need more.

 

[Sidhe13]

They have roughly 75 sqm of enclosure to run about in with bushes and treea to seperate different "areas". There are about 5 different "areas". They are also allowed to free range the yard every couple days.
The babies are 5 weeks old, the juvies are 7 weeks old. 4 hens which are about a year old, and the rooster who is about 3 years old. 27 chooks all up.

 

[Sidhe13]

The coop is about 8-10 sqm with 2 seperate perching areas...the rooster and 3 hens take one end, Mama and her babies roost up the other end with the juvies. They all chose their own areas. Food is served at 2 or 3 separate stations, water in 2 more spots (one in the coop/shed)...again the seem to divide the same as the roosting, although the 2nd black hen will sometimes eat with the Mama and babies and juvies. It is only the 2 reds and the rooster who need the seperate area.

 

[sjturner79]

The coop is about 8-10 sqm with 2 seperate perching areas...the rooster and 3 hens take one end, Mama and her babies roost up the other end with the juvies. They all chose their own areas. Food is served at 2 or 3 separate stations, water in 2 more spots (one in the coop/shed)...again the seem to divide the same as the roosting, although the 2nd black hen will sometimes eat with the Mama and babies and juvies. It is only the 2 reds and the rooster who need the seperate area.

Fair enough. I would expect in about a month the juveniles and chicks would be able to hold out against the Reds, so if it's easy just keep them apart till then or get rid of the 2 reds as you suggested. Of course it's totally up to you. There should be plenty of room for all 27 chooks to be happy with those sizes

 

[Deej211]

My concern would be that it is winter and **** cold. I had 6 chicks hatch with their mum 4 weeks ago and felt it was really hard keeping them warm. I still worry bout them. Maybe take some eggs out so she has a more manageable number, 12 is a lot! I put her in a cage by herself and made sure she got up once a day to eat, drink, poop, stretch. It was her first time too and she us a great mother!

i meant shed been laying for 2.5 weeks and that shes laid 12 eggs total in her egg laying career. iwas only going to put 6 under her. Also im in fnq lowest nighttime temperature we've had here thus far has been 14 degrees. So not that bad either

 

[satay]

I think it sounds you need to separate the Juveniles back out again for a while longer. How old are the Juveniles and the chicks ?

X2 good advice.