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

[chooksr5]

Hi apps
No my hens roam the backyard but I have fenced off part of the garden for the chicks. The fence itself is only about a metre and one of them today managed to fly on top of it. So at what stage do I start introducing the chicks to the hens? One of my hens is a bit older than the other two and tends to pick on one more than the other so I am a bit worried what to do about the chicks

 

[IamSamSam]

Sorry just realised it was IamSamSam that originally posted.

PS, my son's name is Sam.

This may sound horrible but we first got two battery hens that were very old. I did this because I actually though the dog would be more likely than not to attack them. I didn't want to get expensive hens if he was likely to do that. I put them in the coop run. Sam didn't show much interest and so I let them out he try's to round them up occasionally and I had to sit outside with him for a while to yell if he misbehaved. Actually Sam's dad use to sleep in the hen house of a night on the farm we got him from to protect them against fox and wild cats. I think I'm lucky as he responds well and is well trained.

 

[IamSamSam]

Terriers are a bird dog so I'd be more watchful of that one sheepdog are herders and will be more inclined to "herd" or protect once they know the hens are "your family" I would take it in turns and have one dog on a lead and introduce the hens 'face to face' to see the dogs reaction on being that close. If they are good and are voice command obedient ie will come if called or stop immediately then try let one dog with the girls free range and the other on lead if all goes well the dogs will learn that they protect the hens. Sam my heeler keeps snakes rats possums and cats away from my girls.

 

[appps]

Hi apps
No my hens roam the backyard but I have fenced off part of the garden for the chicks. The fence itself is only about a metre and one of them today managed to fly on top of it. So at what stage do I start introducing the chicks to the hens? One of my hens is a bit older than the other two and tends to pick on one more than the other so I am a bit worried what to do about the chicks

Ahh your question makes more sense now, I was picturing a run with a 5 or 6 foot fence

Yeah its a bit tricky when you havent got somewhere that at least one lot cant get out of. Is their coop very large? Can you lock the older girls up early of an afternoon to let the chicks wander for a bit?

I wouldnt try combining flocks until they are a similar size to the existing flock but that can also go more smoothly if they have been able to see each other for a few weeks through fencing so they arent total strangers.

Bunnings sells 1.2 x 10m roll of plastic net wire in the garden fencing area for about $20. You could use something like that as a temporary fence height raiser so they cant jump maybe? I use it to keep mine in a certain area of the garden and luckily for me mine wont jump it because there is no top rail to sit on on the way over.

 

[SydneyChickens]

Arghhh! Need your guys help and advise!

I got my two chicks aged 3 weeks and 5 weeks and I got a general chick starter feed that I don't think is medicated, what do i need to get food or medicine wise to vaccinate and worm them?!

I've been told of so many products that now I'm lost..

Thanks everyone!

 

[SandeeC]

IamSamSam I know how you feel when your chickens and dogs are at the door lol Mine all try to come inside lol
I thought all chicken starter was medicated? Am I wrong in assuming that? I get mine from my aggy vet friend luckily, hmm another thing I'll have to ask him when I see him next

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Arghhh! Need your guys help and advise!

I got my two chicks aged 3 weeks and 5 weeks and I got a general chick starter feed that I don't think is medicated, what do i need to get food or medicine wise to vaccinate and worm them?!

I've been told of so many products that now I'm lost..

Thanks everyone!

do they have worms?

I wouldn't worm at that age if they don't even have them.

 

[K Spot]

No, not all chick starter or pullet grower is medicated.

My dogs have killed 3 of my girls, so there's no hope with the current dogs I have for relationships between them all. They've never got into the run/coop themselves, thank goodness, but 2 escaped the run and the other was in a quarantine cage in the garage and I left the roller door open a bit for ventilation. Well I underestimated their tenacity and determination to get in to the garage to get at my poor girl.

Thankfully all that happened a while ago and there have been no more incidents.

... Welcome to all the newbies here on this thread

 

[Fancychooklady]

Arghhh! Need your guys help and advise!

I got my two chicks aged 3 weeks and 5 weeks and I got a general chick starter feed that I don't think is medicated, what do i need to get food or medicine wise to vaccinate and worm them?!

I've been told of so many products that now I'm lost..

Thanks everyone! 

The meds in chick starter are to help the chicks build resistant to coccidia. It contains amprolium. Unless you are seeing symptoms of coccidiosis , I would do nothing. Amprolium is not a wormer. It is a vitamin B inhibitor and it works by starving the coccidia.
The cocci live in the soil and aren't a problem until your birds are overloaded with them.
I raise chicks, so I give medicated food and keep a bottle of amprolium in my first aid box.
If you get an outbreak , death is fairly quick.

 

[rexy]

Arghhh! Need your guys help and advise!

I got my two chicks aged 3 weeks and 5 weeks and I got a general chick starter feed that I don't think is medicated, what do i need to get food or medicine wise to vaccinate and worm them?!

I've been told of so many products that now I'm lost..

Thanks everyone! 

I agree with Luke, unless they have worms, they should not be wormed until they are about 4 months old as it is not good for their systems. Many people do not vaccinate their chickens, it is not necessary in most cases unless you are going to chicken associated things or places which have chickens where you might pick up a disease or someone might bring it onto your place.