Babies and Mamas, how to integrate

[BantamBabies]

I have two mamas each with four babies all the same age at 5 weeks old. I have them in their own chicken runs with shelter in our main chicken coop. I realize now I should have integrated them earlier, One mom has already started to lay eggs again.

When can the moms join the flock, and the babies combine into one pen?
Or should I try and integrate them all into the flock at once? The two moms fight through the divider and I let them out briefly together with the flock and they drew blood. But I’d rather integrate them all.

They are all Silkies and Satins and I can put a heat source if needed, our temperatures are not dropping below 40° at night, and highs of 70 during the day.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I'd go slow. Maybe just free-range all together every day for a while?

 

[BDutch]

You have several options.

One is to let the mama’s go back to the flock en put the chicks together in a separated part of the coop and run, with the see don’t touch method. Integrate slowly.

The second is to give them a lot of space and hiding places and open it all up (if they still fight heavily, stop.)

Third is to keep the 2 chick runs without the mama’s and make openings in a way that the chicks can go out and go back again to hide from the adults (see don’t touch). See what happens and stop when its too difficult / nasty for the chicks.

 

[BantamBabies]

You have several options.

One is to let the mama’s go back to the flock en put the chicks together in a separated part of the coop and run, with the see don’t touch method. Integrate slowly.

The second is to give them a lot of space and hiding places and open it all up (if they still fight heavily, stop.)

Third is to keep the 2 chick runs without the mama’s and make openings in a way that the chicks can go out and go back again to hide from the adults (see don’t touch). See what happens and stop when its too difficult / nasty for t

 

[BantamBabies]

Great suggestions! Do you think the babies don’t need the mamas anymore? And will the mamas just want to be with the babies?

 

[BDutch]

You told us that one mama didn’t look after her chicks anymore, true?
Most mana chickens stop caring somewhere between 5 and 9 weeks. By that time (if all goes well) the chicks are integrated in the flock and they don’t need the warmth of mama anymore.

I would choose the second option if that is possible. And leave it to the mama’s to stop caring.