Back to the nest box

[Pa funnyfarm]

This mama raised babies is confusing
There are 3 spaces from these 2hatches. Since I put the girls in low contained areas in the coop, I daily pen everybody else out and open one pen at a time so they get space and explore. The 2 hens have been flying up on the kennel the single hen is in with her chicks. A piece of cardboard over during the out time calmed that, but they still go up. One of the chicks followed last night. This morning all 4 followed them up to the nest box level where they all tried to get In two Boxes. Not where they hatched. With the roost area right there and other hens flipping out trying to get in the door, everyone got lifted out and back in area.
I didn’t expect that!
I am working on section in the roofed run as a daytime space and planned on putting the 6 of them (4chicks and the moms who share them) In it and trying to catch and put back in coop in penned area at night. Would they be better just staying out there? They are 3 weeks old - bantams and with 4 roosters and 7 other pullets up there, I’m not sure the roosts are a good meeting spot, I’d hoped a week in run then let them mingle as soon as we finish the bigger Open outside area under construction( will have chicken wire over the top) Once inner door is closed in coop, no where to go if they aren’t closed in
Experience?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Okay everything is bit confusing how you put it .. You have three broody?
How old are the broody ? did you make separate for all three?

 

[Chicalina]

Sorry I couldn't make head nor tail of that either! Perhaps post some pics and explain what is happening slightly more clearly and we can help

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good thought maybe I was crazy old now

 

[pennyJo1960]

Okay maybe the op will realize try to tell us seeing how I am not the only aged one

 

[Pa funnyfarm]

I’m sorry. I went detail and pics under raising chicks. I thought. But no views so I prob didn’t do it right.
my pullets are 6 months old. By the time I realized 4were sharing 2 nests, broody and eggs were developing well I didn’t have the heart to pull them. These 2 have 4 chicks with them still and inseparable. 2 tiny ones they went after going back in behind the bigger ones so those are inside in bin.
the crate they are standing on is 3rd pullet with her 6 chicks who are a week and a half younger. The 4th pullet with her left the nest at first egg hatch. The background nestboxes are on a 4ft by 2.5 ft deep board. I bent an old crate side to bring wire out on that out another 8 inches so they’d have light and air while in that pen made under the board. The coop “room” is 4x8x6tall and completely enclosed in 1/4 inch hw cloth




The hw cloth door to left of outside door in pic closes everybody in for the night. That’s my first concern, would the broody families be ok out in the other run at night or best to bring them back to pens and just set day area.
The outer door to coop area opens to this 12x10 under roof run with 1/2 inch hardware cloth walls I brought the big crate in to see if I can make a safe spot for at least the older set from it while they get big enough to mingle with the rest of the 6 month old flock. Total of 10 pullets and 4cockerels who all get along well and very tame so far. The polish crested cockerel rules and ends scuffles fast. I’m not sure how that would go with the babies until next phase of outside is finished. Past that blue door is a chain link fence panels yard that is 18 wide by 28 long I am getting wire over top -my old flock weren’t flyers - these are- and replacing dog proof wire along perimeter with 1/2 inch hw so chicks can’t get out. Work in progress. That’s where I’ll have hiding spots. None really able to do in that roofed one. Trying to finish it before I let all out together. My main concern is the broods have been in the shed and right inside that door but not in roofed run where big crate is. Clear vinyl is going up on the end to block rain and cooler evenings. Is 3 weeks too soon for that change from inside?
Hopefully this works and clarified some. I don’t usually post, try to find answers in past ones - I’m feeling time crunched This is Fifi frizzle and her 6

 

[Pa funnyfarm]

Hopefully I got that part right this time
I’m old - I ramble when I get technology frazzled

 

[Chicalina]

from what I can glean, you are asking if you should keep the two separate clutches inside the coop (in separate pens) or put one of them outside in the run in a crate?

Did I get that right?

I think the coop area is too small for the two clutches to live side by side and have the older chickens roosting above them.

Assuming the run is secure and your weather is not too cold, either keep the coop for the babies and broodies and keep the adults outside in the run, or move the babies and broodies outside in a sectioned off area so the adults can see them. The other alternative is to start to integrate them now while the broodies are protective of the babies. Assuming they have been able to see them in the coop so far anyway, so they will have gotten used to them being around for a while already.

Two mama hens will make sure their joint two chicks are fine. Perhaps try those first because they are older. Then all being well, wait a week and start to integrate the next six.

 

[Pa funnyfarm]

Thank you, and yes you got it. With so many young and no where to get away well
if multiples decide to go after them, I’d planned to box off a space so can see outside. They are used to them inside. Some sleep by the pen on the floor and some try to grab through it when going in to lay eggs but roost at night So likely safest to keep apart until big space is done. I can cover crates out there at night and put vinyl sides Down over wire since that would mean not having to carry them through and can get the bulky crates out of the coop.
Impulse. I didn’t plan to brood. I have a grandchild who wants some bantams. I just want to make sure these are what she’s thinking since part of the fun is choosing your flock.
And while the polish is the main, doesn’t mean the silkie, mottled Cochin, and porcelain d’Uccle couldn’t be dads. The little Mille fluehr did have at least 2 of her eggs in there, but may have been the chicks (2) that died or 2 that they rejected. Could be some interesting looking birds.
Thank you again - for deciphering and confirming I’m on the right track.

 

[Pa funnyfarm]

Did the reply with the pics and explanation work or I still need to learn how to do that?