Bringing chicks in with a lone hen.

[Chickmamatoo]

I had 5 hens with no issues for almost two years and in the last 6 weeks lost one I think to being egg bound, one got injured, while free ranging, and while I did my best to help her she lasted about 4 weeks and died suddenly, then 2 were taken, within a week, by a raccoon (I think). This leaves one hen left. They all grew up together. Oreo, the lone hen, was the top of the pecking order. She seems to be doing ok, talks to me when I go to her pen or when she is free ranging but I know chickens are communal birds. Once we make the coop and pen safer (a priority right now) can I add some chicks with her? How old should they be? We are having extreme heat right now (90’s with 100 heat index) How do you give the chicks their feed separate from the hens layer feed? I am new to all this, the ones I had were given to me as adult layers. Thank you for any advice.

 

[MarkJr]

The hen can eat grower feed no problem. Just put oyster shell out so she can supplement calcium.

You should raise chicks ‘see but don’t touch’ until they are similar sized. Then slowly introduce.

 

[Chickmamatoo]

“You should raise chicks ‘see but don’t touch’ until they are similar sized. Then slowly introduce.”

We have a small coop in a 25x25 run. Any suggestions on how to “see but don’t touch” until they are similar sized. Oreo is about 3 years old and a pretty big Cuckoo Maran. Lays 5-6 eggs a week!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your run size is excellent. But if the coop is small, that might be an issue for integration. How big is the coop? How many chicks were you hoping to get?

If you feed all flock or starter/grower both the chicks and hen will do just fine on that, with oyster shell on the side for your layer.

If you can run electricity out to the run area, one option is to brood outdoors so the chicks grow up side by side with the hen, for early integration. Here's my notes on outdoor brooding and integration: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

 

[MarkJr]

Is there a way to build a small run within a run with a makeshift shelter for the little ones?

 

[Chickmamatoo]

Your run size is excellent. But if the coop is small, that might be an issue for integration. How big is the coop? How many chicks were you hoping to get?

If you feed all flock or starter/grower both the chicks and hen will do just fine on that, with oyster shell on the side for your layer.

If you can run electricity out to the run area, one option is to brood outdoors so the chicks grow up side by side with the hen, for early integration. Here's my notes on outdoor brooding and integration: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

I am hoping to get 4 or 5 for now. Our current coop is a small Tractor Supply one but my husband and I are going to build a bigger, better one. We do have electricity to the run but honestly I don’t think I’ll need heat-it is in the 90’s daytime and 70’s night time. Like the idea of putting the brooder in the pen but need to make the pen more predator proof. We are adding motion sensor lights to deter critters at night and am using powdered cayenne pepper too(raccoons are very sensitive to smells and apparently don’t like cayenne.) Adding more mechanics cloth and replacing the deer netting, on top, with wire.
My friend had chicken tractors built that she is not using-maybe I could put one in the pen with the chicks. Would that work?
I appreciate your input and will look at your link.

 

[Chickmamatoo]

Is there a way to build a small run within a run with a makeshift shelter for the little ones?

Might see if I can get one of my friend chicken tractors (coop on wheels) to put in the run so the chicks are separate.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I am hoping to get 4 or 5 for now. Our current coop is a small Tractor Supply one but my husband and I are going to build a bigger, better one. We do have electricity to the run but honestly I don’t think I’ll need heat-it is in the 90’s daytime and 70’s night time. Like the idea of putting the brooder in the pen but need to make the pen more predator proof. We are adding motion sensor lights to deter critters at night and am using powdered cayenne pepper too(raccoons are very sensitive to smells and apparently don’t like cayenne.) Adding more mechanics cloth and replacing the deer netting, on top, with wire.
My friend had chicken tractors built that she is not using-maybe I could put one in the pen with the chicks. Would that work?
I appreciate your input and will look at your link.

Bigger coop would definitely be better since you acknowledge the current one is small.

Since you have electricity to the run, a heat plate or heat pad would be a good option to allow chicks the freedom to decide when they need heat (probably early on, at night) and when they don't. Once you see they're no longer wanting the heat source even at night, you can remove it completely - could be as early as 2 weeks with temps like that.

The tractors will work as brooders as long as there's no gaps that chicks can squeeze out of and that there's sufficient ventilation and weather protection either built in or provided by the run (i.e.a roof).

 

[Chickmamatoo]

Thank you. I appreciate your input.

My friend has two chicken tractors and I think we can add onto one to make a larger, permanent coop and use the other as a brooder. She just let me know we could have both. I will power wash them to make sure they are clean for new residents. They were way too small for the number of hens she had but she free ranged them all day. Because of neighbor issues she had to re-home her entire flock.

 

[Chickmamatoo]

It’s really sad to see Oreo free roaming, at the corner of the yard, where she can hear the chickens across the road (about 3 tenths of a mile) she calls out to them, she seems to be looking for her friends not knowing where they have gone. It is like the call they make after laying an egg and wanting to find their free roaming friends. I’m afraid she will get lonely.