Brooding chicks in winter/fast-tracking flock integration

[bawkbawkbawk]

We are seven weeks in on raising a few winter babies. So far, so good. Many thanks to BYC members' posts on dealing with an aggressive chick early on, which was our first problem. Chicks are now successfully sharing outdoor space (supervised) with our bantam d'Uccle hen.

Next project is introducing them to our bully EE. They've all seen each other through the pen fencing for weeks, now, and she hasn't behaved aggressively toward them, but I know that when we let them all out together in the open that may change. Because of upcoming travel, we have to try to close the deal by the time they are nine weeks old. I know that when we put them in the coop to sleep it should be at night when the others are drowsy. Any other recommendations? TIA.

 

[RodNTN]

Do you free range your chickens? Do they have a large space in their coop? If so, they should be able to runaway if your EE decides to bully them. If they do not have a large space they can't escape the bully. It took 2 or 3 weeks for my chicks to get used to the bigger chickens in direct contact (not behind wire) Try and give them something to do. Hang treats and put up other things to entertain them. Hope this helps.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Thank you for reminding me about hanging treats! I will definitely do that!

Our coop is 10' x 6'; our attached (covered) pen is 10' x 24'. Then we have a larger enclosed (but not covered) courtyard beyond that, with some space to run and hide.


Because of some recent and very sad predation we are down to two hens and the three new chicks. The d'Uccle has already pretty much accepted them and they are spending time sharing space with her. I think I should wait another week for them to grow bigger before giving them shared space with the EE. She sees them all the time through the fence and seems interested in them but so far not hostile.