Can chicks survive w/ their mother in an outdoor pen with others?

[Lauryn Dee]

Hi there,

I tried looking through older posts first but couldn't find one that was similar...maybe if I spent more time looking- but I would like to know sooner rather than later for the chicks sake.

Thanks! Sorry for any inconvenience!

I take care of the neighbours chickens as he doesn't care for them very well (or at all really)

I don't like him much needless to say and neither do his birds!

A mother hen just had 2 lil chicks this morning and I came home to discover them when I went to go feed and water the birds.

I have extensively researched duckling care, but am totally foreign with chickens! Can they survive in a enclosure that houses 2 geese (1 gosling), 2 muscovys (w/ 7 ducklings) 10 tiny little chickens (not sure the breed!), 2 large chicken (again don't know the breed), 1 runner duck and 2 pekins?

The enclosure is very large (used to be a horse paddock) about 65 feet by 40 feet...with fencing adjusted to hold birds and keep out ground predators...dirt/hogfuel "flooring" with the odd weed growths and vines and grasses along the edges....with a duck pond in one corner...and one water "trough" and food "trough"...approx. 17 C out (67 F) at the coldest daytime temp.

Sorry for the long description, but can the chicks survive in these conditions okay or is it going to be too cold or lack of food or hurt by the other birds...so on so on? I don't know what to expect and I don't have room for them in my house as we already have orphaned ducklings in an incubator (which isnt big enough to house both)...

Can they eat my start duckling crumble? I don't know if I can afford to start buying chick starter on top of everything...and the owner is no help- he thinks feeding moldy hot dog buns is sufficient!!!!

Thank you for your help in advance!

Lauren

 

[Beekissed]

New chicks in that kind of environment? The mother will keep them warm and she will see that they find the food.....but she may not be able to protect them from the other birds just yet. I don't normally let new chicks in with the big flock for a couple of weeks, just so they are fast enough to run to mama if attacked. Even then, I monitor flock reactions and break up too much bullying of mom.

They may survive. My sis had a similar situation and most of her new chicks were killed by the flock. It sounds like the owner could care less, but I wouldn't do it. The starter duck crumble should be okay.

 

[EweSheep]

My hens with her chicks can defend themselves with the big birds without a problem. Not ALL hens can take on the two headed monsters themselves. It would be nice if you can separate them among the rest of them with a small shelter and put them up in a pet taxi when they go in at night and you can pick them up nightly and let them out in mornings. Worked well for me!

 

[Lauryn Dee]

Thanks guys for your thoughts and advice!
My internet went down!!! So I was unable to check in until now!!

The two lil guys are still going strong and Mama hen is doing a great job!

Thank u again!