I've got 2 separate lots of (now 4 week old) chicks. One group of 7 and one group of 6, both lots being raised by different hens.
Most of the chicks are just about fully feathered now (Its heading into summer here in Australia now so the weather is usually nice and warm). The hen with the group of 6 started laying the other day, she's also stopped calling them to food and she's started trying to get out of the pen when I open the door now.
I was hoping eventually I'd be able to move the group of 6 in with the group of 7 once they don't need their mum's (It would make things so much easier for me and be a much better set up over all for the chicks).
I reckon the hen who's laying will be pretty okay If I take her away from her chicks... however the other group's mum still seems fairly dedicated... What are the chances of me being able to introduce the smaller group of chicks in the the larger group and their mum without the mum hurting them? This would be my preferred option!
If that is not an option... will the more dedicated mum fret for long If I take her away soonish? I don't really want to take her away from her chicks while she's still dedicated to them. But the group of 6 would really benefit from going in with the group of 7, their pen is much better set up for chicks!
Thank you for anyones ideas/thoughts on my dilemma!
Most of the chicks are just about fully feathered now (Its heading into summer here in Australia now so the weather is usually nice and warm). The hen with the group of 6 started laying the other day, she's also stopped calling them to food and she's started trying to get out of the pen when I open the door now.
I was hoping eventually I'd be able to move the group of 6 in with the group of 7 once they don't need their mum's (It would make things so much easier for me and be a much better set up over all for the chicks).
I reckon the hen who's laying will be pretty okay If I take her away from her chicks... however the other group's mum still seems fairly dedicated... What are the chances of me being able to introduce the smaller group of chicks in the the larger group and their mum without the mum hurting them? This would be my preferred option!
If that is not an option... will the more dedicated mum fret for long If I take her away soonish? I don't really want to take her away from her chicks while she's still dedicated to them. But the group of 6 would really benefit from going in with the group of 7, their pen is much better set up for chicks!
Thank you for anyones ideas/thoughts on my dilemma!