Can separate during day but what to do at night?

[baileybrood]

Well, I have not been able to find this answer so hope you can help a new chicken owner . I had 3 8-week old chicks and 2 5-week olds. I lost 2 of the 8-week olds. So I introduced the younger ones to the remaining older one. I didn't want her to be alone. After a couple days, they are doing great together . The 8- week old was the leader of the pack so she has kept that role.

I want to get two more 8-week old chickens. I can keep them separated in a dog crate during the day for introductions but my question is - what do I do with them at night? My coop is not large enough to separate them inside. Do I leave them outside in their crate? How would they handle that. The coop is in a totally enclosed 12x12 fenced area.

Thoughts please?

 

[Mrs. K]

If you are not worried about quarantine, and with just a few birds, I wouldn't, but some will. I don't think that the introduction notion is such a big deal with birds very close to the same size. More of a deal when you are introducing baby chicks to full grown hens.

Well, you can just put them all together if they are close to the same size. I think that I would just put them together at night, I would make sure that your run is NOT just a big empty space, it needs some shady places, some hideouts, some different level roosts. an old shovel handle stuck through the wires in the corner works well, big cardboard boxes, set kittycorner to the corner gives a hideout, a pallet set up on brick, provides both shade and a roost.

All that stuff in the run, might make it look more crowded, but it gives multiple levels so that birds can get away from each other.

adding a group of chickens to a established flock is always better than adding a single hen, but 3 might work even better.

good luck

 

[baileybrood]

Thanks so much for all of your suggestions! I do have a few roosts in their run and some old stumps. They can get under the coop, which they like to do. I like the idea of the box in the corner, I'll have to try that. I made a tee-pee in their outdoor area (50x100 area) by using 2 pallets and screwing them together. They enjoy going inside it for cover.

I've also been digging up clumps of grass and dirt for them when they're closed in the run. They love that. Maybe I'll let them visit through the crate for the day and then put them in the coop after dark with the rest of them. I've heard people having good success with that method. I'm probably worrying a lot more than I need to!