chick help

[chicken42626]

I have 3 rhode island red chickens and I got a little Dominique chick and I try put him with the big chickens and they peck him he stays in the house in a cage what should I do? any suggest?

chicken 4262

 

[chicmom]

Yep. Wait until your little chick is the same size as the adults and then put them together. They will bully the Dominique, but that's the nature of chickens. If you put a little chick in with those adults, they will probably kill or maim him.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I have 3 rhode island red chickens and I got a little Dominique chick and I try put him with the big chickens and they peck him he stays in the house in a cage what should I do? any suggest?

chicken 4262

A bit more information will help - the three "chickens" - how old are they and what gender? How old is the chick? There can be a wide disparity in the application of these terms from one person to the next, so having details can help. What sort of enclosure do you have outside where the introductions were attempted?

 

[chicken42626]

the chickens are 2 years old they are girls they live outside not far from the house the chick is a month old sometime I take the little chick with me outside and let him eat grass and bugs and he see the chicken and he runs away

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

With that age gap you are asking for trouble - and your chick got it. He is attempting to flee because he knows what is going to happen. Outside time is great, but it needs to be done within the safety of an enclosure that protects the chick from actual physical contact with the older birds to prevent injury and trauma. If you are unable to protect the chick by direct supervision/presence while it is out, this can be accomplished with a very simple "playpen" of poultry netting, etc) or done when the older birds are confined to their own structure.

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! x2 on chicmom's advice. They need to be of similar size.

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

I agree, that little one is too small to get put out with the adults. Would it be possible for you to make a separate area in their run where you can put it so long? This will allow them to get to know each other while the chick grows up and will make the eventual integration much easier.

 

[chicken42626]

thank you i will keep my chick away from the big chicken till he is the same size as the adults and then put them together.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your chick. You've gotten some good advice above. You might like to check out the BYC Learning Center, lots of good articles on all aspects of chicken keeping. https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center and there is a really nice article on adding chickens to your flock https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

X4 You will need to wait until the chick is at least 3 1/2 or 4 months old. Make a small enclosure for the run and the coop that you can keep the chick in at all times so they see him as he grows. When he is 4 months or so old, you will be able to mix him in.

Great to have you aboard and welcome to our flock!