Chick integration with older hens/roo

[Susies Zoo]

Ok here's my story! I have 8 mature layers and 1 Roo. I have 1 mama and her 5 chicks in a pen inside the run where everybody can see them ( the chicks are 2 weeks old). I also have 6 three week old chicks in a pen (no mama) inside the coop also were they can be seen by everybody. When can I put them all together?!!

 

[Mrs. K]

I would have turned everyone loose, 2 weeks ago. The mama will thump on any bird picking on her baby, so the layers kind of think that they just have to put up with those little ones, and does not discriminate which chicks are hers and which are not.

I see a lot of people keeping their broody and chicks away from the flock until later, but by then, the hormones are waning from the broody hen, and she has to reestablish her pecking order within the flock. Where as, a fresh broody hen is a highly hormone incensed bird...... way to the top of the pecking order, and her chicks are tolorated very well.

My chicks are in the feed dish, in the way of the layers, and they are allowed there. One old red would like to give a peck, but mama is more than willing to peck back.

Mrs K

 

[Susies Zoo]

Thanks Mrs.K! I am going to let them out today!! I hope all goes well!!

 

[Mrs. K]

I hope it does too, make sure there are few hide outs, like a pallet against the wall, or an old pipe, or a box. it helps

 

[moblak]

What if you don't have a mama to protect the babies?

 

[Susies Zoo]

Well I did it and SUCCESS!!! No one even gave a glance to mama and her babies...they were to interested in the food in her lair! Next I let out 1 chick of the Ameracaunas without a mommy and she got a few curious glances but hid behind the cage. Every 10 mins or so I let another one out until all 6 were in the open. It's pretty amazing how different they act without a mama! Next I put the silkies up in a nesting box with wire covering the opening thinking they were way too small and might get trampled. They were not happy but I left them up there anyway......they cheeped and chirped all day and kept sticking their heads out to see what their "siblings" were doing so I took them down to see what would happen...voila nothing!! Everyone is happy and healthy!! Mama and chicks still go to her special nesting box and the other chicks all huddle in a corner of the coop. I let them all out today to free range in the grass and it was the cutest sight to see mama and babie! The Ameracaunas wouldn't leave the coop but near the end of the day they hopped out onto the grass in front of the door. Thank you everyone for your help! I'm feeling confident all will be fabulous from now on

 

[aart]

Good Deal,,,keep an eye out tho!

A little confused as to who is who....ameraucanas and silkies? Part of mature layer group?

 

[Mrs. K]

The original poster did have a mama broody hen, that would protect HER chicks. However, chickens are not too smart, and don't differentiate between mamma's chicks and the orphans. Mamma say, the chicks stay, get over it, and the layers accept all the chicks. It is very helpful that they all had been living "together" but separated with wire. There is a chance that the broody hen will attack the orphans, but not real high.

However, if there is NO broody hen, just layers then the chicks are at high risk of being killed. Integration is MUCH more dangerous and much more difficult. ALL the layers will be attacking the little ones.

Mrs K

 

[Susies Zoo]

Flock Master- the mama hatched out 5 Easter eggers and 4 silkies. She accidentally squished 2 of the silkies so I moved them into the cage with the Americaunas that were bator hatched a week before by a friend.

 

[Susies Zoo]

So far so good but I didn't get down there last night and I'm afraid to go down this morning..... The ameracaunas won't come out of the coop and the broody mama does go after them when she sees them in the doorway I'm going down in a few minutes and hopefully all is peaceful!