Chicken math strikes again

[Mamatomany123]

One day last week I opened the metal coop where my little chicks are and my Buff Orpington, Blondie slipped in. She had a good time eating the chick food for a few minutes. She paid absolutely no attention to the chicks. They checked her out and even pecked a bit at her. She could care less! I got her out of there so she didn't eat all their food! I integrate them at 3 or 4 weeks because the smaller they are the less of a threat they seem to the adults. They are paid no attention at that stage!

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Oh good. Hopefully mine goes smoothly. I've never had chickens and am now at 11 so I'm learning as I go. They just seem so tiny though. I dont want them getting hurt. This little one passes out every time I pick her up

 

[rosemarythyme]

Lots of articles on here about early integration, all a little different (mine's here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/ ). I just moved my chicks into the coop at 27 days old. By raising them with the flock you're already starting integration. Plan ahead for the next phases (panic openings, adding clutter if needed, etc.) and it should go pretty smoothly, as long as you make your judgement calls on when to move ahead based on how your individual birds react.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Lots of articles on here about early integration, all a little different (mine's here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/ ). I just moved my chicks into the coop at 27 days old. By raising them with the flock you're already starting integration. Plan ahead for the next phases (panic openings, adding clutter if needed, etc.) and it should go pretty smoothly, as long as you make your judgement calls on when to move ahead based on how your individual birds react.

They seem to be ignoring them now. Were more curious about the crate I have them in. We'll see what time does. Hoping it all goes smoothly.

 

[aart]

Our coop is a 10x10 and the bigger girls roost towards the back. I have the babies in the front. The bigger girls dont usually hang out there. Maybe I'll see how tonight goes and reassess in the morning if needed.

After a couple weeks you could prop the crate door open just far enough so the chicks can go in and out but the big birds can't get in there.

 

[Mamatomany123]

After a couple weeks you could prop the crate door open just far enough so the chicks can go in and out but the big birds can't get in there.

Right now we have hardware cloth lining the crate because these itty bitty babies can fit through the bars. I was thinking about making a little door by the crate door. I don't know if that even makes sense

And probably best to fo this in the run? Our coop is elevated about 2 ft. Our run is covered.

 

[aart]

I was thinking about making a little door by the crate door. I don't know if that even makes sense

It does, I actually removed the crate door and added some mesh with a gap at the bottom. I have a pic somewhere...will dig for it.

And probably best to fo this in the run? Our coop is elevated about 2 ft. Our run is covered.

Can they get thru the run mesh?
'Ramp training' can be a headache.

 

[Mamatomany123]

It does, I actually removed the crate door and added some mesh with a gap at the bottom. I have a pic somewhere...will dig for it.

Can they get thru the run mesh?
'Ramp training' can be a headache.

Well it's not cut yet. Right now the whole crate is just covered in hardware cloth so the babies dont slip through the crate openings. I was thinking about just cutting a hole big enough for just the chicks. Maybe replacing that wall with cardboard and cutting a hole. They wont be able to get out of the run.

My run is big enough I could probably just section part of it off for just the babies and add an access door. My big girls free range most of the day also.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Oh good. Hopefully mine goes smoothly. I've never had chickens and am now at 11 so I'm learning as I go. They just seem so tiny though. I dont want them getting hurt. This little one passes out every time I pick her up

Oh, poor baby! When you pick them up put your hand palm up down to the bottom of the coop or brooder. Slowly move UNDER the chick to pick it up. They have a natural fear of things coming down from above, you are much less threatening from the floor up! I hope you get what I'm trying to say, I'm not a good writer! When they get used to that open palm hand, they will begin to run right into it! And don't worry, you would be surprised at how strong and resilient little chicks are! Good Luck!

 

[Mamatomany123]

Oh, poor baby! When you pick them up put your hand palm up down to the bottom of the coop or brooder. Slowly move UNDER the chick to pick it up. They have a natural fear of things coming down from above, you are much less threatening from the floor up! I hope you get what I'm trying to say, I'm not a good writer! When they get used to that open palm hand, they will begin to run right into it! And don't worry, you would be surprised at how strong and resilient little chicks are! Good Luck!

Since I have then in a dog crate I dont reach over them. The door opens in the front. I learned real quick with my older girls that reaching over them terrified them

 

[aart]

Well it's not cut yet. Right now the whole crate is just covered in hardware cloth so the babies dont slip through the crate openings. I was thinking about just cutting a hole big enough for just the chicks. Maybe replacing that wall with cardboard and cutting a hole. They wont be able to get out of the run.

My run is big enough I could probably just section part of it off for just the babies and add an access door. My big girls free range most of the day also.

This was the first iteration, before I took the door off
Didn't have to cut it, just pried open the loops that hold it on and act as hinges.