Chicks Joining Flock Inside Coop

[RedBreasted]

You can quietly go check on them but don’t disturb them. Chickens are usually scared of the dark so the hens probably won’t attack now. Set an Alarm for right before sunrise so you can get them out.

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When you said one of your hen killed a chick, that made me scared and now I’m extra nervous about what I just did letting the chicks stay with the hens. What week should I let the chicks stay with the hens? Sunrise is about 6:21 am where I live. I set an alarm at 6 am. Should I do it a little earlier like a 5:30 am? Last time I checked up on them was around before 10:30 am and like I said, the oldest of the hens seemed to be scared of the chicks like doesn’t want to go near it. I think one of them is sleeping in the egg laying part of the coop, the 2 are on the left and the 4 chicks are on the right corner next to the closed door.

 

[Ducksandchickens]

When you said one of your hen killed a chick, that made me scared and now I’m extra nervous about what I just did letting the chicks stay with the hens. What week should I let the chicks stay with the hens? Sunrise is about 6:21 am where I live. I set an alarm at 6 am. Should I do it a little earlier like a 5:30 am? Last time I checked up on them was around before 10:30 am and like I said, the oldest of the hens seemed to be scared of the chicks like doesn’t want to go near it. I think one of them is sleeping in the egg laying part of the coop, the 2 are on the left and the 4 chicks are on the right corner next to the closed door.

My hens are also kinda just mean. 6:00 should be fine to wake up

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Honestly I would observe and see how it goes. Some hens/flocks will accept new chicks without much fuss. Are any of your hens aggressive? A good way to integrate babies (or any new birds) is to get a cage where they can be in the run with the other hens, so they can have visual contact of each other. Once this is done, if the hens pay them no mind they will be more easily accepted to the flock. Now, some people do as you did; put babies in during the night, so everyone wakes together as if they have been in the flock all along. Sometimes, it works! That's why I say wait and see in the morning but you MUST stay to observe to make sure they are okay! I would make sure to have multiple feeding stations because the dominant hen may try to keep them from getting to it. Try not to panic, they should be okay for tonight!

 

[RedBreasted]

Honestly I would observe and see how it goes. Some hens/flocks will accept new chicks without much fuss. Are any of your hens aggressive? A good way to integrate babies (or any new birds) is to get a cage where they can be in the run with the other hens, so they can have visual contact of each other. Once this is done, if the hens pay them no mind they will be more easily accepted to the flock. Now, some people do as you did; put babies in during the night, so everyone wakes together as if they have been in the flock all along. Sometimes, it works! That's why I say wait and see in the morning but you MUST stay to observe to make sure they are okay! I would make sure to have multiple feeding stations because the dominant hen may try to keep them from getting to it. Try not to panic, they should be okay for tonight!

I couldn’t sleep so I’d just forced myself to go out in my backyard just now and **carefully** (okay it was a little rough being in that little tight door with the chickens flying across your face) remove the chicks from the coop and placed them back into the nicely built pen right next to the coop. The chicks can survive outside but I’m not risking them to be killed. Anyways, is there an age limit to when the chicks can be introduced to the flock? I think the chicks are scared of me now after I forcibly removed them from the coop. But hey, I rather have chicks that are scared of me then having a dead chicken. But yea no more worries!

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Aww good on you! You're a good chickie parent! The only age limit is making sure the chicks are old enough to be outside. So, on average, no less than 6 weeks old. They should be 100% in feather; no chick down left, before sleeping outside with the older birds.

 

[RedBreasted]

Aww good on you! You're a good chickie parent! The only age limit is making sure the chicks are old enough to be outside. So, on average, no less than 6 weeks old. They should be 100% in feather; no chick down left, before sleeping outside with the older birds.

The chicks are actually really hard to catch now, it's literally more like a workout. They look sort of fully feathered? I'm not so sure. So that makes me wonder, how should I get them to like me or let me hold them? Thanks again!!

 

[RedBreasted]

Aww good on you! You're a good chickie parent! The only age limit is making sure the chicks are old enough to be outside. So, on average, no less than 6 weeks old. They should be 100% in feather; no chick down left, before sleeping outside with the older birds.

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