Hi all, I have a question about combining my two groups of chicks. The older girls are 8 weeks old (mixed group of : 3 welsummers, a barnevelder and a turken), and have been out in our new coop for a week and a half now. They seem pretty happy, and we should have their run functional by this weekend for outdoor access.
Inside in a brooder box we have two more, 5 week old EEs. I would love to move these girls out of my kitchen and into the coop with the older girls. They got along fine a few weeks ago when they were all in brooder boxes in the kitchen. I had lids off the boxes and they were often right together. However when I've tried to introduce them to the coop this week for short visits they seem very frightened. The turken chases and pecks at them and they end up huddled in the corner under the water. I've no idea why it has to be the water corner, but they got pretty wet last time by bumping and sloshing there.
Should I try introducing them at night? If I just put them in there and leave it be will the situation settle down? The other five girls really don't do any pecking at one another and seem quite peaceful. I worry the turken will be too mean to them though based on her chasing routine.
I'm sure they will be okay temp wise. They've been without a heat source for more than a week, and we don't have heat on in the house. Outdoor evening temps don't go that low at this time of year and the older girls seem very comfortable in the coop.
Thanks for any advice!
The villian
, roosting with giant Henrietta, the one we think is the real top hen
Inside in a brooder box we have two more, 5 week old EEs. I would love to move these girls out of my kitchen and into the coop with the older girls. They got along fine a few weeks ago when they were all in brooder boxes in the kitchen. I had lids off the boxes and they were often right together. However when I've tried to introduce them to the coop this week for short visits they seem very frightened. The turken chases and pecks at them and they end up huddled in the corner under the water. I've no idea why it has to be the water corner, but they got pretty wet last time by bumping and sloshing there.
Should I try introducing them at night? If I just put them in there and leave it be will the situation settle down? The other five girls really don't do any pecking at one another and seem quite peaceful. I worry the turken will be too mean to them though based on her chasing routine.
I'm sure they will be okay temp wise. They've been without a heat source for more than a week, and we don't have heat on in the house. Outdoor evening temps don't go that low at this time of year and the older girls seem very comfortable in the coop.
Thanks for any advice!
The villian

