Do I keep chicks in the chicken house?

[StormyRidgeChixLady]

My hen was pulled off the nest and killed by a coon in the middle of the night and now i have 11, 11 day old chicks. i know they will b fine on their own, but is it safe to keep them in the chicken house with the other hens and roosters. There are no other hens with chicks. But 1 or 2 hens have been kinda gettin on to them, pecking at them n chasing them a lil. Not too far or too aggressive, but seemingly unnecessary. But Hey, i"m not a chicken, what do i know if she's just showing them the way. Anyway, they have been in there with them w/o mom for about 36hrs and seem to be doing well. The roosters dont mind them at all, and some hens will stand nearby as if to keep watch. Should i leave them or seperate them out for a while?

 

[citrusdreams]

It's really warm here where I live and the henhouse is about 10 degrees warmer at least. My advise to you is to make a cage for them to keep them from being beaten on by the bigger chickens inside the henhouse. You can make one out of chicken wire and 2x2s or use a wire dog crate.

For me, I had mine outside the henhouse, in the run. When they were small enough to get through the fencing, I put them in a wire dog crate lined with chicken wire. When they got big enough not to get out of the run (at about 4 weeks of age), I let them use a part of the run just for them and no big chickens. Then when they were about 8 weeks old, I free ranged them with everyone else.

 

[cochinbantam-lover]

I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo sorry about your sweet little hen, protecting her babies she gave up her own life!!

You'll have to be the new mommy now, take care!

 

[StormyRidgeChixLady]

Thank you

 

[StormyRidgeChixLady]

Yeah, i know, the ultimate sacrifice. She was such a sweet but protective mom, the way i found her was just horrible. :-( But dont worry the raccoon got his. Momma hen retribution was mine!