experts desperatly needed! in other words help!!!!

[americana-chick]

when should bantys be moved in with older chickens? should i wait tell they are full grown? they are in the chick pen with normal sised chicks and it is about time for the normal sised to go in with the elders but i am not so sure about the banties....? help!

 

[ozark hen]

how many bantam chicks are you talking about? If they are going in with the other chicks I would think it would be ok. I try to turn all my chicks in at the same time (though I only had some silkies) and there was never a problem...IF they were kept for several weeks where the flock could see and hear them and visa versa. I am NO EXPERT here though.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Be reserved when you let them into the pen with the older birds as many times the peeping noises of chicks will draw attention from adults who then abuse them. Be very watchful and if you see this type behavior take the babies back out immediately because they could be killed. Sometimes it works out ok and other times not so just be ready if there is any trouble. Good Luck

 

[BeckyLa]

How old are they and the standard chicks? How many? Are your older birds normally aggressive breeds or more easy going and could care less breeds? I cannot put any birds that are not full grown in with my Barred Rocks because they are bad to peck but I have a flock of EE's that I put anybody in with because they are so easy going.

 

[frelima]

i have a brooder inside my hen house. When my chicks are two weeks old I move them from the heated brooder into the hen house brooder. It has perches, sandbox, and a light bulb. Lots more room and interest. And it is with the hens who are sleeping at night and laying during the day. (and free ranging). About 5-6 weeks old I just open the brooder door and leave it open without fanfare... one by one the chicks come out, everyone already is used to everyone, and that night they are all sleeping together in the henhouse....
Been doing it this way for three years... works great!
so my answer is, some kind of separated introduction is always a good idea when introducing any new members of the family.

And of course, some pecking and posturing is normal and expected, but not to the point of real injury!

 

[hinkjc]

I don't introduce young ones until they are almost at the point of lay. My reasoning is they have different nutritional needs, plus it gives them time to mature close to full size and they can fend for themselves by then. It doesn't really matter if they are bantam or standard size fowl, unless you're introducing bantams to a standard group.

Jody

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I don't introduce my chicks til they are almost point of lay either since their feed is different... I just keep them seperated by wire til that time...I have had thru the years the older hens trying to starve the young ones or too much picking on them...They will need places to be able to get away from the offensive hens and extra feeders and waterers....

Bantams you should know by their ages when time to introduce to the flock...