Good Grief- What have I done?

[katiekat]

We are new chicken owners! My DD hatched chicks in her 2nd grade class and she brought one home in April. Of course, the other kids had to have their own chicks too. LSS, we ended up with 5 chicks, whom we mothered and loved and petted. (a buff orpie, a RIR, a black sex link, a Sicilian buttercup, and a white leghorn.) They are all out now in the coop and loving life. Had a tragedy this week and a dog (not ours) got two of our babies. Kids wanted new chicks to ease their pain. So, we got 3 new chicks today. (One Buff Orpie about 6 weeks, I think, one silkie who looks to be about 4 weeks, and one SL Wyanadotte about the same age.) Not really sure on their ages since the farmer wasn't there and his wife didn't know much about them. I thought I could keep them all in the brooder box until they were all ready to go outside and introduce all 3 at one time and it would go easier. Didn't quite realize how different they were in stage and size until we got them all home. Whoopsie!
I understand I need to keep them separate from my flock to see if they are healthy. (Don't know how long?) So, the new chicks are all together and the Buff is much bigger than the chicks and she is not patient with them, but is not attacking them. She is fully feathered and is not happy about being in a brooder box. She keeps jumping up and attacking the lid. But I can't mix her in with my other birds yet. Do I put her in a box alone or is it better for them to be together? Do I try to hold her off and introduce with the younger birds, or do 2 separate introductions- one for her and one for the younger birds? And is this poor silkie doomed?

 

[GardeNerd]

Here is an excellent page on introducing new birds.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

You need to keep them well away from your other girls for 30 days. Maybe you could put them all in a large brooder so the Buff is more comfortable since she gets along okay with her farm mates.

 

[annek]

If the Buff starts attacking I would separate with a screen so they can still see eachother. She won't like being by herself, can you get another one her age?

Whoops, just noticed the age! No wonder she wants out of the brooder, they probably had her free ranging already! I don't know what to tell you!

 

[katiekat]

Quote:
Yeah- I think she is bored out of her gourd. Maybe I can let her out to roam when my other girls are cooped? Would that be safe?

30 days, huh? Wow- long time... I don't think these birds will be happy in my brooder box that long. DH is going to be soo happy when I tell him he's got to build me a temporary coop.

 

[annek]

I have seen where people use dog houses as temp coops. Maybe you could fence around that if you can keep it away from your other birds. Only thing is you will have to make it somewhat predator proof. Or maybe you could just bring it inside at night. It wouldn't be too bad on it if it could be outside during the day.

You don't want your birds to go where she has gone so I would say isolation means isolation. She could shed something on the soil they could pick up.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

You might try using a large box like a washer or refrigerator came in. If they have more room and it is high enough they should be fine. I always have at least one big box stored here for when I need a large brooder. In fact we just put 21 5 week old in a refrigerator box turned on its side. Their grow out coop isnt quite finished so they needed a temporary brooder.

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

When I brought home some new chicks and one was a bit older and feathered, we put them in the same brooder, but it was a pretty large one with the light on one side. This way she could get away from the light if she got too warm. My husband even put in a little low roost and she would roost on it to get away from the younger chicks. They are now all happily living together, though the older one is still a bit larger than the still young chicks.