Grafted chicks & Shorty doing great--one Q

[frankenchick]

They've all taken to each other wonderfully. The BRs already make the grass fly when they scratch; the BOs follow mama like iron filings and a magnet.

My only problem is one of the other hens. She is higher in the pecking order than Shorty; S will "defend" her chicks, but after getting her feathers pulled she kind of ducks her head and sidles away. Will S be able to take care of the chicks when everyone starts mixing together? I'll keep the chicks in the run during the day and in the kennel at night for probably another month, but then what?

 

[arlee453]

I'd just watch them like a hawk when you try to integrate them all. If the older hens really go after the babies you may have to do a grow-out pen type situation until the babies are big enough to hold their own - I usually integrate somewhere between 12 and 14 weeks.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Good idea!