/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

Healing while Mothering?

Discussion in 'Managing Your Flock' started by blueberryboy, Mar 20, 2017.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Mar 20, 2017 #1
    blueberryboy

    blueberryboy New Egg

    9
    0
    7
    Apr 28, 2016
    I hope I'm not on the complete wrong thread but I'm very bad with picking which one so I'll settle here. I have two golden laced polish hens in my coop with 20 others girls and a roo. They've always kind of had bare/bald heads due to being at the bottom of the picking chain about 9 months old. I was thinking puting them in with my 10 chicks at about 4 weeks (I'm not really sure when - figured when they're fairly stable) but just for a trial to see if they get along in order to save space, offer guidance to the young girls and possibly give them a relaxed space and time to heal their heads. They're pretty docile non-aggressive gals... Smart? Stupid? Glaring issues? Please voice opinions. Main goal is to heal their crests.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2017
  3. Mar 20, 2017 #2
    oldhenlikesdogs

    oldhenlikesdogs Sits With Chickens Premium Member

    15,914
    3,509
    436
    Jul 16, 2015
    central Wisconsin
    I find it's best to keep crested birds with only other crested birds or with those that are more docile. I have had polish pecked to death in the past, so I would get them out of their current situation. I don't think putting them with the younger chicks is a good idea, but it couldn't hurt to try to see how it goes. Sometimes though pecked on birds go on to peck others after new members are added.
     
  5. Mar 21, 2017 #3
    aart

    aart Chicken Juggler! Premium Member

    32,703
    5,452
    556
    Nov 27, 2012
    SW Michigan
    My Coop
    You could try it, as OHLD suggests....
    .....but don't expect them to 'mother' the chicks as your thread title implies.

    The pecking issue as well as your "to save space" comment,
    makes me wonder if you are dealing with inadequately sized housing all around.
     
  7. Mar 22, 2017 #4
    blueberryboy

    blueberryboy New Egg

    9
    0
    7
    Apr 28, 2016
    They've got a fairly large coop, pecking only seems to be with my two polish, (this one in particular) everyone else is fine. By save space i just didn't want to commit more materials and what not to housing both he polish hen and the chicks separately in the basement. For now I've got the hen by herself, chicks dont come for a bit, Im going to see if she gets better soon. Thank you
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2017

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by