Hello from Mississippi. I am Evie and my hubby is Bob. We are glad we found your forum. It has been a huge help as we are new to raising chicks. We purchased a variety of chicks, Buff Orphingtons, Rhode Island Reds, Scicilian Buttercups, Americanas, Gold and silver Wyondettes, all hen's. Bob and my neighbors worked hard on the Coop. The chicks are 4 weeks old now and just moved in. Exciting times! Didn't know we would get so attached to them. We feel like parents with NB babies. Lol.
Hello there and welcome to BYC! Yes, it is so easy to get attached to these bundles of fuzz. Great to hear your chicks are doing so well!! Make yourself at home here and if you have any questions along the way, feel free to ask around the forums. Welcome to our flock!
Thank you for the warm welcome! I just came from visiting my chicks, all is well. I was thinking about my neighbors chicks who helped us get started. They have about 40 pullers and an existing flock of hen's, a duck and 1 rooster. There pulleys are around 4-6 weeks old and a few are looking a little beat up from being pecked on as they are still in there brooder boxes. He just built another so they would have more room. How old do they have to be before he can put them in with the Hen's? They have a huge coop. Will the Hen's attack them or take them under their wing?:cd
Hello and Welcome To BYC! The hens will generally pick on the younger birds... It is best to wait until the pullets are about the same size as the hens and have a long period of the two flocks being able to see each other but no touching, through wire seem to work best, ie dividing the coop into two sections or keeping the new/younger ones in a cage inside the coup for a couple of weeks to a month at least. The chickens will get to know each other and sort of work out a pecking order before actually coming in contact with each other. After a week or two, letting them free range together is a good idea and should help... It will take a couple of weeks to get the pecking order sorted out. There is a nice article in the Learning Center on integrating flocks you might like to check out, the part about actually combining them is after the quarantine section https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help. How nice to meet you! Welcome to the flock, Evie and Bob!
