Toosocs4
In the Brooder
- May 29, 2015
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I'm getting 5-10 day olds from the local feed store this weekend and currently have 4 1.5 year old hens (all are and will be standards). My plan is to have the chicks in the brooder for seven weeks, then in a pen or wired off section of the run for 2-3 weeks with the adults in the rest of the run. After that time I'm still lost as to how to integrate the babies (even after reading many fantastic threads!).
Should I let the babies into the full area of the run and lock the older hens out while they free range for a few hours every day for a week of so before letting them interact, or (with close supervision) can I just let them all the chicks out of their pen into the full run one morning. I don't really want to let the youngsters free range until couple weeks of being in the run happily. Any other pro tips and thoughts about my plan are appreciated.
Also, one of the breeds I really want is a week older than the others, do I have to worry about introducing them at first in the brooder? Should I get two chicks that are a week older than the others? as I'm sure you can tell, its my first time integrating chickens.
Should I let the babies into the full area of the run and lock the older hens out while they free range for a few hours every day for a week of so before letting them interact, or (with close supervision) can I just let them all the chicks out of their pen into the full run one morning. I don't really want to let the youngsters free range until couple weeks of being in the run happily. Any other pro tips and thoughts about my plan are appreciated.
Also, one of the breeds I really want is a week older than the others, do I have to worry about introducing them at first in the brooder? Should I get two chicks that are a week older than the others? as I'm sure you can tell, its my first time integrating chickens.