Hen behavior and integration question

[MysticUniKitty]

I have a fence in the corner of the run, babies can go through but not the adults. I keep their food in there too.
View attachment 1760487

oh i like that! I have some pallets too!! I think i'm going to put the teens back in their brooder, with side door opening out this time, they can be in there at night and during the day when the hens free range they can be out. I'll do up some "escape corners" for the babies to escape from the hens that are a bit more sturdy then last time

 

[Stacyoung13]

oh i like that! I have some pallets too!! I think i'm going to put the teens back in their brooder, with side door opening out this time, they can be in there at night and during the day when the hens free range they can be out. I'll do up some "escape corners" for the babies to escape from the hens that are a bit more sturdy then last time

Good luck

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Thanks @MysticUniKitty for doing the original post. I feel better knowing I'm not the only one with this problem. One thing I noticed is, my chicks are 7 weeks old and they are already half the size as my 1 year old RIR hens. I'm guessing my hens think they are much older? I picked up a lot of helpful information from this post, so thanks again and good luck with your integration.

 

[rosemarythyme]

oh i like that! I have some pallets too!! I think i'm going to put the teens back in their brooder, with side door opening out this time, they can be in there at night and during the day when the hens free range they can be out. I'll do up some "escape corners" for the babies to escape from the hens that are a bit more sturdy then last time

Yup very important not only to have obstacles for chicks to hide under/on/behind, but also an entrance and exit on each one so it's harder for a hen to corner them.

This was my run layout during integration. Anything that's up against a wall has at least one extra exit cut out of it.

 

[MysticUniKitty]

Yup very important not only to have obstacles for chicks to hide under/on/behind, but also an entrance and exit on each one so it's harder for a hen to corner them.

This was my run layout during integration. Anything that's up against a wall has at least one extra exit cut out of it.
View attachment 1761161

I like that!

 

[MysticUniKitty]

Thanks @MysticUniKitty for doing the original post. I feel better knowing I'm not the only one with this problem. One thing I noticed is, my chicks are 7 weeks old and they are already half the size as my 1 year old RIR hens. I'm guessing my hens think they are much older? I picked up a lot of helpful information from this post, so thanks again and good luck with your integration.

You're welcome! It hasn't been fun but I'm learning and making adjustments!