Emily_loveschickens
Songster
I have a hen who does not want to be nice to this one chick I am trying to integrate. Can I separate the hen? She is the meanest out of all of them and tries to chase her through her pen. Thanks
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We had two chicks but one got taken last night.Is this the only chick you have? If not, how many total chicks and how old are they? How many adult chickens?
I’ve had a separate pen next to the big girls run there for about a month.How long have the adult chickens been exposed to the chick? Has the chick been separate and out of sight until now?
I also have a reach in run, which I am redoing now to be a walk in run so there is not really any room for me to run in in case they start fighting. My coop is the right size for about six birds but I cannot really fit anything large in it. It is also a reach in Coop. I’ve been outside since 7 AM is currently 12 PM because my chick has nowhere to go since the old shelter is not predator proof. I’m so over this and I don’t know what to do.The "chick" is getting close to full size by now, so a "panic room" set up may not be able to function for long as it depends on the opening being too small for the older chickens.
You do have a dilemma. A single chick is going to stick out and therefore be a target. @microchick is right that more chicks would make it easier to integrate, if only to increase the number of small "targets". But it really depends on the temperaments of the adults. You should plan on the bully hen continuing to pursue the chick.
I might be inclined to cage this hen during the day while giving the chick a chance to integrate with the others, thereby building its self confidence. Once the chick is doing well with the adults, then try releasing the bully hen and see how the chick does evading her.
Getting more chickens is going to require more integration. Be aware that it will create a lot more stress on your flock and work and worry for you.
I've integrated single chicks before. They do just fine as long as they have an assertive temperament and self confidence.