Ok Folks I need some advice.
I let the four 11 week old chicks in with the adults in the run today.
Mom was among the pack and surprisingly they all did very well. I let mom go back with the adults last week. She was ready and she has also started laying eggs again....... Yeah !!!!!
I sat outside with them for nearly two hours watching them and was ready to intervene if all hell broke loose. I couldn't believe what an easy transition it was.
There was a few little brawls with some of the adult hens but it was very minimal
(I wonder if the hens know that they are their offspring..)
Anyway I held off letting the Rooster in with them because I was not sure what he would do having four new chicks around but I finally let him in and He was a pure Saint...never once did he get agressive with them and he acted like he had known them his whole life. I'm so proud of him.
( I wonder if he knows that He is their father ?)
Ok the first day with the adults was successful !! After all the adults went in to roost, I moved the babys in the main coop for the first time. It was a relief to put them all together but when I went out to check on them the babys were not in the coop but instead huddled up in a corner on the ground.
I have a chicken house and a attatched enclosed run so they are protected from predators. My "bird-ma-hal is like Fort Knox.(It is all enclosed.)
They have been sleeping in a brooder box since birth so they have never been on a roost or with other chickens. Will they eventually go inside and join the others or will I have to teach them how to roost ?
The weather has been nice enough that I'm not too concerned yet about the elements but they will have to learn to roost inside soon. What have you guys and gals had to do in this situation ???
Some advice would be great. Thanks. Mona the queen...
I might add that they had a broken shovel handle that they would roost on during the day so they know what a roost is for....they have had practice..
I let the four 11 week old chicks in with the adults in the run today.
Mom was among the pack and surprisingly they all did very well. I let mom go back with the adults last week. She was ready and she has also started laying eggs again....... Yeah !!!!!
I sat outside with them for nearly two hours watching them and was ready to intervene if all hell broke loose. I couldn't believe what an easy transition it was.
There was a few little brawls with some of the adult hens but it was very minimal
(I wonder if the hens know that they are their offspring..)
Anyway I held off letting the Rooster in with them because I was not sure what he would do having four new chicks around but I finally let him in and He was a pure Saint...never once did he get agressive with them and he acted like he had known them his whole life. I'm so proud of him.
( I wonder if he knows that He is their father ?)
Ok the first day with the adults was successful !! After all the adults went in to roost, I moved the babys in the main coop for the first time. It was a relief to put them all together but when I went out to check on them the babys were not in the coop but instead huddled up in a corner on the ground.
I have a chicken house and a attatched enclosed run so they are protected from predators. My "bird-ma-hal is like Fort Knox.(It is all enclosed.)
They have been sleeping in a brooder box since birth so they have never been on a roost or with other chickens. Will they eventually go inside and join the others or will I have to teach them how to roost ?
The weather has been nice enough that I'm not too concerned yet about the elements but they will have to learn to roost inside soon. What have you guys and gals had to do in this situation ???
Some advice would be great. Thanks. Mona the queen...
I might add that they had a broken shovel handle that they would roost on during the day so they know what a roost is for....they have had practice..
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