So I have posted on here before with little problems a first time chicken owner encounters, and I have another question. I have an original group of 2 cuckoo marans and 2 golden laced wyandottes that I got as chicks back in May. I have learned a ton with these four! This last September, I got 3 more chicks: a blue andalusian, a welsummer, and a blue laced red wyandotte. The 3 new chicks are about 9-12 weeks old ( the welsummer was a little older when I bought them).
My question is: how in the world do I get these 3 new chicks to roost in the hen house with the other 4? The chicks have been living full time outside for about 3 weeks now. Their run is adjacent to, but separate from the big birds run, so they've had a bunch of "see but can't touch" time. I let them out to free range together, and aside from some minor chasing/pecking they seem to tolerate each other okay.
I open the divider between the two runs about an hour before it gets dark. The original 4 dutifully file into the hen house, but the 3 little birds knock the waterer off the cement block and huddle together on top of the cement block. I have to physically put all three on the roost inside the hen house. When I do this all three seem much happier and more comfortable inside.
What can I do to encourage them to go into the roost at dusk? Are they just scared of the bigger birds? Is it still too unfamiliar to them? I'd lock them in there for a couple of days to get them acclimated, but the older birds need somewhere to lay.
Any help or advice is much appreciated!
My question is: how in the world do I get these 3 new chicks to roost in the hen house with the other 4? The chicks have been living full time outside for about 3 weeks now. Their run is adjacent to, but separate from the big birds run, so they've had a bunch of "see but can't touch" time. I let them out to free range together, and aside from some minor chasing/pecking they seem to tolerate each other okay.
I open the divider between the two runs about an hour before it gets dark. The original 4 dutifully file into the hen house, but the 3 little birds knock the waterer off the cement block and huddle together on top of the cement block. I have to physically put all three on the roost inside the hen house. When I do this all three seem much happier and more comfortable inside.
What can I do to encourage them to go into the roost at dusk? Are they just scared of the bigger birds? Is it still too unfamiliar to them? I'd lock them in there for a couple of days to get them acclimated, but the older birds need somewhere to lay.
Any help or advice is much appreciated!
