How do you introduce new chicks into an established flock

[SusanMc]

I just had my eyes opened to the reality of large hatchery chicks, no more of that for me. The folks at True North are responsible, and respectful.

 

[SusanMc]

to a very small chick, yes they can kill one.

Usually chicks big enough to be outside (fully feathered), are more than capable of running away and handling some hard pecks on the head

bascially drench them in no peck goop every morning until the big chickens leave the chicks alone

What the product called may I ask,

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We have a smaller pen next to the large run. Sometimes it is our bachelor pen, but we also use it as our Phase 1 integration pen. When our chicks are ready to go outside, we put them there. It has a smallish coop they sleep in. The chicks are right next to the Big Girls in a "see-don't-touch" arrangement. They are like this for several weeks. Then one fine day we just open the gate between the two, and they begin to mingle. None of them ever notice that now there is no fence between them. There is never any pecking or fussing. The babies continue to sleep in their little coop for another week or so, and then we shut the door to it, so they have to start sleeping in the big coop. For a while, they huddle together on the floor, but after a bit they find their way up to the roosts, and that's that.

 

[chickentrains]

What the product called may I ask,

rooster booster no peck

 

[Hamannshens]

No peck goop? is that real?

 

[kfsilver]

I free range my hens, and am probably a bit more on the paranoid careful side. I usually spend about two weeks (when they're old enough to be without the heat plate but not fully feathered yet) taking my babies out daily, surrounded by some wire fencing, and sitting with them. My older hens usually come up to examine them, and get freaked out and go on the opposite side of the pasture. lol

Once the babies are starting to get feathered up, and have some bulk to them, I'll take a week of letting them out for supervised visits. When the chicks are fully feathered, I section off a part of the coop (I have also used a smaller dog kennel) for the night.

And then spend the first few nights fretting about the babies in the with big girls.

Again, I'm overly cautious.

I take out the kennel/section from the coop once I'm confident there won't be too much bopping of heads and pulling of feathers, usually after a handful of nights.

 

[rosemarythyme]

No peck goop? is that real?

Yes, though I've never seen reason to put it all over chicks. But it can help with mild cases of birds feather plucking or picking at injuries.

 

[SusanMc]

Yes, though I've never seen reason to put it all over chicks. But it can help with mild cases of birds feather plucking or picking at injuries.

Hi My now chicks from this post are graduating from the indoor brooder. They have been engaging in feather picking, mostly backs. I was told that baby bum cream wold work as a substitute because of the zinc, and powder....as well. Can anybody confirm or deny this?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hi My now chicks from this post are graduating from the indoor brooder. They have been engaging in feather picking, mostly backs. I was told that baby bum cream wold work as a substitute because of the zinc, and powder....as well. Can anybody confirm or deny this?

Never heard that before... would be curious to see if anyone here has tried that before.

 

[Chicalina]

Hi My now chicks from this post are graduating from the indoor brooder. They have been engaging in feather picking, mostly backs. I was told that baby bum cream wold work as a substitute because of the zinc, and powder....as well. Can anybody confirm or deny this?

If they are pecking each other, it is probably an environmental factor stressing them, like not enough space, or distractions, or competing for other resources.

Fix that before spreading goop on your chicks.