How to get older chickens to love the babies.

[Leghornmomma]

I have 4 leghorn chickens who will be 18 weeks old on Monday... we just stopped at rural king and got 6 babies (sapphire gem) 25 cents a piece! U can't pass up a great deal LOL!! ... my leg horns seemed okay with the babies at first but now they want to peck at the babies ugh! How do you get everyone to live happy under one roof? I'm going to try the dog cage method.. but willing to try other methods that you've done and worked!

The babies are about 4-5 weeks now.

 

[GlicksChicks]

Unfortunately you cannot make them like eachother. The look but don't touch (or dog cage) method would be your best bet. Let them see eachother and get used to eachother.

Also, that was an AMAZING deal!

 

[Finnie]

You are on the right track. Let them get used to each other through the cage bars, and then after a while, open the cage and let them mingle. They will work it out.

Some people like to make a small opening so the littles can get back inside the cage to hide, but the bigs can’t fit. Personally, I don’t do that and it still works out fine.

And, since both groups were brooded separately, they may always keep themselves to their own cliques. But they ought to co exist regardless.

 

[Leghornmomma]

I remembered I had a baby playpen gate from when my kiddo was a baby I think I like this option better then a dog cage. Gives them lots of room to move around and look at each other without getting hurt. ... they did sleep together in the coop without any issues!