How/when to introduce 8 new 4-week-old chicks to lone surviving hen

[thatpeg]

Our small backyard flock of Ameraucanas is sadly down to one surviving hen as of Saturday. She's very social and seems a bit distraught, wandering around and (I imagine) looking for companionship. I was delighted to be able to purchase eight 4-week-old chicks yesterday: 4 Ameraucanas and 4 Blue rocks. They're in separate areas currently but I'm hoping to be able to integrate soon. Wondering what the best way is to do so? We have an enclosed raised coop surrounded by a fenced in (but uncovered yard). I'm guessing the babies are too little to roam the yard without cover, unless the hen decided to take them under her wing? Is that at all likely?

 

[OreoH]

I don't know if the hen would take in the chicks, but until then, you could leave like a big cardboard box, covered, in the coop. This would acclimate the hen to the idea of younger chickens and help the chicks get used to life in the coop. A layer of mesh over the box would work, so the chicken could sort of peek in and see them. I'm not sure if this is a good idea?

Also, if you just got them, I'd wait at least a week or so before putting them in in case of disease.

 

[Mrs. K]

Adding that many chicks to a single bird, is a big help. It will spread the pecking out over all of them, and it will wear her out. At 4 weeks of age, they are big enough to be outside in the coop this time of year, unless you are in the southern hemisphere.

I would make sure there are hideouts, and one way escapes - places where a chick can fit, but an old hen cannot, such as a pallet or a piece of plywood just a couple of inches off the ground. A pallet leaned up agains the wall. Multiple feed bowls scattered around.

Then early in the morning I would let the bird out into the yard, lock the chicks up in the coop/run. Feed both groups along the fence. As close to dark as possible, let the old lady back in. Do be down there rather early in the morning, and let her out into the yard, if she is real mean. If not, just keep an eye on everyone.

Mrs K

 

[thatpeg]

We put the chicks in a hutch in the chicken run during the day to see what would happen. The hen basically ignored them for 2 days but yesterday afternoon I walked in and she was sitting just outside the hutch with 2 of the chicks sitting just inside the the hutch next to her, on the other side of the mesh! So far so good!

In a few days I think I'll see if I can wall off part of the coop but leave a little opening big enough for the chicks to come and go.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think it will go well, but an escape is a good idea.