I hate integrating chicks

[debid]

Ugh, I'm going through it too. I feel your pain. I have four 8-9 week old chicks that I'm trying to get integrated. I'm liking the idea of locking up the meanest hen. She had 3 of them cornered and was pecking them badly. Then if one broke away she'd chase it down. The chicks were in full on frenzy mode. Several of my other hens couldn't have cared any less that the chicks were there. Two of the chicks are suspected little cockerels, and one even ran up to a hen and pecked her. She looked at him like "puhleeze kiddo" and just went about her business.

I tried this with the above mentioned chicks. They are so terrified of the nasty hen that they won't come out willingly, and when she attacks they get so frenzied that they can't figure out how to get back into their safe space. They were trying to jam themselves through the wire and ran right past the opening multiple times. Poor things.

Jailing mean girl for a few hours seems to have helped. She seemed less intent on chasing today and she went to bed when the other adults did. Or, it could be that it's so hot she just didn't have the energy for it...

 

[Kyanite]

Yup, I need to try mean chicky jail. Maybe I'll put the littles up on the roost, and put her in their wire dog crate

 

[debid]

Yup, I need to try mean chicky jail. Maybe I'll put the littles up on the roost, and put her in their wire dog crate

That's pretty much what I did. The mean girl went in the chick brooder house. She could see her flock and they could see her.

Part of her improvement in behavior may have to do with hormones. She just pinked back up and started squatting so I imagine I'll start finding eggs from her again.

The other downside of all of this nonsense is that many hens take a stress break.