Integrating chicks

[MarlaMac]

I have a 6, almost 7, week old single hatch chick raised by a broody momma who is currently the youngest of my flock of 14 hens and a rooster with the exception of 6 babies I picked up to place under a broody hen, which didn't go as planned. These 6 are currently 17 days old.

I am now brooding these six babies in the extension to our main coop in full sight (but no touch) of the flock.

The lone chick, since she is not yet big enough to hang with the big girls (mom was done raising her about 5 days ago) spends a lot of time sitting next to the little chicks outside the gate. She also finds me whenever I come over to the coop to hang out a little, but when I leave she finds her way near the littles again.

What are the odds that this lone chick will integrate into this flock of littles? We are currently building them an outside space they can hang out in during the day, with access to their area of the coop if they so choose.

My plan is to see if the lone baby will hang near for periods of time and then introduce her to the babies slowly under supervision. There is about a 4 week gap in age.

Am I being too optimistic? Will the lone baby accept these younger girls? I was hoping she would and allow her to spend time with them during the day, but I don't want to interfere in her full integration into the big girl flock at the right time.

Also, if "she" is a "he" (which I am still on the fence with - hoping for a girl...but...) this is all a moot point, b/c I will have to find him a new home.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[DobieLover]

What are the odds that this lone chick will integrate into this flock of littles?

Based on her behavior and the fact that she is a lone, young pullet I think you've got a fairly good chance that she will integrate with the youngsters. I would go ahead and put her in there with them and then stay and monitor them for a while. Good luck.

 

[MarlaMac]

Based on her behavior and the fact that she is a lone, young pullet I think you've got a fairly good chance that she will integrate with the youngsters. I would go ahead and put her in there with them and then stay and monitor them for a while. Good luck.

Thank you. I plan to have their outside area ready in the next couple of days and will do exactly that when it is ready.

My thought is, that if that works, I should also allow her to roost with them at night..??..

 

[DobieLover]

My thought is, that if that works, I should also allow her to roost with them at night..??..

If she accepts them and they her leave her with them until they're all ready to join the main flock.

 

[MarlaMac]

All is well on the littles front. The lone baby (think it is a boy) pecked softly at them for just a few I am the boss lessons, then all was good. So happy for this lone baby who didn't have a place. They have been together all day.

More work than I initially planned b/c we are experiencing 16-20 mph SSE winds all day (and most of the week), so I had to add some wind barrier to the run.

The littles are LOVING being outside! Today they are 18 days old. Our temps are 93-97 degree highs all week (probably for the rest of the summer), so perfect timing for these little girls.

One more question. Nights are lows of 70 degrees. The littles are getting too tall for their brooder plate. I am thinking I can stand it up (it is a combo brooder/heater). They would be able to lay in front of it. I am also putting a roost bar in the coop for the lone baby.

Do you think that standing the brooder plate up will provide enough heat for overnight 70 degrees for these 18 day old chicks? If so, should I leave it on brooder or switch to heater? Heater seemed awfully hot when I turned it on today (it was 92 degrees when I did it though).

Thanks!

 

[kattabelly]

All is well on the littles front. The lone baby (think it is a boy) pecked softly at them for just a few I am the boss lessons, then all was good. So happy for this lone baby who didn't have a place. They have been together all day.

More work than I initially planned b/c we are experiencing 16-20 mph SSE winds all day (and most of the week, so I had to add some wind barrier to the run.

The littles are LOVING being outside! Today they are 18 days old. Our temps are 93-97 degree highs all week (probably for the rest of the summer, so perfect timing for these little girls.

One more question. Nights are lows of 70%. The littles are getting too tall for their brooder plate. I am thinking I can stand it up (it is a combo brooder/heater). They would be able to lay in front of it. I am also putting a roost bar in the coop for the lone baby.

Do you think that standing the brooder plate up will provide enough heat for overnight 70% for these 18 day old chicks? If so, should I leave it on brooder or switch to heater? Heater seemed awfully hot when I turned it on today (it was 92 degrees when I did it though).

It's six 18-day-old chicks plus one slightly older one, right? They should be fine without any heat if the space they're sleeping in isn't getting below 70F at night - just give them a box to snuggle in if you're worried and that'll help stop them losing too much of their body heat to the air around them.

 

[MarlaMac]

It's six 18-day-old chicks plus one slightly older one, right? They should be fine without any heat if the space they're sleeping in isn't getting below 70F at night - just give them a box to snuggle in if you're worried and that'll help stop them losing too much of their body heat to the air around them.

Thanks. Yes, the other chick is about 6 week old.

 

[kattabelly]

Thanks. Yes, the other chick is about 6 week old.

My own chicks have just reminded me to add that they might need some encouragement at first if you do give them a box to keep warm in. I usually put the brooder plate inside the box for 24 hours, so they already know to go in the box when I take the plate away. If you don't want to do that, just putting them in the box at bedtime usually gets the point across pretty quickly.