Integrating chicks

[Zipsuns]

I have a momma and her 4 babies that are currently staying in their own area at night. During the day, they have integrated fairly well with the other two hens. I also have a chick that the momma rejected, and I've raised her in the garage by herself. I do put her out with the others in a cage where everyone can see her. The Mom who rejected her still charges at her; however, there is little she can do because of the wire between them. I'd like to add her to the flock, but if things don't go well, I'm not sure how I would catch her. Last night, I was late getting the girls in, and went out at night. My hens (including momma all stayed in the coop. Her babies, who are about 9 weeks old, stayed in the dog cage that I normally enclose Momma in with the babies. They may have done this due to being chased out by the dominant hen. The dominant Hen seems to become a little more aggressive about the coop than the open spaces. Given this, should I try to integrate my girl in the garage with the other babies who are outside? Are all the babies old enough to stick up for themselves? (Honestly, Mom is lowest on the pecking order and will still run from the dominant hen). Do I try integration at night with the babies, or should I put the orphan out with everyone during the day? I'm probably putting way too much into this, but it's been a long process, and I don't want things to end badly. I know I'm all over the place with this, so this is probably why I don't know which to do first, when to do it, and what to do if it goes bad. I would appreciate any suggestions in helping me with this transition.

 

[McChooky]

I have a momma and her 4 babies that are currently staying in their own area at night. During the day, they have integrated fairly well with the other two hens. I also have a chick that the momma rejected, and I've raised her in the garage by herself. I do put her out with the others in a cage where everyone can see her. The Mom who rejected her still charges at her; however, there is little she can do because of the wire between them. I'd like to add her to the flock, but if things don't go well, I'm not sure how I would catch her. Last night, I was late getting the girls in, and went out at night. My hens (including momma all stayed in the coop. Her babies, who are about 9 weeks old, stayed in the dog cage that I normally enclose Momma in with the babies. They may have done this due to being chased out by the dominant hen. The dominant Hen seems to become a little more aggressive about the coop than the open spaces. Given this, should I try to integrate my girl in the garage with the other babies who are outside? Are all the babies old enough to stick up for themselves? (Honestly, Mom is lowest on the pecking order and will still run from the dominant hen). Do I try integration at night with the babies, or should I put the orphan out with everyone during the day? I'm probably putting way too much into this, but it's been a long process, and I don't want things to end badly. I know I'm all over the place with this, so this is probably why I don't know which to do first, when to do it, and what to do if it goes bad. I would appreciate any suggestions in helping me with this transition.

Let me see if I get this straight.You have 2 broody hens but one has chicks and the other one doesn't(separated) You also have 2 other hens in the flock that you're trying to integrate the chicks with correct? Momma is weaning them if she's roosting in the coop again.Yours were separated with the momma hen correct? The broody hen has rejoined her flock so the chicks are weaned.You'll have to integrate the chicks slowly without the broody hen since they weren't raised in the flock (they were separated with momma )If momma hen is roosting with the flock she didn't lose her spot in the flock and will reject her chicks now.The lone chick might be able to stay with the other chicks.Monitor them closely