ReluctantRural
Hatching
Hi! I have two hens (about 4 months old raised from 1 day old) that I'm trying to integrate into our existing flock of 2 hens and a rooster. Once they got big enough and it wasn't too cold, we moved their brooder outside to the porch so that they could get used to being outside and the existing hens could be introduced to them.
So, the last couple of weekends we've let them out to free range together. The first weekend they all did exactly what we thought they would. Our rooster showed out and they fought a little. Fast forward to last night and we had our littles in the big's coop. When it was time for bed, the bigs kicked the littles out and they were back on our porch and we had to put them back in the brooder.
I've heard you can put them in at night so when they wake up in the morning they wake up one big happy family, but I'm afraid for my littles if the hatch isn't open on the coop in the morning, they may fight and get injured.
Any ideas? Should I just relax about it?
Thanks,
Reluctantly Rural.
So, the last couple of weekends we've let them out to free range together. The first weekend they all did exactly what we thought they would. Our rooster showed out and they fought a little. Fast forward to last night and we had our littles in the big's coop. When it was time for bed, the bigs kicked the littles out and they were back on our porch and we had to put them back in the brooder.
I've heard you can put them in at night so when they wake up in the morning they wake up one big happy family, but I'm afraid for my littles if the hatch isn't open on the coop in the morning, they may fight and get injured.
Any ideas? Should I just relax about it?
Thanks,
Reluctantly Rural.