MI-chicks
In the Brooder
- Jan 23, 2017
- 3
- 0
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I have 3 hens about 3 yrs old and 4 eight week old chicks. We have a 4’ x 4’ coop about 2 feet off the ground with a 10’ x 12’ run including the space under the coop. The hens free range all day.
At 6 weeks I let the hens out as usual and put the chicks in the run with the run door closed. A few times a day I let the hens in for supervised socializing and to access the nesting boxes inside the coop, and would bring the chicks back into the barn at night. After a few days I left the run door open all day for the hens to come and go. I started leaving the chicks in with the hens at night, and the hens slept in the coop and the chicks slept under the coop. So far, so good. The hens would chase them a bit, but the run is plenty big for them to get away.
The trouble started when the chicks ventured up the ramp into the coop where the hens would corner them in a nesting box and peck at them. So at night I put the hens out in the run and closed the coop door at the top of the ramp so the chicks were locked inside for the night. In the morning I would let the hens out to free range and open the coop door to let the chicks out. Then the chicks were able to run around in the run and venture outside a bit.
Now when I leave the coop and run doors open all day the chicks like to go up into the coop. I’m having to lock the hens outside now to keep them from cornering the chicks in the coop.
While the hens are off roaming our 10 acres most of the day it’s gotten to be a bit disruptive to them to be locked out when they need to lay eggs.
The hens chase them and peck a bit, but aren’t interested enough to put much more effort into really hurting them. As long as they can’t corner the chicks they’re ok.
How much longer until the chicks become accepted into the flock??
Grateful for any other suggestions!!
At 6 weeks I let the hens out as usual and put the chicks in the run with the run door closed. A few times a day I let the hens in for supervised socializing and to access the nesting boxes inside the coop, and would bring the chicks back into the barn at night. After a few days I left the run door open all day for the hens to come and go. I started leaving the chicks in with the hens at night, and the hens slept in the coop and the chicks slept under the coop. So far, so good. The hens would chase them a bit, but the run is plenty big for them to get away.
The trouble started when the chicks ventured up the ramp into the coop where the hens would corner them in a nesting box and peck at them. So at night I put the hens out in the run and closed the coop door at the top of the ramp so the chicks were locked inside for the night. In the morning I would let the hens out to free range and open the coop door to let the chicks out. Then the chicks were able to run around in the run and venture outside a bit.
Now when I leave the coop and run doors open all day the chicks like to go up into the coop. I’m having to lock the hens outside now to keep them from cornering the chicks in the coop.
While the hens are off roaming our 10 acres most of the day it’s gotten to be a bit disruptive to them to be locked out when they need to lay eggs.
The hens chase them and peck a bit, but aren’t interested enough to put much more effort into really hurting them. As long as they can’t corner the chicks they’re ok.
How much longer until the chicks become accepted into the flock??
Grateful for any other suggestions!!
