Integration very young and feed issues

[Chicalina]

Just wanted to update that after a few days of me partitioning the run, the hen and chicks met the flock today properly. I threw a load of mealworms down to distract them all and removed the wire partition.

The skirmishes were quite odd. Mama hen attacked a docile wyandotte who didn't do anything or pose any threat, and two hens went to peck the mama hen to protect the wyandotte. Mama hen allowed a bossy polish into her broody hutch while she sat there with the babies (bossy polish ignored them), and a docile Pekin who wouldn't say boo to a goose went to chase and peck the chicks several times. Fluffy the rooster tried to dance round mama hen but she wasn't interested, and he went to peck the chicks too. She didn't go for the rooster for that, just took the babies inside.

The babies have loads of escape pods all around the run where they can hide safely and they made use of some of these.

None of the skirmishes were prolonged or dangerous. They mixed for about half an hour while I watched them. Chicks were fine if somewhat scared. Lots of mealworm eating went on where nothing happened. Mama hen surprised me with her viciousness with the poor wyandotte, she was really going for her (feet kicking and neck feather pulling) I've never seen her do that before. Boy are her hormones strong! Gotta love Silkies.

Nobody actually got hurt which is the main thing (not even a lost feather). I will do the same tomorrow with them and hopefully it will be calmer.

Food wise, I got some unmedicated chick crumbs for them all. Will get some grower pellets or mash when I get to the feed store.

 

[Chicalina]

Further update:

All seems fine so far. They've been together for about a week now. I've got younger chicks in the interior pen now.

The older chicks and mama hen keep mostly separate from the flock, who all peck them out of the way for food etc. So they stick to the other end of the longer run, foraging all day.

2 nights ago mama hen took the babies to roost! But then the next night kept them on the coop floor. They are wary of the other chickens and quite rightly so.

 

[LaFleche]

You could just provide some space for the chicks where the adults can't squeeze in.

Offer the starter feed for the chicks in a separated space with an opening just big enough for the chicks to get in. So no adults will keep them from their food and they each can have what suits them best for their age. This can also serve as a safe space for the chicks in case the mother hen starts to wean them.

 

[Chicalina]

Thanks. I've put separate feeders in with unmedicated chick crumbs and growers pellets. So all the flock can eat either food. The chicks have plenty of hidey places but i haven't needed to feed separately since I bought the different feed. Using the medicated chick feed for the next batch now who are 10 days old.

Hopefully it won't do the older chicks harm to only be on medicated feed for 3 weeks. And I'll do the same for the new lot.