Intro two chicks to one hen

[ChicksofHeaven]

Hi everyone! I need advice with my update. I have a lone hen whose chicken friend died in early June. She was trying to flock with the kittens, obviously lonely.

I have two chicks that have been brooding in a tank in the same lean to as the hen, so she’s been able to hear and smell them.
They are 6 weeks old now, and I made them a “playpen” yesterday to introduce them to the hen behind deer fencing. Hen was sticking her head through the wires and tried to peck them, they pecked back and that seemed to settle it! They have had a peaceful but separated coexistence since.

We are leaving for a week so I’d like to get them integrated by Wednesday (today is Friday) to make it easier on the neighbor kid who is going to keep an eye on them. I read somewhere that mingling small numbers of chickens goes much easier because the adult hen gets to be top of the pecking order, and the chicks will fall in line.

Please advise on the following:
I’m Thinking of taking the barrier down this afternoon and keeping the three of them in the run to see how that goes.
Then possibly removing the nesting boxes from the coop and placing the chicks in there tonight with the hen. OR let them mingle for another day and get them to roost Saturday night.

My hen free ranges, and the chicks got out yesterday and ran about without incident. Also I had the chicks out in a pen for a few afternoons, so they are already accustomed to grassy areas and grubbing

around.

So I’m hoping to have everyone happy and free ranging by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Any concerns? Advice?

 

[GlicksChicks]

It sounds like things should go well from what you have explained. Just keep an eye on them when you integrate them.

I would think that if the hen is lonely enough to try and flock with cats, she should be lonely enough to accept those chicks.

 

[NatJ]

Hi everyone! I need advice with my update. I have a lone hen whose chicken friend died in early June. She was trying to flock with the kittens, obviously lonely.

I have two chicks that have been brooding in a tank in the same lean to as the hen, so she’s been able to hear and smell them.
They are 6 weeks old now, and I made them a “playpen” yesterday to introduce them to the hen behind deer fencing. Hen was sticking her head through the wires and tried to peck them, they pecked back and that seemed to settle it! They have had a peaceful but separated coexistence since.

We are leaving for a week so I’d like to get them integrated by Wednesday (today is Friday) to make it easier on the neighbor kid who is going to keep an eye on them. I read somewhere that mingling small numbers of chickens goes much easier because the adult hen gets to be top of the pecking order, and the chicks will fall in line.

Please advise on the following:
I’m Thinking of taking the barrier down this afternoon and keeping the three of them in the run to see how that goes.
Then possibly removing the nesting boxes from the coop and placing the chicks in there tonight with the hen. OR let them mingle for another day and get them to roost Saturday night.

My hen free ranges, and the chicks got out yesterday and ran about without incident. Also I had the chicks out in a pen for a few afternoons, so they are already accustomed to grassy areas and grubbingView attachment 3895456 around.

So I’m hoping to have everyone happy and free ranging by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Any concerns? Advice? View attachment 3895455

Your plan sounds good to me.

In this case, considering that they seem fine and that you will be leaving town, I would go with the fastest option (take down the divider today, try to get them sleeping in the coop right away.)

If it goes well, you will have several days to watch and make sure they are fine, before you leave.

If it does not go well, you will be present to see that, and you might have to leave them separated when you go out of town, but at least you will know that you have good reason for that decision.

It sounds like you already know enough to avoid the worst option: put them together at the last minute, leave, and have the neighbor deal with any problems. Nope, not good, I'm glad that is not your plan!

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not be surprised if they follow her into the coop.

 

[MountainWoman73]

They're big enough to get out of her way if she decides to head-peck them. They'll do just fine.

 

[ChicksofHeaven]

Update: I have the chicks mingling with the hen. Hen started out with some dominating behaviors, to keep chicks away from feeder etc. chicks held their ground, hen went to other feeder.
Hen is keeping her distance within the run. (I’m preventing free ranging so chicks learn where home is)

chicks are orbiting together, doing best to avoid hen.

No signs of blood. No feathers flying so they are tolerating each other.

Last night when hen went to roost, I put the chicks on the roost, but hen knocked them off. So I bedded them separately.
Tonight I’m hoping they all go roost together… but I doubt they will. In that case I could wait til hen is settled on the roost and sleepy, and place the chicks on the roost once she is drowsy. I read if they just wake up together, they may just accept it.
In that case, I’ll leave the door to the roost/coop open so they can social distance if they are still feeling distant.

Any suggestions?

 

[ChicksofHeaven]

Clarification: I’ll close the lower “run” so they are safe from predators. Just so they can have separate quarters if they need them. I’m not going to spend the night in the coop and referee!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Clarification: I’ll close the lower “run” so they are safe from predators. Just so they can have separate quarters if they need them. I’m not going to spend the night in the coop and referee!

That should work as long as you feel the space is safe enough from predators. I would still put the chicks inside the coop, but not on the roost (floor is fine). They can decide when they're comfortable trying to join her, otherwise I'd be satisfied with them simply going into the coop at nightfall, as that's the habit you want to ingrain in them.

 

[ChicksofHeaven]

That should work as long as you feel the space is safe enough from predators. I would still put the chicks inside the coop, but not on the roost (floor is fine). They can decide when they're comfortable trying to join her, otherwise I'd be satisfied with them simply going into the coop at nightfall, as that's the habit you want to ingrain in them.

Oh thanks for this. Tonight I’ll put them in the lower part. I put them back in their brooder tank last night.

 

[ChicksofHeaven]

I put the chicks in the lower closed in run last night with the hen up in the roost. I left the coop door open enough for the chicks to go in if they desired.
This morning they were all where I left them.

I have kept them in the outer run during the day instead of free ranging to help the chicks establish home.
Now I’m wondering if they’d get friendly by free ranging? Or should I wait til they all get along before I let them out?