Introducing a younger chick

[NewRIRMom]

I have 15 5 week old RIR pullets and I also have a 3 week old chick I hatched from an egg. I currently have the younger chick in a cage in the coop with my older girls. How long should I keep the group seperate and what is the best way to introduce the "baby" to the older girls? They don't seem to be paying much attention to the "baby". Baby seems to want to join the group but is about 1/2 the size of the largest RIR. Thanks for any info.

 

[Judy]

I'd wait at least a week then put them together at night, or else while giving everyone some good distracting treats. You won't know til you try. If the little one gets attacked, you may have to keep them separate til they are all the same size.

 

[NewRIRMom]

Thanks for your response. I will be introducing them into their covered run in the next couple of days (construction on going). If I put them out together do you think the new surroundings would be enough of a distraction? I do have lots of mealworms and crickets I will put out also.

 

[mradam]

I don't know if the new environment would work as a distraction. Moving to a new place can be stressful for them and often when they are stressed they take it out on others, like maybe the littlest one. That's not always the case though. It really depends on the temperament of your birds. Treats pretty much always do the trick though, so long as you have plenty of them to go around.

 

[NewRIRMom]

Good point about stress. I will be closely supervising the intro. I should be able to open them up to the outdoor covered yard tomorrow. It has been so hot here that I am excited to get them outside and the baby is outgrowing her cage FAST. I let you know it goes. Thanks!