Introducing Babies

[Everlyneedle]

hey there! I’ve been a chicken owner for 3 years now, and have had a lot of trouble adjusting my original flock. After one of my four passed due to egg peritonitis, I tried to introduce a full-sized pullet using the separation method for a month. My chickens drew blood on her neck, and she had to be rehabilitated indoors multiple times. Unfortunately, she passed due to unknown causes after two weeks of living in relative peace with the flock. I’m aware my chickens are brutal.

Recently, Cluckerz, on the bottom rung of the pecking order, became broody. Although hatching out eggs sounds enjoyable, buying chicks and having her adopt them is a better option. I have the supplies left over to separate the indoor section of the coop, as well as the run.

My fear is that even if the chicks are 6 weeks old when introduced, my chickens will disregard that time with them, and end their lives.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Thank you for reading!!

 

[azygous]

What are the breeds of your problem chickens? Or are they all the same breed and all are vicious?

I have a very good tried and true method of integrating baby chicks, https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/ and I currently have a group of six at present that are going through this successfully. But I've purposely stayed away from breeds such as Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks due to their reputations for aggressiveness.

My method involves brooding the chicks from day one in close proximity to the flock. By the time the chicks are two weeks old, they are beginning to mingle with the adult flock. They are currently three weeks old and five weeks old, and they are fully integrated with the adults now, and have full access to the main run but still have their "panic room" to find refuge if they wish to relax and lower their guard.

Sometimes chickens can be brutal to one of their peers while being very benign with chicks. This is one reason why I integrate so early. Adult chickens are rarely, if ever, hostile to small chicks as they can be to an adult chicken that they feel is competing with them for rank in the social order. A lot of other folks here have had the same experience with small chicks being much easier to integrate than waiting until they are nearly the same size as the adults.