Introducing chick and mum to flock

[Puckaster]

My other concern about integrating them too soon is that I won't be able to let them out to free range because the chicks will be vulnerable to being taken by my cat. Whislch will mean the whole flock will be confined from several weeks/months, until their big enough to stand up to the cat

 

[chickens really]

My worry is that mother hen will be beaten up and unable to protect them. She was the bottom bird before and one of the other hen comes around her run when she's free ranging and rears up as if to attack her. Before i moved them that bird almost killed one of the day old chicks.

Day old Chicks is one thing. Momma will protect these

 

[Ridgerunner]

You have more room than I expected. To convert that big one is roughly 8' x 13' and the smaller about 5' x 10'. That's runs, not coops, but it isn't bad for nine chickens. Plus there is some possibility of free ranging.

I'm always in favor of more room. If you can I'd move the two together but keep a gate or door between the two where you can let them mingle or isolate if you need to. That gives you a lot more flexibility now and in the future.

I don't know how big of a threat that cat really is to those chicks. Many people keep barnyard cats around their flocks with no issues, even with a broody and baby chicks. Others can have real problems. I can't assess that from here.

I'd think the fox and badger would be as big a threat to your adult hens as they would be to those 6 week old chicks, but there other predators, smaller hawks for example, that would take a chick while passing on an adult. I would not think the chicks are at that high a risk free ranging but they are at more of a risk than adults. The way I'd handle integration would be to let both groups out to free range together but go back to their own separate coops at night. I can see why you might not like that suggestion though.

That brute of a hen bothers me. Normally hens are not that aggressive toward chicks. They may initially be curious but typically if the chicks don't bother them the hen doesn't bother the chicks. Sounds like you may have a psychopath. Also most broody hens are so protective any other hen doesn't have a chance. Sounds like you got unlucky on both counts. In many circumstances I'd agree to let them fight it out but between a 6 week old chick and an adult hen it is not a fight, it is a massacre. It doesn't sound like that broody would be much help to the chicks.

Sometimes when managing chickens you have to make hard choices, like you are talking about with the cockerels. When I make those decisions I try to think about the best for the flock as a whole, not for any individual chicken. It may be time for that older hen to go.

Are both those older hens laying? If they are I'd be reluctant to teach them to lay anywhere other than the nests. That may be another constraint on you. With your constraints on free ranging the chicks I'd try putting them all together in that big run when you can be around to observe and see if you need to do anything with that older hen. It may work out OK. If not, you can try isolating that hen, maybe in one of those smaller coops, for a week or so before trying again. But you may be faced with the decision between her and the four pullets. It's not always easy.

 

[Puckaster]

You have more room than I expected. To convert that big one is roughly 8' x 13' and the smaller about 5' x 10'. That's runs, not coops, but it isn't bad for nine chickens. Plus there is some possibility of free ranging.

I'm always in favor of more room. If you can I'd move the two together but keep a gate or door between the two where you can let them mingle or isolate if you need to. That gives you a lot more flexibility now and in the future.

I don't know how big of a threat that cat really is to those chicks. Many people keep barnyard cats around their flocks with no issues, even with a broody and baby chicks. Others can have real problems. I can't assess that from here.

I'd think the fox and badger would be as big a threat to your adult hens as they would be to those 6 week old chicks, but there other predators, smaller hawks for example, that would take a chick while passing on an adult. I would not think the chicks are at that high a risk free ranging but they are at more of a risk than adults. The way I'd handle integration would be to let both groups out to free range together but go back to their own separate coops at night. I can see why you might not like that suggestion though.

That brute of a hen bothers me. Normally hens are not that aggressive toward chicks. They may initially be curious but typically if the chicks don't bother them the hen doesn't bother the chicks. Sounds like you may have a psychopath. Also most broody hens are so protective any other hen doesn't have a chance. Sounds like you got unlucky on both counts. In many circumstances I'd agree to let them fight it out but between a 6 week old chick and an adult hen it is not a fight, it is a massacre. It doesn't sound like that broody would be much help to the chicks.

Sometimes when managing chickens you have to make hard choices, like you are talking about with the cockerels. When I make those decisions I try to think about the best for the flock as a whole, not for any individual chicken. It may be time for that older hen to go.

Are both those older hens laying? If they are I'd be reluctant to teach them to lay anywhere other than the nests. That may be another constraint on you. With your constraints on free ranging the chicks I'd try putting them all together in that big run when you can be around to observe and see if you need to do anything with that older hen. It may work out OK. If not, you can try isolating that hen, maybe in one of those smaller coops, for a week or so before trying again. But you may be faced with the decision between her and the four pullets. It's not always easy.

Thanks for all that, it very helpful.

So is everyone of the opinion that I'm better to start sooner with integration, rather than later when theirs say 16 to 18 weeks? And when mum hen want to roost to put her back with the others?

 

[Puckaster]

I joined the runs today and started feeding them next to each other. Over the next few days I'll start to let them mingle a little and see how they get on.

 

[aart]

I joined the runs today and started feeding them next to each other. Over the next few days I'll start to let them mingle a little and see how they get on.

Fantastic Flexibility!!

 

[Puckaster]

Ok. I've been letting them mingle the last few days. There's deffinately some tension. The mum chases the one that is the most interested and troublesome away but the other one is clearly the top hen and gives the chicks a clear warning to back off her patch but nothing too major yet. Mum hen wont get involved at all with this hen and gets a good pe king herself. I've been separating them when I'm not around and in the evening. Tonight the mum hen went to perch in the main coop and the chicks started to join her. I wasn't sure if this was a good idea yet so I got them out and put them back in there areaand they've got to nest in their coop. If it happens again tomorrow do you think I'm wise to let it be and see what happens....? Their 7 weeks old now. Do chick normally perch in the main coop this early? Will they get beaten up inside?

 

[Puckaster]

Day old Chicks is one thing. Momma will protect these

You have more room than I expected. To convert that big one is roughly 8' x 13' and the smaller about 5' x 10'. That's runs, not coops, but it isn't bad for nine chickens. Plus there is some possibility of free ranging.

I'm always in favor of more room. If you can I'd move the two together but keep a gate or door between the two where you can let them mingle or isolate if you need to. That gives you a lot more flexibility now and in the future.

I don't know how big of a threat that cat really is to those chicks. Many people keep barnyard cats around their flocks with no issues, even with a broody and baby chicks. Others can have real problems. I can't assess that from here.

I'd think the fox and badger would be as big a threat to your adult hens as they would be to those 6 week old chicks, but there other predators, smaller hawks for example, that would take a chick while passing on an adult. I would not think the chicks are at that high a risk free ranging but they are at more of a risk than adults. The way I'd handle integration would be to let both groups out to free range together but go back to their own separate coops at night. I can see why you might not like that suggestion though.

That brute of a hen bothers me. Normally hens are not that aggressive toward chicks. They may initially be curious but typically if the chicks don't bother them the hen doesn't bother the chicks. Sounds like you may have a psychopath. Also most broody hens are so protective any other hen doesn't have a chance. Sounds like you got unlucky on both counts. In many circumstances I'd agree to let them fight it out but between a 6 week old chick and an adult hen it is not a fight, it is a massacre. It doesn't sound like that broody would be much help to the chicks.

Sometimes when managing chickens you have to make hard choices, like you are talking about with the cockerels. When I make those decisions I try to think about the best for the flock as a whole, not for any individual chicken. It may be time for that older hen to go.

Are both those older hens laying? If they are I'd be reluctant to teach them to lay anywhere other than the nests. That may be another constraint on you. With your constraints on free ranging the chicks I'd try putting them all together in that big run when you can be around to observe and see if you need to do anything with that older hen. It may work out OK. If not, you can try isolating that hen, maybe in one of those smaller coops, for a week or so before trying again. But you may be faced with the decision between her and the four pullets. It's not always easy.

Fantastic Flexibility!!

Ok. I've been letting them mingle the last few days. There's deffinately some tension. The mum chases the one that is the most interested and troublesome away but the other one is clearly the top hen and gives the chicks a clear warning to back off her patch but nothing too major yet. Mum hen wont get involved at all with this hen and gets a little pecking herself. I've been separating them when I'm not around and in the evening. Tonight the mum hen went to perch in the main coop and the chicks started to join her. I wasn't sure if this was a good idea yet so I got them out and put them back in there areaand they've got to nest in their coop. If it happens again tomorrow do you think I'm wise to let it be and see what happens....? Their 7 weeks old now. Do chick normally perch in the main coop this early? Will they get beaten up inside?

 

[chickens really]

Ok. I've been letting them mingle the last few days. There's deffinately some tension. The mum chases the one that is the most interested and troublesome away but the other one is clearly the top hen and gives the chicks a clear warning to back off her patch but nothing too major yet. Mum hen wont get involved at all with this hen and gets a little pecking herself. I've been separating them when I'm not around and in the evening. Tonight the mum hen went to perch in the main coop and the chicks started to join her. I wasn't sure if this was a good idea yet so I got them out and put them back in there areaand they've got to nest in their coop. If it happens again tomorrow do you think I'm wise to let it be and see what happens....? Their 7 weeks old now. Do chick normally perch in the main coop this early? Will they get beaten up inside?

Stop interfering in the intragration process. Don't remove them anymore.

 

[aart]

If it happens again tomorrow do you think I'm wise to let it be and see what happens....? Their 7 weeks old now. Do chick normally perch in the main coop this early? Will they get beaten up inside?

Yep, see how it works out..as long as there is no blood let them find their way.
Every time you interfere with integration it just kind of starts over.
But your coops are all very small, so that can make it harder for the babies to get in there. Is the main coop even big enough for the total number of birds?
Maybe put the chicks small coop into the big run?