Introducing chicks to older hens

[ltrentin]

We have 6 "older" crossbred hens and we also have 6 EE pullets. We just introduced the pullets to the run/ coop this week. They are 5 weeks old. They have a separate part that they can stay in or they can get to the other parts of the coop as well including the roost. My son was hoping that the older hens would take the pullets into the roost with them, but they haven't. Then one day later in the day tried to put one of the pullets in the roost and an older one tried to attack the younger one. How can we help them get along better. Even when they are in the run together the older ones and the pullets seem to stay on their own sides and separate from each other. Will it just take time? Is there something we can do to encourage it?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They will remain separate. They may mingle more when the younger ones are mature, but until than they stay away from each other.

 

[Lilokieescorter]

I'm working on the same thing right now, with 2 Sizzlers that are 6 weeks old. I keep them in a tractor inside the coop during the day & @ night after the big kids have settled down I go out & put the tiny one's in with them & the silkies snuggle, but i go out in the morning just about sunrise & move them back. I was late one day & they were hiding from the Teenagers! Thankfully we had it set up for whoever needed them in case. So we're waiting for them to get bigger about the same size as the silkies & then try it!

 

[rosemarythyme]

What I do to move chicks into the coop with hens (after they've been successfully sharing run space for a couple of weeks with few issues) is to put the chicks inside the coop in a safe enclosure - I've done a dog exercise pen before, as well as a rat cage. So each evening I round up the chicks and put them in the safe enclosure. When the chicks are ready for it, they should go into the coop at dusk without prompting, and will attempt to roost. Helps immensely if you have extra roost space - i.e. 2 or more bars, so chicks are not forced to roost right next to adults.

Your chicks may still need more time acclimating to the hens (and vice versa) out in the run before they're ready to try roosting with the hens.

4 week old chicks roosting overnight for the first time:


More info here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

 

[El Paso Linda]

I have Bantum Silkie chickens that are 5 months old and as big as the older hens and rooster. They were raised by one of the hens and went into the coop with the hen whom protected the chicks. Just now the chicks have stopped running away from the older hens and mingle with the others in a flock, although they still defer to the older chickens.
Now I have 2 more baby Silkies that don't have a hen to protect them. These chicks are 2 months old. They are in a dog pen inside the chicken run so all the chickens are familiar with each other. My question is: when should I put them together and will one of the hens protect and teach them?

 

[M Brennen]

I have been working on this too. I started letting the 5 week olds out in the afternoon with supervision. I noticed when the little ones get too close, the older birds will peck them and grab feathers. There is one hen who likes to chase the teenagers. The teenagers are getting to know their places. In the evening most of the adults settle down to roost (except the chaser). Then the young ones have their time with less stress. At night, when the teenagers have all settled down for the night, I pick each one up and put it back in their separate box. In the morning, I let the adults out to have their time while I’m at work and when I get home mid afternoon, I repeat the process of letting out the teenagers. I have been doing this for five nights. Tonight I will leave them overnight and see how tomorrow morning goes. They would probably Have been okay after a couple days, but for my peace of mind, I felt better separating them when I’m not home.

 

[El Paso Linda]

I think I will keep the babies in their separate pen for a few more weeks and then let them out with the flock into the bigger run with the door to their pen open so they can go back inside to drink water and eat their chick starter feed, and go to sleep. I am hoping one of the hens will adopt them and protect them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I am hoping one of the hens will adopt them and protect them.

Unlikely that a hen will "adopt" them but a mild mannered hen can still show them some of the ropes by just behaving like a chicken in front of them, so the chicks can pick up or refine their behaviors.