/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

introducing chicks to the flock

Discussion in 'Managing Your Flock' started by Ambiguity, Mar 6, 2009.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Mar 6, 2009 #1
    Ambiguity

    Ambiguity Out Of The Brooder

    10
    0
    22
    Dec 29, 2008
    Michigan
    My first batch of chicks that are eight weeks old are stinking up my house, sadly. Last night my husband introduced them to the flock. I know such transitions can be rough so when I went to feed them this morning I did a head count on my babies. The ones hiding behind the feeder seem great, but one of my little babies is missing wing feathers and bleeding.

    I picked her up and brought her inside and put her in the brooder. And for chicks that were very flighty she was very docile. My question is I don't know if I did the right thing. My first thought was that because she was bleeding the chickens will continue to peck her, so I brought her inside, where she is all alone, but then I thought that if I seperate her from her chickmates she will lose whatever bond she had with them and then when I reintroducer her she will have double trouble. . .

    Should I clean up the blood on the wing but a few more hidey holes in the coop? or should I just keep her in here with me all along? or something else. Thanks so much for your help
     
  3. Mar 6, 2009 #2
    rebelcowboysnb

    rebelcowboysnb Confederate Money Farm Premium Member

    14,675
    618
    368
    Nov 14, 2008
    Independent State of Dade NWGa
    I would take it back out an section off part of the coop with 2 by 4 wire so the smaller ones can get away from the big ones but still have the run of the coop.
     
  5. Mar 6, 2009 #3
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Chicken Obsessed

    19,943
    3,102
    476
    Feb 2, 2009
    Northwest Arkansas
    Keep her isolated until she heals. Set up a screened place where she will be next to the flock but where they cannot get to her until she is healed. Give her her own food and water and make sure it is predator proof.

    When introducing new chickens to a flock, it is best to have them adjacent where they can see each other before you mix them. The longer the better, but a week should be long enough And mix them at night. There will still be pecking order issues, but these should be greatly reduced.
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by