Introducing Chicks

[Aprilxoxo]

I have a rescue hen that's all alone at the moment (finished her quarantine) and I've just started to process of introducing my 7 week old chicks. I've put the chicks coop into her run so that they can interact with each other but not be able to be harmed. For the last week and a half the hen hasn't done anything concerning. She actually doesn't even seem slightly bothered by them.
So I decided to let the chicks out with her under supervision and after about 2 minutes of them zooming around they decided it was time to play with the hen. And by play I mean grab her wattles and lobes and try rip them off
The hen only just tries to pull away, doesn't even try to fight back so I'm not worried about her behaviour at this point, and I understand the chicks are curious but should I hold off the physical interactions until they are older or continue super short visits with each other and let them work it out?

The chicks do the same thing with my toes if I wear sandles and their bite is quite painful so I know that the hen would be in quite a bit of pain from being pulled by 3 chicks at the same time by her face flaps.

 

[cavemanrich]

Throw in a handful of scratch, and let the group have short visits together. I suspect that boredom may be in action with your young chicks. If they are busy with whatever,,, less likely to search out mischief.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[Aprilxoxo]

Throw in a handful of scratch, and let the group have short visits together. I suspect that boredom may be in action with your young chicks. If they are busy with whatever,,, less likely to search out mischief.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

Thank you i will try that

 

[Mrs. K]

What does your coop/run look like? Is it just an open rectangle with no way to get off the ground? Does it have platforms, roosts, mini walls where a bird can get out of reach or out of sight?

Truthfully if she is not attacking the chicks, I would not worry about it, and I would not separate them. I would keep them together and let them work it out, but my run does have hideouts, platforms, and mini walls.

Mrs K

 

[Aprilxoxo]

What does your coop/run look like? Is it just an open rectangle with no way to get off the ground? Does it have platforms, roosts, mini walls where a bird can get out of reach or out of sight?

Truthfully if she is not attacking the chicks, I would not worry about it, and I would not separate them. I would keep them together and let them work it out, but my run does have hideouts, platforms, and mini walls.

Mrs K

My run has all different kinds of things for perching and playing for them but i guess nothing beats another chicken for fun. Theyve actually worked it out now which is good. They even fall asleep and bathe together. Its so cute