Introducing myself and my chooks

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Aussie-Chookmum

Aussie-Chookmum

Obeying her avian masters
Apr 20, 2019
6,335
63,525
1,102
Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
I consider myself a newbie.

Although I first adopted two Isa Brown hens in 2013 there's lots I don't know. I found The Back Yard Chicken website a few weeks ago and hope to pick all of you lovely people's brains!

I currently have two 2&1/2 year old hens. Tsuki, a leghorn and Deana, a Rhode Island Red. Last month we adopted two chicks who are now six weeks old. Alice, an Araucana and Edwina, an olive egger. We are following BYC's advice on introducing them to my older hens and have set up a new run for them next to the old one which the baby chicks will be moving into in a couple of weeks.

I wanted to get chooks of my own to ensure that my eggs came from "happy chooks" as I couldn't be sure that even "Free range" chooks here in Australia were really having quality of life. The standards of "Free range" could be anything from out in an open field with plenty of sun, water and space, to running around in a crowded barn with hardly any elbow room. On top of that, the company that markets the free range eggs also sells eggs from battery hens! :-(

My family currently has 3 dogs that are used to my older hens and don't bother them when they are out of their pen and pecking around the garden. When the baby chicks are bigger and not "peeping" like a squeaky toy any more I'll intoduce the dogs to them without a fence between. Under supervision of course!

I'm looking forward being part of this community and learning lots!

Aussie-Chookmum
 
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Glad you joined! I also have 2 new chicks I'm starting to integrate right now... they're 3 weeks old. I like to move their brooder to the coop at 1-2 weeks and start supervised free range time together. My older girls are actually a little afraid of the little ones... so funny!
This is my setup currently:
20190418_125220.jpg 20190416_162610.jpg

Last year's chicks were on the main roost by 4-5 weeks:
integrating-chicks.jpg

Everyone has their own idea of the right age to start integration, and you should always do what you're comfortable with. Here's the links I used to help me:
Mama Heating Pad
Integrating at 4 weeks old
Start Raising Your Chicks Outdoors
You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors

Best wishes with your flock!
 
That's brilliant FlappyFeathers! Thanks for the links. I love those ideas! They make a lot more sense than keeping chicks in brilliantly lit box 24/7!:thumbsup

I've bookmarked them for when I get chicks again.

Strangely enough I didn't like the heat lamp and have had them on a heating pad in a cardboard box inside a dog crate since I brought them home! They have outdoor time in a covered "playpen" with a rabbit hutch for shelter within sight of my hens during the day and go back to their "bedroom" at night.

I've almost finished their new run adjacent to my existing run and I will be moving them there 24/7 when they are fully fledged in a couple of weeks. If the weather stays mild they may even have some "sleepovers" in the playpen before that.

P.S. I admire your set up and that's a great picture of your hens and chicks! Thanks for sharing!
 
Hi and welcome to BYC and congrats on your new hobby.

Here are some links to key resources:
Best wishes

Pork Pie
 

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