Introducing The Chicks

[XanderWiFi]

Chicks are not fully integrated but have been left to roam the run unsupervised. They know their hiding spots and aggression has gone way down from the big chickens. Attacks only happen if a chick gets cornered in the chicken's personal space or if they wander too close. Chickens never chase more than a foot or two to get their point across. It is looking good so far. Funny seeing the chicks scare the big ones at times as well flying like crazy juveniles.

 

[XanderWiFi]

Things took a step back. I was out of town for the past two nights and was unable to keep as close an eye on the birds. Got into town last night and I was not thorough, but did not notice anything awry when I put all the girls to bed for the night.

Wake up this morning. Taking care of maintenance and letting everyone out into the big run and I notice one of the calico princesses has a nickle sized bloody/scabby patch on the top of her head. Right at the "I'm dominant" pecking area. My initial thought is she somehow burned herself on the lizard lamp but after seeing some small scabbing around her ears I think she may have gotten trapped and had the smack down put on her. They occasionally wander into the big chickens coop and wind up trapped as they keep trying to get through the fence instead of backtracking through the door.

Brought the poor thing in, cleaned and applied triple antibiotic ointment and put her in the chick house where she has not wandered out since. I did notice yesterday that only 5/6 would come out of the chick house but would wait until the 6th was spotted in the chick house run. Do I fully separate her to heal? Do I lock the chicks back into chick house? It very well could be the chicks themselves who did it to her but I have not noticed any of that aggressive behavior before. It is a blue kote appropriate wound but I did not want to risk spraying her in the eyes.

Guidance appreciated @aart and others

 

[XanderWiFi]

In terms of how the others are doing with the chickens, the chicks are roaming to the other half of the run but run and hide when the chickens come near. I have not seen them scratching and co-mingling fully yet.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

In terms of how the others are doing with the chickens, the chicks are roaming to the other half of the run but run and hide when the chickens come near. I have not seen them scratching and co-mingling fully yet.

That's normal. My younger ones don't start mingling until they are older, usually older than a year.

 

[XanderWiFi]

the injured chick seems to be avoiding the others. may need to quarantine

 

[XanderWiFi]

Brought the injured chick in for another inspection. She was keeping herself separate from her peers and often alone and/or not staying with the other 5 chicks. She would actually come toward me rather than freeing like I was going to eat her like they usually do.

Thoroughly rinsed with warm water to get all the dried blood off. Found a spot where feathers attached to a small flap of flesh could actually be lifted up. Elevated care, and doused heavily with microcyn while trying to be as careful about her eyes as possible. Set up the chicken hospital (small dog crate), put some bedding in, food, water, towel over top for shade and placed her next to the chick apartment run. She immediately took to the food and water and set to flailing herself out to sun so she will be okay in the long run.

Whatever chicken got a hold of her hurt her pretty bad. At night I will put her back with the chicks for safety and warmth. They are five weeks and pretty much fully feathered so the heat lamp is going away. I am hoping the day of safety and minor seclusion allows her to rest and heal a little bit. All her chick sisters came out to check on her before going back to their own business. I do not think they are picking at her too much.

 

[aart]

They occasionally wander into the big chickens coop and wind up trapped as they keep trying to get through the fence instead of backtracking through the door.

Yeah, important to have multiple escape doors...but even then, they can get confused.

 

[XanderWiFi]

I can secure one at this point but the number of hiding spaces and areas they can run are numerous. They often play "ring around the rosie" with their chick apartment and the big chickens (big chickens can't fit on two sides of it) along with the logs, some lean to boards, etc. Either way, she got stuck somewhere and someone really took it out on her. I released the injured chick back to general population. She is out running and jousting with her siblings and will be fine as long as she does not get cornered again. I have noticed that if a chicken comes their way she is the first back in the apartment waiting for them to leave to come out again.

 

[XanderWiFi]

Injured chick is healed up and they are now exploring the run completely. However, they have to play "Frogger" getting from one end to another. 2-3 of the chickens will be quite aggressive if the chicks come anywhere near them whereas the rest only go after them if they remain close for a period of time. At what point should I transplant them into the large coop?

 

[aart]

Oh, I'd give it a few weeks...until they outgrow their little brooder house.
Getting along in the yard will not include sharing a coop,
it's another 'territory' to integrate.
Might move the chicks brooder closer to the big coop.

Is your coop set up with a separate roost for the littles?
Roost time can be rife with territory battles, even with a well established flock.
It's the 'RoostTimeRumble'....happens about every night.

Might consider somehow confining the older birds and let the youngers explore the coop unmolested a few times. Do the chicks now have access to the big coop and run and have they been in there yet? Looking back at this, looks like you could put the chicks in the coop/run, locking the olders out of it(after they are done laying for the day). Do that a few times, then consider getting them to roost in there.