Michigan

[KrisRose]

You are not alone. I am lurking.

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

Help!!

This is Nugget, my 6 week EE. I recently put him and Noodle 8 weeks in with the older chickens. The older chickens have been pretty rough on them. I found them huddled in the corner of the run today hidding from the meanies!!!
Nugget now has little to no balance. He wobbles and falls over.
They have been around eachother before so I do not think it is disease spread between "flocks"
Could he have been pecked stupid?

How do I upload a video??

 

[KrisRose]

Taking break from watering. Catching up on posts. Lordly you people need to go outside and play!! Dang it has taking me 4 days to catch up!

 

[chicken grandma]

BYFM - yes, he was probably pecked stupid. Head injury.
I would isolate your injured chicken and perhaps his friend near him. Not sure what else you can do but wait.

 

[KrisRose]

Yes could have . You need to separate and plan a better mix.
Mine are out in backyard where they can easily out run older hens. But trap in coop with them you are lucky they are alive.

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

BYFM - yes, he was probably pecked stupid. Head injury.
I would isolate your injured chicken and perhaps his friend near him. Not sure what else you can do but wait.

That is what I thought... Thanks.

He seems to shake his head and fall over. Like he becomes disoriented then WHOA!
Poor lil guy...
I have him and his lady together.
Errrrrr! I have an evil chicken gang!
BF just HAD to have BRs... I don't care for them.

 

[chicken grandma]

I went to a chicken workshop at Michigan State this Spring. The vet there said that he did not recommend that we mix different age chickens together.
I think KrisRose is right - if they can run away then fine, but if they are trapped together in a run or coop, then mixing new chickens together or adults and teens together or any weak bird among stronger chickens can be dangerous.


I think bantams can be vulnerable among standard size chickens but I know it depends on the chicken.

 

[jrsckn]

I put my 9 week olds in with the 18 week olds 3 days ago; the 9 week olds are in the coop in a large metal dog crate. I just opened the crate this afternoon and they're getting bullied but not too bad yet; they're still exploring the coop at this point and my other pullets are mostly staying outside. They're coming up to the door and looking out but are too scared to come out. This is the first time I've integrated different age groups; does anyone have any advice on how to make things go more smoothly? Or is there a good age when mixing them would be better? They've almost outgrown the crate and my CX are taking up all my other available space and won't go to freezer camp for two more weeks.

 

[NovaAman]

The chicks I got at CS are in the run but separated from the others. When my niece asked me why I did it that way, I told her it was cuz they did not have a comma to protect them from the others. They will not range until they are big enough and old enough to get away. The older ones can see them now, but not hurt them.

Got Skatter moved to the garage. Baby is starting to hatch. So, just in time.

 

[chicken grandma]

I put my 9 week olds in with the 18 week olds 3 days ago; the 9 week olds are in the coop in a large metal dog crate. I just opened the crate this afternoon and they're getting bullied but not too bad yet; they're still exploring the coop at this point and my other pullets are mostly staying outside. They're coming up to the door and looking out but are too scared to come out. This is the first time I've integrated different age groups; does anyone have any advice on how to make things go more smoothly? Or is there a good age when mixing them would be better? They've almost outgrown the crate and my CX are taking up all my other available space and won't go to freezer camp for two more weeks.

Our vet suggested that I put our chickens together in a free range setting in the yard when they were ABOUT THE SAME PHYSICAL SIZE. As far as putting them together in a confined area, I think I would wait until they were used to each other while free ranging the yard and chose to roost together on their own.

That is why egg farm chickens are sometimes de beaked - chickens peck on each other when confined. They also tend to gang up and kill a weak or sick chicken.

Some people have multiple coops and runs to manage their flocks (ie. NOVA). That seems wise!