Moving chicks and mamma hen back to the main run (UK)

[LaurasNew]

Thanks for this, this Mammy is somewhere in the middle of the pecking order. I have never seen her behave aggressively, so I would be a bit worried that she wouldn't protect the chicks. I think I'll give them a couple of weeks. They are in the run so the hens and chicks can see and hopefully get used to one another without the danger.

Hi all, just wanted to update, in case this might be helpful for anyone else. My daughter came up with what has proved to be a very good idea. We had a roll out fence so could section off an area in the run. This would only work with a small flock but we allowed one hen in with Mam and chicks at a time to see how they were. She was aggressive towards the hens lower than her in pecking order but moved herself and the chicks away from those who were higher. The chicks are a week and a day old and absolutely no problems with integrating them. I was terrified but I do believe Nuthatched is, once again, 100% correct. So long as you can be around to watch the initial introductions and you don't have a very aggressive hen/lack of space, it is in no way as difficult as it is to add new pullets to an existing flock.

 

[rural mouse]

In the coop with the adults. Babies hatched in incubator.

Like wood ducks.

Babies integrated from day 1. I've even seen the adults escort a "lost" (peep peep peep, Mommy, where are you!) baby back to mama.

just under 2 weeks old.

They're now 2.5 weeks and all 20 are doing quite well.