new member

[gtbullitt08]

hi all. new with chickens and have questions. i have 4 game hens i've had about 4 weeks. about the same time i got the game hens i also got 16 buff pullets and 2 buff roosters 3 days old. i took good care of the babies for 4 weeks and they were in great shape and outgrowing their surroundings. yesterday morning i placed all 4 week olds in chicken coop with with the 4 game hens. i checked on them regular and everything seemed fine. this morning i wake up to 2 of the baby pullets deceased and 1 baby rooster with feathers missing. do i have to get rid of the game hens?

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas and

! Great to have you with us! Really sorry to hear about what happened. I know when I intro new birds to established ones I do so through a fence so they can get used to each other for a few days without having actual physical access. After the break in period I coop them together when it's completely dark outside as chickens are quite docile in the dark. At first light I open the coop so the newbies aren't trapped together and then I observe. There will be some pecking order dominance shown by the older ones which is normal and as long as no members are singled out for abuse, you should be good to go. If any are I isolate them and restart the procedure. Having said all that, now that yours have actually killed some chicks I'm not sure if something different needs to be done. You might post in the section below for more advice. Good luck to you!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/2/managing-your-flock

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!!

Glad to have you aboard!!

 

[gtbullitt08]

thanks. i am gonna look(ask) before i leap next time. spent today turning a 8x12 dog kennel into a temporary chicken coop complete with yard, nesting boxes and roost.

 

[drumstick diva]

Game birds should be kept with game birds.