Nine Chicks Introduced to One Old Hen?

[FredSG]

Hello all,

I'm sure similar questions have been posted but I need to be prepared for the worst.

I have 9 chicks that are 3-4 weeks old. They are all doing well in their pen. I have one 5 year old hen who has been alone for about 5 months since my other hens died over a period of several years.

What can I expect if I introduce the chicks to the hen house of the older hen? I plan to wait as long as possible before I make the introduction . . . please, any suggestions or comments.

Dorothy

 

[3KillerBs]

Do a search on the word "integration" and you'll find many excellent threads filled with advice on how to introduce chickens to one another.

I've never done it, but a period of "look but don't touch" time where the chickens are in adjacent pens but separated by wire is always part of the recommendations.

 

[aart]

They are all doing well in their pen.

Is this pen right next to the older birds coop and run?
Do the chicks live in the pen 24/7?
Dimensions and pics of your setup would garner better suggestions.

I plan to wait as long as possible before I make the introduction

I'd not wait, earlier the better:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[NatJ]

With that many young ones, and only one old one, you MIGHT be able to do it quite soon. It will depend a lot on the hen.

Simplest thing to try: just put the hen into the chick pen and watch what happens. You might get lucky and have them do fine together, but do be ready to pull her out if it doesn't go well.

If that doesn't work, go read that article aart wrote, because it's good advice.

Although with just one older hen, you could also put the chicks in the hen house and the hen in a cage inside the hen house, then let the hen out each day to watch how she behaves toward the chicks. Let the hen stay free when they seem to be fine.

(Having just the one hen can make it a lot easier, because no matter how much she tries to bully the chicks, there is still only ONE of her.)

 

[aart]

Simplest thing to try: just put the hen into the chick pen and watch what happens. You might get lucky and have them do fine together, but do be ready to pull her out if it doesn't go well.

Good Idea!
...and/or put the hen in the pen and the chicks in the main coop and run.

 

[FredSG]

I guess I need to reply to my original post . . . the nine chicks are in a pen far removed and out of sight from the old hen . . . they are just 4 weeks old. I have 5 Rhode Island Reds and 4 Australorps . . .

I think the best approach would be, as suggested, to place the old hen in a separate pen and go from there. Really appreciate all the support!

Dottie

 

[Ridgerunner]

My situation is different from yours so you can't do what I do. My brooder is in the coop so those chicks grow up with the flock. My broody hens raise their chicks with the flock from Day 1. I don't know how much room you have, that's pretty important. I have a lot more than the recommendations you see on here. I have weather where they can be outside all day everyday to take advantage of that room. By five weeks of age my brooder-raised chicks are roaming with the flock. I've had broody hens wean their chicks as young as three weeks, leaving them to make their own way with the flock. It's too late for you to do this. The chicks growing up with the flock makes a huge difference. Waiting doesn't necessarily make the integration easier though. Not knowing what you have to work with makes it harder to make specific suggestions.

So what can you do? You can just put them together when you can observe and see what happens. The more room the better but sometimes it is that easy.

If that doesn't work follow the steps in Aart's post as best you can. House them across wire for a while so they can get used to each other. Give them as much room as you can, hopefully with places to hide under, behind, or over, some way to break line of sight. Separate food and water stations can help.

Don't try to force them together any more than you have to with your facilities. If they don't want to hang together (day or night) that's fine. They will when the chicks grow up. As much as you can let them work it out. My definition of a successful integration is that no one gets hurt. That's it. All that stuff about merging into a tight flock will come with time.

Having just one adult hen will change the dynamics some from what I'm used to. Chickens are social animals, she may want to hang with those chicks where if you had more adults they probably would not. That may work in your favor, it may create a problem, I don't know. Each integration is different and each hen has her own personality. You won't know until you try. But they are not too young to try.

Good luck!

 

[FredSG]

I'm in Northern Maine and the weather dictates where I need to keep the chicks until they are older. If I put them in the chicken house now at 4 weeks of age with the old hen they'd freeze as it's just to cold for them. I have them in my potting shed which is separate and a short distance from the chicken house where the old hen lives. The potting shed has a temperature of 80-90 degrees, ideal for the chicks at their age.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Dottie

 

[NatJ]

If I put them in the chicken house now at 4 weeks of age with the old hen they'd freeze as it's just to cold for them.

How cold is it?

The potting shed has a temperature of 80-90 degrees, ideal for the chicks at their age.

Are you using a heat lamp or something, or is the whole shed that warm?

If they have one warm spot (like a heat lamp) in an otherwise cool room, they acclimate to the cold much faster.