Normal chicken behavior?

[2102Simm]

I'm a new chicken mama and I have some questions about how an existing flock of adult chickens is supposed to respond to 6 week old baby chicks? I have 5 adult hens and a rooster, my new babies are 8 pullets and 1 cockerel. I did the whole see/no touch pen for about 2 weeks and finally introduced them at 6 weeks old. So far there have been minimal pecks/ squabbles. With the big chickens ignoring the little ones for the majority of the day. The big chickens free range all day and only go in the coop/ run to get water or lay eggs. I have noticed in the last few days the big chickens will drive the babies out of the run then go about their business free ranging away from the run. I guess my question is is that normal? The babies tend to stay in their little flock and not try to follow or spend time with the big chickens.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's all normal. The adult chickens believe the chicks are the offspring of someone in the flock and are treating them as such. They tolerate them, but also remind them of their place. The kids won't be accepted as part of the adult flock until after they are all mature.

 

[so lucky]

Sounds like you are doing it right!

 

[SueT]

Nice photo! Yes, sounds normal. It's good to have extra feeders and waterer....

 

[2102Simm]

Awesome, thank you for the confidence boost. I've read multiple stories on here of the hens attacking the chicks till feathers and blood are drawn and my situation has been extremely tame in comparison. That's not to say the dominant hen Big Mama (the black hen in the photo) hasn't delivered a few swift pecks to some of the bolder babies but mostly they give each other space. Is there a timeline when the chicks will start trying to spend more time/follow with the big hens in their free ranging? Or will they just grow up to be their own separate flock?

 

[chrissynemetz]

Eventually the younger birds will start to mingle more with older flock. It can take longer for some, and occasionally you might find a few of the younger pullets seem to buddy around more with each other. But eventually they'll all hang out together more

 

[2102Simm]

Ok even now within the baby group my 3 Buff orpingtons tend to stick together and explore while the 3 of the 5 RIR chicks hang out together. Then my cockerel RIR goes back and forth between the 2 sub groups. Then my 2 odd balls are the smallest RIR pullet that ends up getting stuck in a corner outside the run and my Red Ranger pullet follows me around and seems to dominate the other 2 groups. Are these little sub groups likely to carryover into adulthood?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Chicks do form friendships. So if you see them hanging more with certain members when younger it does tend to carry forward and those birds stick together more.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I've noticed groups who were brooded together seem to have a sort of bond. They'll mix with everybody else off and on throughout the day, but always find their way back to each other. And these brooder mates roost together at night.

 

[aart]

The big chickens free range all day and only go in the coop/ run to get water or lay eggs. I have noticed in the last few days the big chickens will drive the babies out of the run then go about their business free ranging away from the run.

Do you have multiple feed and water stations around so the youngers do not go without?

Is there a timeline when the chicks will start trying to spend more time/follow with the big hens in their free ranging?

When the pullets start laying(18-28 weeks) they will work their way into the main pecking order.
Before that, you may have issues when the young cockerel's hormones begin flowing around 3-4 months old. Any plans for the males?