Older hens killing 11 week old chicks

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Am I able to avoid this process of introduction because I'm free ranging? I don't quite get it. Am I just getting lucky?

This is just a theory on my part but I think the reason its working for you is because you're introducing the chicks at a much younger age. At only 2-4 weeks old, the adults don't see them as competition. Of course, the free ranging probably helps.

I don't think you've been lucky for 8 years straight, but hey you may have natural born luck. Can you share some with me lol? I agree with @WingItRanch that all of your circumstances help, ESPECIALLY free ranging.

We provide plenty of space for our ladies and they have protected free range areas (via chunnels) that get moved frequently. If young ones have a way to get away from older hens and vise versa, this greatly reduces and can even eliminate squabbles. When my birds are roaming, I don't notice any squabbles but they tend to stay two separate flocks (older/younger) until the chicks get bigger and confident enough to join the adult hens.

My main point was that, if there has been serious pecking and injury, what the person is doing is NOT working. I provided tips based on what I think may help the situation, but of course we can't see each other's entire set-ups and situations online, so I just provided general advice. If what you're doing is working, by all means please keep doing it! The separate areas and viewing pens are helpful for birds who don't have the freedom and various situations that you have.

Hope this helps!

 

[iwltfum]

but hey you may have natural born luck. Can you share some with me lol?

Maybe I used up all my luck on the chicks. That would explain things.. lol

I wasn't trying to throw shade on anyone's suggestions, just genuinely curious about how the dynamics of transitioning/combining chicks and flocks works for other people. I do have a more hands off approach with my poultry than most, but that is not necessarily always the best approach.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Maybe I used up all my luck on the chicks. That would explain things.. lol

Well then, good for you! A worthy cause.

I wasn't trying to throw shade on anyone's suggestions, just genuinely curious about how the dynamics of transitioning/combining chicks and flocks works for other people.

Absolutely, and I didn't take it as such! I think it's great that you asked. Keep doing so!

I do have a more hands off approach with my poultry than most, but that is not necessarily always the best approach.

We are the same way. Our chickens would actually prefer we leave them alone. Unless we have mealworms, of course lol. They are livestock on our farm. We cherish them and take excellent care of them as all livestock should be, but they're not our pets. Definitely not our children, although sometimes it feels like it heehehe.

 

[SDOH]

This is just a theory on my part but I think the reason its working for you is because you're introducing the chicks at a much younger age. At only 2-4 weeks old, the adults don't see them as competition. Of course, the free ranging probably helps.

Humm..... I have a friend that put brand ~2 wk old chicks with older hens and the former were slaughtered in less than 5 minutes. Perhaps there are a variety of factors contributing to success for WingItRanch?

 

[KRack]

Maybe I used up all my luck on the chicks. That would explain things.. lol

I wasn't trying to throw shade on anyone's suggestions, just genuinely curious about how the dynamics of transitioning/combining chicks and flocks works for other people. I do have a more hands off approach with my poultry than most, but that is not necessarily always the best approach.

I free range mine and have never had luck like that. However I find several factors have mattered for me in the past. 1 - who the head hen is, and 2 - the breed of chickens I have at the time. When I had an aggressive head hen, she was aggressive to chicks and led the other hens to the same temperament. When she passed and a more mellow hen took over, the transition was able to be earlier and was much easier. My rough breeds on chicks were barred rocks and Rhode Island reds. The best with new chicks has been my orpingtons.

I do see but no touch for at least 2 weeks. I probably could have tried integrating earlier when my flock was mostly orpingtons, but after experiencing something similar to what OP is going through now, I became much more hesitant.

I use a smaller coop beside the main coop for see but no touch. I found one for like $100 that I use for the sick bay/maternity ward, and also raise chicks in it until the time to integrate.