One month old chicks and 2 weeks old chicks...can I combine? Will Mom allow it?

[Peppercorngal]

I'm sorry if this is a redundant question. My Buff Orpington, Maggie, hatched out three chicks 14 days ago. She, and her chicks, are confined to a large (24'x30') run with coop attached (6 nesting boxes in coop). I have 4 leghorn pullets that are in an outside brooder and they are a month old now. I'm wondering if Maggie will allow the older chicks to live in the run/coop with she and her chicks, or will she chase them down and kill them? Maggie obviously would like to leave the run and free range, she does pace the fence during the day. She is a great mother hen, however, I don't want any of the chicks to be in danger or perish. They are small and so hard to catch in a big area like the run. I'm not inclined to throw them in and just see what happens. Any one with experience with this? Last time my Broody easter egger hatched chicks in the middle of the night in the community coop I found them dead the next morning. I wasn't expecting them to come so soon, it was only day 18. Help! What do you think I should do?
Thanks!!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Broody hens are pretty unpredictable. I would leave the two groups separate, unless you know the broody's temperament.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Broody hens are pretty unpredictable. I would leave the two groups separate, unless you know the broody's temperament.

Yeah, I understand what you are saying. Maggie is wonderful with me, lets me touch her, pick up the chicks, etc. but other chicks in her space is a different story! My other option is to let her go free range with the original flock and put her chicks in the brooder and put the month old chicks in the big run. . . . decisions!!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Yeah, I understand what you are saying. Maggie is wonderful with me, lets me touch her, pick up the chicks, etc. but other chicks in her space is a different story! My other option is to let her go free range with the original flock and put her chicks in the brooder and put the month old chicks in the big run. . . . decisions!!

Generally, broody hens do fine with their chicks in the flock. I don't know what happened with your Easter Egger, but my laying hens always raise their chicks with the flock. It makes integration much easier.

 

[Shorty22366]

My hens raise their babies with the flock too. I am going to add eight 6 week olds to the coop tomorrow and I am blessed because my silkies will take any kind of babies and raise them whether they are hers or not.

 

[Peppercorngal]

My hens raise their babies with the flock too. I am going to add eight 6 week olds to the coop tomorrow and I am blessed because my silkies will take any kind of babies and raise them whether they are hers or not.

Yes, you are blessed. I don't know why Broody's (that is her name) chicks were killed by the flock, but they were obviously "beaten" and pecked to death. They had broken legs and were very bloody. What is it about Silkies that makes people love them so much? I've heard lots from Silkie fans of late. The manager at our Tractor Supply was singing Silkie praises to me last week! Maybe I need some??!!

 

[Peppercorngal]

Generally, broody hens do fine with their chicks in the flock. I don't know what happened with your Easter Egger, but my laying hens always raise their chicks with the flock. It makes integration much easier.

Yes, I'm sure that letting the hen raise the chicks with the flock is best, but for some reason it didn't work last time. I'm playing it safe this time. Maybe too safe. . . .?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Yes, you are blessed. I don't know why Broody's (that is her name) chicks were killed by the flock, but they were obviously "beaten" and pecked to death. They had broken legs and were very bloody.

Could it have been the broody herself? (unlikely, but it has happened) If I had a hen (or rooster) kill chicks, I would give my best effort toward finding and eliminating the perpetrator. I raise enough chicks that I simply cannot afford to have that behaviour in my flock.

EDT: Maybe pen hen and chicks in the coop (see-don't touch) and see what happens?

What is it about Silkies that makes people love them so much? I've heard lots from Silkie fans of late. The manager at our Tractor Supply was singing Silkie praises to me last week! Maybe I need some??!!

I think they're dumber'n rocks. (Sorry, Silkie people.) One of the three I have is worth something; she has adopted orphan chicks for me.

Look into it. They might be the breed for you. Personally, I prefer birds that are a little more self-sufficient.

 

[Beer can]

I'm sorry if this is a redundant question. My Buff Orpington, Maggie, hatched out three chicks 14 days ago. She, and her chicks, are confined to a large (24'x30') run with coop attached (6 nesting boxes in coop). I have 4 leghorn pullets that are in an outside brooder and they are a month old now. I'm wondering if Maggie will allow the older chicks to live in the run/coop with she and her chicks, or will she chase them down and kill them? Maggie obviously would like to leave the run and free range, she does pace the fence during the day. She is a great mother hen, however, I don't want any of the chicks to be in danger or perish. They are small and so hard to catch in a big area like the run. I'm not inclined to throw them in and just see what happens. Any one with experience with this? Last time my Broody easter egger hatched chicks in the middle of the night in the community coop I found them dead the next morning. I wasn't expecting them to come so soon, it was only day 18. Help! What do you think I should do?
View attachment 1711841 View attachment 1711844 Thanks!!

I tried it once with a couple chicks that we hatched from a broody's abandoned eggs. Mamma hen tried like heck to get them to mind/integrate but the chicks didn't want anything to do with her. Problem was with them not the broody but the chicks.

 

[Beer can]

The manager at our Tractor Supply was singing Silkie praises to me last week! Maybe I need some??!!

I had a bunch of TSC 'silkies' great birds, fastest to lay of any chickens I've ever had and laid great, and a lot larger than regular breeder real silkies.
I ended up crossing some of them with jersey giants, and then with naked necks, had one that came out black skin JG/Silkie/NN, was pretty neat.