Peeps in Europe!

[abpatchy]

They outgrew the heating plate we had, which is why we use the lamp instead! Good to know it's probably okay for them to be without it though. They don't seem to huddle under anymore during the day, not sure about the nights! Then again, they're in a shed, in a coop, so it's not like they'll be sitting in the cold wind even if the weather gets bad.

They're in a makeshift pen within the adults' coop, as they outgrew the coop we had them in previously (and it partially flooded twice...) It's off the ground, a walking plank leads up to their area. So the chicks can see the adults, but they can't interact through the "fence". None of the adults except for one really ever used the area, so it would be a safe spot for them.

Our adult chickens are 4 wyandotte bantams, a BarnevelderxSilkie cross and a large Brahma rooster. The chicks are already close to the size of the bantams! So they will not be smaller than the majority, in about 1 or 2 weeks. I'm really mostly worried about our rooster, Duts, since he is a big boy and I don't know how he'll respond to the chicks. He's very protective of his hens.

One option I have would be to put them in an entirely separate area, on the other side of our garden. They'd have plenty of space to roam, but they would then not be able to see the others unless we let the adults roam outside near that area. We were planning to keep the roosters in it once it becomes necessary to separate them from the rest of the flock, as it's a little further away from the coop.

Just imagine a chick at 6 weeks underneath a hen. And then more than one. Even a hen would say... enough. Mine were in the coop with just the heating plate at less than 2 weeks. And we are talking minus temps. They were just fine.
And chickens don't care about size who is boss or not. Just saw that at my neighbors chickens. Adult bantam cochin rooster chasing teenage orpingtons at least 1.5 times his size. And they ran!!! That little stinker was chasing them left and right. They don't seem to see the size at all. My young hens last year were just about to lay or had started to lay. I don't remember. I moved 2 hens in with them that were a wee bit younger but not at the laying point. They were chased really bad until they started laying. They had the same size and it didn't matter.
You can try if they get along... and then make a decision. Maybe it will work for you. You can always separate them if you feel like it doesn not work out.

 

[BDutch]

My eldest Dutch hen is the smallest chicken and the boss around here.

I’ve been reading a great article on BYC about introducing rather young chicks with separations and escape area’s into a flock with adults. Do read that if you like to integrate soon. The article got many stars **** so it shouldn't be hard to find.

 

[chickengr]

Possibly you are too late for autumn layers. My first pullets that hatched in summer didn’t lay until early spring.

september chicks are the best for layers if you can hatch them that late. also more pullets hatch from september.

 

[chickengr]

I had a fox trying to get into my coop at 2 am. luckily I built a small pen for my 5 guinea fowl (3-4 mo) that were separated from my 2 mo chicks by a small piece of rabbit mesh which luckily I didn't fix well. when my guineas understood that fox was coming they pushed the mesh and all but 1 passed through. that frightend my chicks and they started screaming and woke me up. I think within 10-20 secs I was in the chickens run and fox ran away. all safe and sound. yesterday at about 8 pm I sow 2 foxes in the neighboring (abandoned) plot. I stayed there till I locked my chickens up and left my 1 yo german shepherd girl in a chickens run. she is the only one I can trust. her parents would knock the coop down and killed all the chickens, lol.

 

[BDutch]

september chicks are the best for layers if you can hatch them that late. also more pullets hatch from september.

Maybe in Greece. Our summer is better for chicks to grow up. Not too hot.
In the Netherlands and Germany rather cold rainy and winter weather with short days can be expected in November. Which is not fine for chicks.

How are you doing with all the rain in Germany @Erba and @abpatchy ?

 

[Erba]

It has been raining quite a lot here, but my chickens will go out in any weather, not me though. I was hoping to finish cutting my hedges, but it is all wet.

 

[maceleneo]

hi guys, these are my two chicks born on april 24th (it was the very first time I hatched eggs... but I didn't do much, a broodie hen took care of everything!). I would really love keeping them both, do you have any idea about their gender? they're olive eggers (mother is marans and father is maransXaraucana).

 

[chickengr]

hi guys, these are my two chicks born on april 24th (it was the very first time I hatched eggs... but I didn't do much, a broodie hen took care of everything!). I would really love keeping them both, do you have any idea about their gender? they're olive eggers (mother is marans and father is maransXaraucana).

View attachment 2743492

look like girls.

 

[BDutch]

look like girls.

Yes , my bantam RIR boy and even my girls have bigger combs. They are 6 days younger than yours. My Kwik boy is starting to develop pointy saddle feathers now. But I see no signs of male features at all with these two ladies.

 

[maceleneo]

thank you! they both have male names, but I really hope you are right!
the bearded one is edgar allan pio ("pio" means "cheep" in italian) and the other one is sante pollastro (sante pollastro was a male bandit from the past century.. "pollastro" means cockerel). I can't see male signs either, but these are pea combs and they are so tricky to me! with single combs things seems easier!
I was hoping that chicks born here would be super tame and confident, but they are not at all! they are starting to eat food from my hands only now, I hope things will get better with time!