Put chicks from incubator with hen and chicks???

[babsbag]

I have 14 chicks that are 6 weeks old and 9 that are 5 weeks old. I would love to put them together, but my 5 weeks old are with a hen. What do you think the hen would do if I added 14 more to her brood at this point? Eventually they are going to have to get along, but I am running out of room to keep them separate for much longer. Mama hen still tries to sit on them at night. Kinda cute.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I would give it a try.

Just keep an eye on them.

 

[babsbag]

Do I leave the hen with them, or is it time for the kids to be on their own? I really want to let them free range with the big chickens but i am worried that they will get stepped on by my goats. Do you think that the chicks can stay out of the way? You know the goats don't watch where they step. The big birds do fine, but what about the babies? I have 7 goats today, and babies due next week.

They all share a very large pasture, but of course the best treats for the chickens are where the goats are most of the time.

 

[Bantimna]

IMO, I would not put the 5 wk olds with the hen, I've seen some bad experinces.
Give it a try, if you hen accepts the chicks then they will follow her won't just get stepped on.
Wishing you the best

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
I had a red Ply OEG bantam hen a few years back and she was very wild and skittish, she got stepped on by our horses and died.

I wouldn't let them roam with your goats at least until they're alittle bigger.

 

[babsbag]

I was wondering if someone was going to tell me that getting stepped on has happened. So far my big chickens are doing ok, and we have a big pasture that they share. I have one hen that sleeps with the goats, doesn't go into the coop at all. But I am worried about the little ones. I have 28 chicks that are between 6 weeks and 1 week, and I can see the goats freaking out when they see all those little things running around. And nervous goats are active goats and I think that spells disaster. Thank you for validating my concern. DH thinks I am being overprotective. I have to figure out a way to let them out of their brooder and into the coop, but not into the pasture, and at the same time let the big chickens into the coop during the day as that is their safe haven if they need it. They need more room to grow and play.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Could you build a big run for them to play in?

How many goats do you have? Do you let your goats out? Or are they always penned up?

 

[babsbag]

I have some electric poultry netting so maybe this weekend I can get DH to help me set it up for them and I can at least let them out in it when I am at home. I guess I need another coop

Or I need to make a way for the adult birds to be able to get in and out of the run during the day and the little ones have to stay inside. You see, I never intended to have chicks, and then I came to BYC and built an incubator and 2 hens went broody, and TSC had silkies, need I say more ? First thing, I am going to introduce them to the hen and her chicks and see what happens. She has a nice big cage in the run, and I could make it bigger if I need to.

I have 7 goats with kids due this week. They free range with the chickens. There is a lot of space, accept when the chickens want to come and play in the goat feeder and waterer and the goats just happen to be there. It happens quite a bit since they ALL come to the gate when they see me coming. Most of the day I am sure they are not really that close, but there are times...

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

When you put them with your broody hen, be sure to put them in there in the day so you can check on them just in case she doesn't like them.

What breed is you broody hen?