Raising chicks for friend

[CackleFruitCrnr]

Hey all! Chick fever has set in and I’ve suckered a neighbor into sharing an order of chicks with me. She ordered 8 and I ordered 2. Due to her schedule I offered to raise her 8 until they are feathered out and ready to go to the big girl coop. Question is will it be traumatizing for my 2 chicks to suddenly lose the majority of their friends? Should I keep the 2 groups separate?

TIA!

 

[Lauren Kim]

Chickens are very social, so the two chicks left are probably going to want to stay together all the time. The two chicks would be best friends and they might take a while to adjust to the loneliness. Are you planning on buying more chicks in the future?

 

[Mimi13]

I think I would ask if she would let the split be 7/3 so you could at least have 3 chicks. Separating them that early probably won’t cause any problems, but leaving them together much longer might. But the only “problem” I would think would be possibly be in the pecking order that had been established. For example, if the head chick happens to go to your neighbor the chicks left with you will restructure themselves and one of them will gain the head chick status. Then again, you might already have the head chick. Good luck.

 

[Welshies]

I suggest you brood them seperately.

 

[CackleFruitCrnr]

Chickens are very social, so the two chicks left are probably going to want to stay together all the time. The two chicks would be best friends and they might take a while to adjust to the loneliness. Are you planning on buying more chicks in the future?

I currently have 4 hens my 2 will join when the time comes. Sorry I should have added that info.

I’m prepared to integrate the new pair with my current girls. Just wasn’t sure if splitting the group after 6 weeks or so would upset my 2 new ones making the move to their own coop harder.

 

[Welshies]

I currently have 4 hens my 2 will join when the time comes. Sorry I should have added that info.

I’m prepared to integrate the new pair with my current girls. Just wasn’t sure if splitting the group after 6 weeks or so would upset my 2 new ones making the move to their own coop harder.

If you seperate them from the get go, I doubt there will be issues.

 

[Chelseyb123]

×2 that or if possible finding one or two more chicks for yourself if she doesnt want to give one up. I have two chicks and they are always together and have a strong bond.

I suggest you brood them seperately.

 

[CackleFruitCrnr]

Thanks all! Looks like be brooding them separately. Do the bonded pair ever let “friends” into their club? I have an EE bantam that is currently a loner. Not sure why the others seem to have “rejected” her but I’d really like the new 2 to be a friend for her. Is there anyway to encourage the 3 of them to bond even though the EE is a year older?

I can only add 2 chicks. I don’t want to overload my current coop/run set up.

 

[Chelseyb123]

Well i had to put my 9month old leghorn with them. she got bareback from being my roosters favorite an its been really cold and shes not big like the rest of my floev. She has always been at the bottom of pecking order. Even with the chicks, shes a special girl . The first couple days the chicks would peck at her and shes twice their size and she doesnt peck back. But today they seem to be getting along better with no pecking.

 

[Welshies]

Well i had to put my 9month old leghorn with them. she got bareback from being my roosters favorite an its been really cold and shes not big like the rest of my floev. She has always been at the bottom of pecking order. Even with the chicks, shes a special girl . The first couple days the chicks would peck at her and shes twice their size and she doesnt peck back. But today they seem to be getting along better with no pecking.

What a great way to give them another friend!