Separating mama’s 6 week old chicks

[Sarah RN]

Hello! So we decided today to separate three 6 week old chicks from the mama hen that raised them. We put her 3 chicks in with 6 other 5-6 week old chicks that we have been raising on our own inside the house. And they seemed to do fine, so not so worried about them. (Planning to let em all loose outdoors next week, we have 3 different coop space, a 10x10 run and lots of free ranging backyard space)

We also have 3 other laying hens who are kind of the (we call them) 3 musketeers, and we put the mama hen in the run with them. They know each other because they free range in a big backyard and their coop/run is right next to each other. The dominant female of the musketeer won’t even let the mama get near her (as always when free ranging). They are free ranging right now, and the musketeers stick together, whereas the mama is alone now, no babies for her to guide and teach. We are starting to feel bad and wondering if we made the right decision. We are wondering if she is missing her chicks or if she isn’t going to get along with the three musketeers. Is this going to work itself out?

Thanks in advance, we are only about 6 weeks in with raising chickens so we are still learning!

-A Worried Chicken Mama

 

[aart]

Broodies always need to re-establish themselves in the pecking order of the flock.
It can be brutal.
Was the mama and chicks separate from the flock since she started setting?

 

[Sarah RN]

Broodies always need to re-establish themselves in the pecking order of the flock.
It can be brutal.
Was the mama and chicks separate from the flock since she started setting?

Thanks for your feedback! I am not too sure what that means, but we bought them pretty much all at the same time from a huge free ranging farm. Mom came with the 3 chicks, which we had a separate small coop with a small run for, and the 3 laying hens have been in the 10x10 run and have a small coop inside it. They free range several times a day so they know each other but have never actually free ranged together as a flock. Mom and 3 chicks would do their own thing and the musketeers always stick together and do their own thing and never let them near them.
Last night we had the mom and musketeers sleep together in the coop and it went well since it’s dark inside. Today, it’s the same thing, mom is alone, dominant hen won’t let her near her. I gave mom some treats today but did not call for her chicks so she doesn’t miss them. I read that pecking order can take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks, but I didn’t think it would be so bad since they are familiar with each other. Mom also has been just following me around all day...I don’t know if it’s for protection. Sorry if this sounds all too complicated, I’m still new to all this and so worried.

Another thing - the other two hens in the musketeer besides the dominant hen are scared of the mama hen.

 

[aart]

How long have you had these birds?
Where are the chicks now?
It could take some time for them to merge.
Most folks let the broody and mama back with the flock a week or so after hatching,
both mama and chicks find their place in the flock and coop.

 

[Sarah RN]

How long have you had these birds?
Where are the chicks now?
It could take some time for them to merge.
Most folks let the broody and mama back with the flock a week or so after hatching,
both mama and chicks find their place in the flock and coop.

We had them for 6 weeks...they never shared coop and run space with the 3 hens. We always had mama and chicks in their own coop and small run. That may have been our mistake...not letting them establish their place early on. Only space they shared was free ranging in our backyard which is pretty big.

We put her chicks with 5-6 week old chicks that we have been raising on our own inside the house so that they can become used to each other, and they seem to be doing well. We plan to let them all out of the house this weekend. I think that may be another story to come.

 

[aart]

I think that may be another story to come.

Indeed!

How do you plan to integrate all the chicks....how many are there?
How big are your coops and runs, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics are always helpful.

I like to integrate chicks young, by brooding them in starting about a week after hatching, the integrating by 4-6 weeks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Still following the .....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Sarah RN]

Indeed!

How do you plan to integrate all the chicks....how many are there?
How big are your coops and runs, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics are always helpful.

I like to integrate chicks young, by brooding them in starting about a week after hatching, the integrating by 4-6 weeks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Still following the .....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Wow thank you for this valuable info! So interfering isn’t good?! I interfered a couple times because I felt so bad. I have six 5-6 week old chicks, added the 3 mama chicks in with them so they are 9 now. This is what my coop/run set up looks like... it’s been a constant modification but getting there! I think it’s pretty good considering we can divide or open areas when we want to and there are several coop spaces. The Brahma you see in the pic is the mama, the Goldline hybrid is the dominant hen. I plan to add the chicks in the blue part of the coop, has a door/divider from the chicken run. And we have 2 young pullets as well in the blue part of the coop

 

[aart]

OhBoy!
15 birds total?

I think it’s pretty good considering we can divide or open areas when we want to and there are several coop spaces.

Maybe.... but I don't see enough secure night time space.
Chicken wire is not predator proof.

I plan to add the chicks in the blue part of the coop,

With the pullets(how old are they and have they been exposed to the other birds?)?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Sarah RN]

OhBoy!
15 birds total?
Maybe.... but I don't see enough secure night time space.
Chicken wire is not predator proof.

With the pullets(how old are they and have they been exposed to the other birds?)?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2315067

Thank you for your insight! So yes 15 chickens total lol, what have we got ourselves into! We put all the chickens inside the coop and close the door securely and put the food away at night, but definitely we want to change to a metal mesh type thing soon, and dig under all around and put metal mesh all around below so nothing can dig underneath. After looking at some ideas for hiding spots, we will make them before the weekend. The 2 pullets they are about 12-16 weeks or so, and have been exposed but we do have them separated, still can see each other, and free range at the same time. They constantly get chased and pecked back into their coop though if they encounter each other during free range. It’s so complicated since we have chickens of different age groups and we are still beginners, lol.
I also updated my location, I’m in Pennsylvania.

 

[aart]

It’s so complicated since we have chickens of different age groups and we are still beginners

Newbie Chicken Math Syndrome.
Too many birds, not enough space.... and winter is coming.