Should I just let them go?

[chkva]

My 3-week-old chicks got out of their 800 SQ FT run because I didn't lock the door (today's been a rough day to say the least so my mind is elsewhere).

I went outside to go check on all of my chickens in their big run to sure no animals got in and I couldn't find them... I go down the stairs and look in the chick's run and there they are The chickens were just roaming around not minding the chicks...

My question is... can I just leave the chicks out of their run now that they've already been basically integrated with the older chickens? The older chickens don't seem to mind... For now...

Or should I just lock their door up? And I hope that I don't make that mistake again

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I would just keep a close eye on em for a bit, make sure no one is being ugly, and that the chicks have places they can hide in, but not get cornered in by an older one.
If all is well then leave em to sort themselves, if not, lock em back up for a couple more weeks and try again.
Best of luck to ya, I hope all goes smoothly!

 

[chkva]

I would just keep a close eye on em for a bit, make sure no one is being ugly, and that the chicks have places they can hide in, but not get cornered in by an older one.
If all is well then leave em to sort themselves, if not, lock em back up for a couple more weeks and try again.
Best of luck to ya, I hope all goes smoothly!

So far the hens haven't even gave them any type of attention. Might be because it's 89 degrees out and they're too busy laying in the shade. Chicks are having a blast though in their big new world. Now it's time to build them a coop since the other one only holds 4 hens and I have 3 hens and 3 chicks.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

So far the hens haven't even gave them any type of attention. Might be because it's 89 degrees out and they're too busy laying in the shade. Chicks are having a blast though in their big new world. Now it's time to build them a coop since the other one only holds 4 hens and I have 3 hens and 3 chicks.

Sounds good so far! Wait until it cools off this evening and see if that remains the same. Is so, Id think they're fine out together.

 

[chickens really]

My answer is yes because if all getting along it's great !

 

[chkva]

My answer is yes because if all getting along it's great !

The OE has been pecking them every so often not to a point they're harmed. They do chirp when she does it, but she's the flock leader so I assume as long as she's not continually doing it, they'll be okay.

I put a fire pit that I'm changing into a planter out there so that they can hide under it since the big hens can't get them if they need an escape.

They're not going in the coop with the hens, I'll still shut them in the brooder at night. I think closed quarters would be a different story. I'm actually making another coop so that I have additional space for chickens my OE kicks out of the coop, she can be a real pain but it's the pecking order thing. I'm trying to accommodate everyone which can sometimes be a real pain!

 

[SarahBC]

At 3 weeks old do they still need a heat source? I am new to all of this. I just locked my 3 week old chicks in the coop with the heat lamp as I am worried about space issues. I wasn't sure if I can leave them outside overnight yet. They have no access to the run yet

 

[chkva]

At 3 weeks old do they still need a heat source? I am new to all of this. I just locked my 3 week old chicks in the coop with the heat lamp as I am worried about space issues. I wasn't sure if I can leave them outside overnight yet. They have no access to the run yet

I leave mine outside locked up in the brooder at night, they've been fine. I've been doing that since week 1. I'm making them a coop and I'll lock them up in it at night once it's completed. They can't go in the big hens coop because the top hen is quite bossy and closed quarters I don't think is a good idea yet.

Mine haven't had a heat source since week 1 because it's 80+ outside and the chicks weren't using the heat. They were running around in the run staying away from the heat source. They haven't complained or had issues yet. Growing like crazy that's for sure!

Make sure to secure the heat lamp with something other than clamps. Sometimes the clamps fail and it'll cause a fire or shatters glass everywhere. I just know from experience with my lizard. I'm sure you already know this though. They make a cage type hold for heat lamps that prevent that from happening though in chicken coops