So Confused... Please Help!!!

[MedinaChick2001]

I have 9 hens that are almost a year old. I bought 15 new babies on March 4 of this year. Yesterday we put chicken wire up so they could be in the coup without getting killed by the older ones. When I went in the coup today, there was an older hen in with the younger ones and she was laying her egg. My question is, should I just take down the separation of them????

 

[Judy]

It might work.

 

[greenSearcher]

Probably will work, but have a hiding place for the chicks to run to. A friend of mine has a large run, and when he introduces his chicks, he puts a pallet on bricks or boards so it is high enough for the chicks to scurry under, but to short for the grown hens. Also have their food and water separate, under the hiding spot if possible so they don't have to compete w/ the hens. After a few weeks, take out their stuff and let things be normal.

 

[YYZ]

Great advice.....ill be using that next month.,

 

[Justin3002]

I am new and newly addicted to this whole chicken thing, but we were talking about adding new chickens next spring and that is very helpful. Thank you.

 

[Chickmate]

Quote:
Welcome to BYC, Justin! Glad to have you with us!!

 

[BANTAMWYANDOTTE]

I really would not take that chance. It is a risk but if you have a place that the chicks can escape danger it may work. I have seen so many adlut chickens try to harm chicks that I couldn't take that risk. I know that I would seperate them to protect the chicks.

Just what I would do.

Tim

 

[bakerjw]

Six weeks old is a little young imho. BUT... you might try what I have done. If you release them into the run then have some treats handy. It is best if you don't let the hens focus on you or the treats. Any hen that gets overly aggressive gets a time out and gets put in the pen. During my last integration I only had one or two hens that had problems. An hour or so running in circles sure seems to get their minds off of the chicks. And the treats are for if things go badly. My girls may be PO'd at the new chicks in the pen but not so much that they'll not knock each other down for a cracker.

 

[hillbillycitygirl]

we just introduced our youngins to our older hens and roos and it turned into a blood bath. My two wyandottes made a bloody mess out of each and every one of my broilers (10 of them) but left the other 25 pullets alone. We have 52 chickens, (25 pullets, 10 broilers, 5 RIR, 5 Barred Rock, 2 wyandottes, 4 golden seabrights, and a pheonix.) NO one else had blood on them or was even in the pen with the broilers...just my two wyandottes...bloody beaks too. Then the next day the two wyandottes started eating other hens eggs. What on earth?

 

[DickGJ]

Quote:
Man, I'm sorry to hear this. I've been wanting to get some blue-laced and gold laced wyandottes cause I think their a beautiful beautiful chicken. Your story sounds like a Wyandotte horror show! I think I'll hold off on Wyandottes for a while now...