I DID IT!!!
I successfully integrated my three new babies with the two big hens. The babies are 10 weeks old.
I moved the babies out into a pen inside the big girls run about 4 weeks ago so they could see each other. I brought the babies in at night for a while until the temps stopped dropping so low. Then they started to sleep outside in this separate pen, inside their dog crate that was all wrapped up to help keep them warm.
I read that you are suppose to put the babies in with the big hens at night and let them wake up together but honestly, I didn't want to get up that early on a weekend. And I was afraid that the big girls would corner them inside the house.
So I've been letting the babies out into the big run with the hens for 20-30 minutes here and there while I supervised and when I did this on Sunday, the big girls just left them alone. The BO was a little irritated with their presence and would give a good peck if they got too close. She's also been at the bottom of the pecking order her whole 1.5 years of existence and I think she's just not going to take it anymore.
I was most worried that my HUGE Jersey Giant would eat one of the babies, but I think she kind of likes them.
Anyway, all went well so they are now fully integrated. The babies are still sleeping in their dog crate. I'll transition them over to the hen house in another week or so.
So the key for me was to take it super slow and baby steps.
I do have three feeders and four waterers scattered around the run. And LOTS of things for the babies to jump on and hide behind. All great advice from this group.
Just wanted to say THANK YOU!!!
I successfully integrated my three new babies with the two big hens. The babies are 10 weeks old.
I moved the babies out into a pen inside the big girls run about 4 weeks ago so they could see each other. I brought the babies in at night for a while until the temps stopped dropping so low. Then they started to sleep outside in this separate pen, inside their dog crate that was all wrapped up to help keep them warm.
I read that you are suppose to put the babies in with the big hens at night and let them wake up together but honestly, I didn't want to get up that early on a weekend. And I was afraid that the big girls would corner them inside the house.
So I've been letting the babies out into the big run with the hens for 20-30 minutes here and there while I supervised and when I did this on Sunday, the big girls just left them alone. The BO was a little irritated with their presence and would give a good peck if they got too close. She's also been at the bottom of the pecking order her whole 1.5 years of existence and I think she's just not going to take it anymore.
I was most worried that my HUGE Jersey Giant would eat one of the babies, but I think she kind of likes them.
Anyway, all went well so they are now fully integrated. The babies are still sleeping in their dog crate. I'll transition them over to the hen house in another week or so.
So the key for me was to take it super slow and baby steps.
I do have three feeders and four waterers scattered around the run. And LOTS of things for the babies to jump on and hide behind. All great advice from this group.
Just wanted to say THANK YOU!!!
