To be or not to be - introducing chicks to hens

[hearts34]

Sounds like she just wants to be the boss of somebody too! I have grown hens that I have to keep separate because of pecking. Some chickens are more tempermental than others.

At six weeks they are probably past the cute little chick phase to the older hens, so no motherly instinct kicking in. I would just put a divider in the pen.

 

[hearts34]

I've read that if you want to integrate 2 flocks, they should be side by side in the pen, but separated, for a few weeks so they can see each other. Then put them together under cover of darkness. Theory being that if they all wake up together, they'll all be friends. Dunno if its true, but will be trying it in a few months when my babies are bigger.

I have three barred rock hens and they are mean to all my other girls. I have five black Australorps and six buff orps. and none of them will hold their ground to the barred rocks. They are just plain mean!