Too many brooder options

[Raubkatze]

Good grief, you absolutely do not need to do that. Where on earth did you read that?

So, I've been reading recently that young pullets shouldn't be introduced to fully grown hens until they are about the same size. Maybe that's where the 12 weeks comes from?

 

[MROO]

All you really need is your heat-plate or lamp and your existing coop. If you want to keep your littles indoors for a week (no sauna needed) just set them up in a Rubbermaid-type tub with a screen over it. Your heat plate and all their "necessities" will fit in there just fine, and you get to enjoy your peepers "up close and personal!"

 

[nuthatched]

So, I've been reading recently that young pullets shouldn't be introduced to fully grown hens until they are about the same size. Maybe that's where the 12 weeks comes from?

I introduce my news to the olds by brooding them, perfectly visable in a screen sided brooder in the coop.
by the time, they outgrow the coop, the introduction is seamless

 

[rosemarythyme]

So, I've been reading recently that young pullets shouldn't be introduced to fully grown hens until they are about the same size. Maybe that's where the 12 weeks comes from?

Maybe, but also not true. The 3 smaller ones are 13 days old. Would've introduced them even earlier but it had been raining for a few days:

 

[Raubkatze]

I introduce my news to the olds by brooding them, perfectly visable in a screen sided brooder in the coop.
by the time, they outgrow the coop, the introduction is seamless

I'm thinking of moving mine out while inside their brooder still as soon as they are off of heat. I only have one power point in my coop, and it powers my door. Hopefully seeing each other through the brooder box will make things go better once they are free. I can't imagine waiting until everyone is the same size.

 

[Raubkatze]

Maybe, but also not true. The 3 smaller ones are 13 days old. Would've introduced them even earlier but it had been raining for a few days:
View attachment 4137998

Yes, sorry I should have phrased that to include that I was feeling skeptical of that!

I'd be scared to do it quite that young! I plan to start the process at 6 weeks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd be scared to do it quite that young! I plan to start the process at 6 weeks.

Definitely do it when you feel ready and comfortable with it. I've already done it 3x so I have a good idea of what to expect, and thankfully most of my flock is fairly mild mannered (and the bigger age gaps help too as older birds seem less likely to harass babies).

 

[Ridgerunner]

So, I've been reading recently that young pullets shouldn't be introduced to fully grown hens until they are about the same size. Maybe that's where the 12 weeks comes from?

The 12 weeks or same size does not make sense to me, but I've also read those. The explanation I've read is that they need to be big enough to fight back but that is not the way it works with mine. What I see is that the immature pullets always run away if there is any conflict. They do not fight back until they are ready to force their way into the pecking order. That's often about the time they start to lay but not always. Size is not important, it is their maturity. Bantams can and often do dominate full sized fowl.

Until my pullets grow up they tend to avoid the adults. It's like I have two separate flocks occupying the same coop and run. But Rosemary's photo does not surprise me at all. You do not get guarantees with chicken behaviors. While most of the time mine stay separated into two different flocks occasionally some can mingle even closer than her photo shows.

 

[WilderSkye]

So, I've been reading recently that young pullets shouldn't be introduced to fully grown hens until they are about the same size. Maybe that's where the 12 weeks comes from?

That could be. Makes sense to me.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Until my pullets grow up they tend to avoid the adults. It's like I have two separate flocks occupying the same coop and run. But Rosemary's photo does not surprise me at all. You do not get guarantees with chicken behaviors. While most of the time mine stay separated into two different flocks occasionally some can mingle even closer than her photo shows.

The earlier photo was taken at first meeting and I think both sides ran from each other immediately .

This photo was 6 days later (19 days old) where the babies were going from feed bowl to feed bowl in the run. Food can be a reason for guarding/aggression but as I keep a lot of food stations available most of the adults tolerate the chicks eating near them.


A different batch of chicks, 22 days old.