what age do you put the young hens in with the older ones

[cortner1195]

Right now the chick's are very flighty. During free range time anything and everything send them flying back to the grow out run/shelter. I will try catching a couple a putting them in the big coop when the big girls are out ranging.

 

[DeesHens]

Right now the chick's are very flighty. During free range time anything and everything send them flying back to the grow out run/shelter. I will try catching a couple a putting them in the big coop when the big girls are out ranging.

How old are your chicks? Mine started settling in around 12 weeks old. But then they only have one old hen to deal with. ~Dee~

 

[Aaron Dunn]

Thanks Dee---We have 4 --- 10 week olds and 10 -- 15 week olds. I am going to increase the size of their run before removing the safe box. I hope to get it done in the next couple of days.
<><
me

 

[DeesHens]

Thanks Dee---We have 4 --- 10 week olds and 10 -- 15 week olds. I am going to increase the size of their run before removing the safe box. I hope to get it done in the next couple of days.
<><
me

You bet. Yes, I agree with 14 birds lots of room will help to avoid problems. You may want to keep a feeding area safe box for the youngest for awhile. I noticed that is when my old hen really gets the most aggressive. She has been pretty good otherwise. My two youngsters hide in the chicken tractor run while the old hen takes over their feed station in the paddock. When she is done they wander out to eat what is left. I try to sneak them extra's along the way to make up for it though. Got caught a few times and Betsy, the old hen, was not happy. Gotta love chicken mentality!

~Dee~

 

[Delight30]

My girls do the same thing, I have a batch of 17 week old girls with 13 week old girls and they always try and eat the younger ones food and then there food. I have tried putting some on the ground to distract them, while the little girls eat and that seems to work. I have still have 2 food and water stations and they have been together for 6 weeks now. Good luck

 

[cortner1195]

How old are your chicks? Mine started settling in around 12 weeks old. But then they only have one old hen to deal with. ~Dee~

They will be 12 weeks on Monday. I figure I still have 4-6 weeks to put them in together.

 

[DeesHens]

Today was a great day with my chickens. They ate together without much issue.

Tonight they were on the roost together when I went out to close up the coop. Two firsts!
I gave them some hulled raw sunflower seeds and said, "what good girls you have been today". (Positive reinforcement works with my dogs

). I wonder if tomorrow they will be as good?

Now I wonder how soon before I should remove the dividing net at their roost. Maybe another month. With them closed in the small space their is no escape so I'd worry. No sense rushing it.
~Dee~

 

[Aaron Dunn]

I got a late start on the pen yesterday and now it looks like it will be Tuesday at the earliest before I can finish----Church today & an appt. in town tomorrow. The extra 220+ sq. ft. of run space should help. The younger birds will venture down the gang plank for a look around but soon return back up to the coop where they spend their days.

<><
me

 

[Delight30]

Today was a great day with my chickens. They ate together without much issue.

Tonight they were on the roost together when I went out to close up the coop. Two firsts!
I gave them some hulled raw sunflower seeds and said, "what good girls you have been today". (Positive reinforcement works with my dogs

). I wonder if tomorrow they will be as good?

Now I wonder how soon before I should remove the dividing net at their roost. Maybe another month. With them closed in the small space their is no escape so I'd worry. No sense rushing it.
~Dee~

Congrats on the good day. How high did you put divider? I need to make something in my coop for 8 5wk olds and not sure how to do it, any suggestions would be great.

 

[DeesHens]

Quote: Thanks! So far this morning things continue to be going good. I am happy, happy, happy.

I have a chicken tractor type coop we move around the paddock so the distance from floor to ceiling in the coop section is only about 4-5 feet high. We had some deer netting leftover so my DH screwed it to the walls top to bottom and with a batt across the floor to secure it. Depending on your situation and breed of chickens (flying capacity) you would need to customize it accordingly. (Deer netting is only $20 a roll at Home Depot BTW) If you have a large open space high ceiling coop I would imagine 5-6 ft. high would be appropriate for most breeds. My Barr Rock can fly over a 4 foot fence for example. Don't think she could make it over a 5 foot one though. Hope that helps. ~Dee~