When can I let the babies sleep with the big girls?

[hannahenriquez]

I have 8 full grown hens and 2 babies about 8 weeks old. We have done introductions and they are all great together when they are out free ranging during the day in our yard (fully fenced and safe for the babies). We haven't had any pecking on the littles and nobody seems to pay any attention to them. I still bring them inside to sleep because I would hate to have anything happen overnight. I am kinda done having chickens in my house though. When and how should I start having them sleep out with the big girls??

 

[Maeschak]

I have 8 full grown hens and 2 babies about 8 weeks old. We have done introductions and they are all great together when they are out free ranging during the day in our yard (fully fenced and safe for the babies). We haven't had any pecking on the littles and nobody seems to pay any attention to them. I still bring them inside to sleep because I would hate to have anything happen overnight. I am kinda done having chickens in my house though. When and how should I start having them sleep out with the big girls??

I would go for it now... most likely the only problem will be the re-arrangement of roosting places. (But the older ladies will probably show the little ones where they CANNOT roost pretty quickly!)

 

[junebuggena]

If they are pretty much fully integrated into the flock already, go ahead and let them coop up with the bigs.

 

[aart]

Have the chicks been in the coop at all yet?
Are the chicks sharing feed/water with the older birds?

Space and food/water are the biggest 'bones of contention' when integrating birds.

 

[Blooie]

Every time you bring the Littles in the house, you are, in effect, having to reintroduce them the next morning. That's now what they and the adult birds are accustomed to and they may not like it when that changes. However, it's never going to change permanently if the same routine is followed. I'd get them out and keep them out. They need to find their places on the roosts, in the coop, and unless you live down under the weather conditions aren't going to improve much over the next few months. Acclimating them to outside temps 24/7 is critical and they can't do that if they are in and out.

Good luck!

 

[lazy gardener]

Every time you bring the Littles in the house, you are, in effect, having to reintroduce them the next morning. That's now what they and the adult birds are accustomed to and they may not like it when that changes. However, it's never going to change permanently if the same routine is followed. I'd get them out and keep them out. They need to find their places on the roosts, in the coop, and unless you live down under the weather conditions aren't going to improve much over the next few months. Acclimating them to outside temps 24/7 is critical and they can't do that if they are in and out.

Good luck!

What she said. Tough love.

 

[hannahenriquez]

Ok, I let them sleep with the bigs tonight BUT because I'm scared (they are so little- I forgot to mention they are bantams and the rest of the flock are standard) I put them in a crate inside the coop so they can be seen/heard and be a part of things but I don't have to worry about them getting pecked to death while I sleep. I don't even want to think how that would go over when the kids let them out in the morning. Yikes

 

[bobbi-j]

They aren't going to get pecked to death in the night. Once they're all settled on the roosts, chickens are basically inactive at night. They roost and don't move.