My wife promised a 12-year old friend that he could choose a chick to add to our flock once he got out of the hospital. Well, he gets out this Friday and we want to keep good on her promise. We currently have three 8-week pullets that are nicely feathered that have been outside in the coop for the last month. They are doing great and show no signs of being cold. They roost together at 24" up and have been free-ranging during the morning.
If we picked up three day-olds and added them, generally, will the pullets help keep them warm and roost down where the chicks are or are the chicks on their own? This weekend was the first weekend it got cold and it dropped off pretty quickly. We bottomed out at 36* last night, which is fairly rare here, period, much less this early in to winter.
I've searched a lot and there's plenty about broody hens keeping them warm, but none of mine are layers yet. There are also a lot of recommendations on keeping the girls inside until 8-weeks, but they are much farther North than us. I can't find anything referring to pullets playing Mama Hen.
If we picked up three day-olds and added them, generally, will the pullets help keep them warm and roost down where the chicks are or are the chicks on their own? This weekend was the first weekend it got cold and it dropped off pretty quickly. We bottomed out at 36* last night, which is fairly rare here, period, much less this early in to winter.
I've searched a lot and there's plenty about broody hens keeping them warm, but none of mine are layers yet. There are also a lot of recommendations on keeping the girls inside until 8-weeks, but they are much farther North than us. I can't find anything referring to pullets playing Mama Hen.