When is it ok to add the 7 new chickies with the 3 older hens to share the hen studio? I want to bring my babies home by end of the month..The have their feathers and are growing quickly, They will be be 7 weeks old then.. Is that too soon?
Cheryl Farmgirl #309 Klamath Falls "Charming Chicks Chapter" Mother Hen
I'll probably introduce ours in another 2 months..or when they stop peeping and start vocalizing like adults. Right now ours will be 2 months end of this month
I tried putting a few in with the bantams and some wound up getting their back feathers pecked off
Cheryl, if they have plenty of room to get away from the bigger hens they should be ok. But first, put them in a cage for a few weeks in the studio with the others. They can get to know each other through the wire and be familiar with each other soon. Then open the door of the cage at night so in the morning the little ones can come out without too much of a production. I think they grow so much faster when they can roam around and eat dirt and grass and bugs. And in a few weeks they will be a little bigger and run faster! They will eventually settle down and be one big happy family.
I have 8 more days til I get my babies! And the 21st my eggs should be hatching! I'm letting momma raise them. I'm going to put up some chicken wire on one side of the hen house for them til they get a little bigger and the ducks can't get them. I do believe that's what happened to all of the babies last year. I only had one survive and it turned out to be a beautiful rooster just like his dad.
Kris
Life is what you make it. Always has been. Always will be.
I never incorporate chicks until they are completely feathered in and have a little weight on them. So about 8-10 weeks. Then I do it at night so that the flock wakes up with the newbies and maybe the pecking order wont be so abusive. I agree with Kris, let them see eachother if you can.
I was wondering the same thing. What happens when you let one of the hens hatch out some eggs. Arn't the babies out there with the big chickens? Does the momma hen protect them? And we don't feed our chicks the same feed as the hens.
Yes, the momma hen will protect her babies as best as she can. They are mean when they have chickies. I don't go near them. I do keep them in a cage or crate for a few weeks in the hen house then they are on their own after that. I feed them chick starter then but after that whatever the momma eats they eat. And they usually will stay away from the rest of the flock, too. This hen is a banty hen and they are a little toughter than the regular hens. They have more "street smarts". I'll let ya'll know how mine do.
Kris
Life is what you make it. Always has been. Always will be.
Well it has been decided. I am gonna bring my chicks home maybe tomorrow.. by weekend for sure & put them in a large crate in the garage until I can move them sdlowly to the hen studio.. I really miss not being able to Watch them.. Gail has been so good to keep them with hers allthis time.. But this mama needs her chicks! Thanks for the advice.. and now when do start feeding them big girl food?
Cheryl Farmgirl #309 Klamath Falls "Charming Chicks Chapter" Mother Hen
Thanks for asking that question Cheryl. I was wondering the same thing. My babies are about 7 wks old and I'm thinking that I'll move them in "slowly" also. Great ideas.
I always start my baby chicks on Chick Starter then move up to Chick Grower. Then on to laying mash and scratch. I have never been able to put them all together until the chicks are ready to lay. The hens love the grower feed. It cost more than Laying feed. So they don't go together until they all eat the same thing. Usually get rid of the older ones about that time.
When can I mix chicks with hens?
Posted - Apr 15 2009 : 7:44:23 PM
