BahamaMama
|
Mixing up chooksWe have got a new chicken who came complete with 8 babies  We have kept them separate from our other 3 birds for 2 weeks and now want to put them in together. The babies are between 3 and 4 weeks old and the mother hen is very protective of them.
What is the best way to mix them up with the minimum of stress for the mother hen and to ensure the babies are safe?
|
Sarah D
|
I'd say they were too young yet, I wouldn't put them in at that age; maybe 9 - 10 weeks or so. I'd put them in a separate run with their mum, but in view of the other chickens.
|
Chez
|
What Sarah said. Mine held their own with the main flock of chooks from about eight weeks this summer - I waited until a couple of weeks after the hen had got fed up with them and then put them in.
|
dpack
|
the strong ones will live
|
judith
|
I'm pretty relaxed about running hens/chicks with the main flock. Having chicks seems to raise the status of the mother, and she will keep any bullies away. I've always found that my cockerel is very protective of chicks as well.
The young ones also learn to keep out of the way of trouble too!
|
Rosanne
|
As long as the hen and chicks have plenty of room to get out of the way of the other birds they can be together but I wouldn't want to contain them in a small area if the chicks are small
|
BahamaMama
|
Thanks for all the advice and experience - we let them all out together at the weekend when we were around to keep an eye on them and it was completely trouble-free. Mum was very protective of the little ones and the original chooks were curious about the babies but there was no hint that they would harm them. We have a little Silkie and she had a broody glint in her eye - I am sure she would have kidnapped one of the babies to cuddle if it had got too close 
They are all scratching around very happily together.
|
judith
|
Glad it all went well.
| BahamaMama wrote: | | I am sure she would have kidnapped one of the babies to cuddle if it had got too close |
It does happen, and not just with silkies. One of my LS crosses adopted two chicks from another hen this year. She just pecked around near the chicks for a couple of days and then simply marched off with them once they were used to her. The real mother didn't seem very bothered!
|
BahamaMama
|
Awwww bless! I hope she manages to pinch a couple, it would be very cute - especially when they outgrow her 
|
