My 3 chicks are now 14 weeks old & two weeks ago I tried to intorduce them to the rest - 3 big hybrids and 4 banties. The chicks were terrified and the big girls bullied them badly so I put their little run inside the hen house so they could get used to each other. Every time I am in the garden I let them out into the main run & they are still not getting any better - they cower in a huddle in the corner & the others just come up & peck them & the little ones scream. This happened today & I went to break it up & one of them was wedged in a corner of the run looking dead with the others pecking her. I ran into the house to get daughter to get the others off & then went back to find her still lifeless at the back of the run. I had to undo the fence - all took a while & eventually got to her - she wasn't moving so I gently picked her up & realised she had her head right down a hole. She just blinked at me & was fine! I really don't know what to do with them, one obviously thinks she's an ostrich & another makes a noise like a duck!
Any ideas? ???
Cleaver chick to hide its head, a few nasty blows from a hen can mean the end to a half grown chick. As for the one who thinks its a duck watch it when water is about? ha ha.
It is hard trying to get pullets full grown accepted by older hens, I have sat in the runs for hours hand feeding and talking to them scattering food and tit bits anything to take their mind off the new arrivals. Normaly a week and its all sorted.
I never did get Rosie added to the others they would not have her so she is still in her run and rabbit box between the two main runs she sees them but dosent have to live with then it suits her ha ha.
20 weeks is the ideal to introduce them, they will be big enough and mature enough to sort out pecking order then.
Thanks for that - good to know it's not just me. :) Basically that's what I'm trying to do - to give them time to grow a bit so they can stand up for themselves but they are getting too big for their little run - I shall just have to keep trying when I am able to watch over them & keep them safe when I can't. :)
I have 3 pullets 16 weeks need to go into main run but have got 3 cocks same age only keeping them to put in run with the young girls hoping they will protect them worked last time.
Otherwise I will be sitting in run again crazy or what. 2-3 water containers is needed likewise food containers or scatter it around so young ones get a chance to eat and drink.
Older hens will protect theres any leaves cabbage lettuce etc to keep their mind off the new arrivals.
Pecking order can be crazy it just takes time.
I have a rooster in with my hens, and he quickly sorts out any nonsense, and is very protective of the young ones. The only thing I found that helped was to wait until the older ones go to bed, then put the young ones in with them. I do find you will often have one persistent bully. That one you remove and put in the old chicks pen. After a week, put her back with the others. She will no longer be the boss, and will be too busy defending herself to bully the young ones. If she goes back to attacking them, I would cull her. I agree with OliveOil 20 weeks is really the earliest to put them in with the others.
Fraid a cockrel isn't an option in my garden, i am persisting with the little ones in the small run inside the henhouse just letting them out when I'm there to keep an eye on them. Thanks for advice :)