toesonthenose Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 We already have 4 chickens we have had since they were 8 weeks old, and are now 15 weeks, we are getting 2 more who are going to be only 6 weeks old. Do you have any tips on how to intergrate them... we have heard tips about vinegar? Also the 11 week chicks are now on growers pellets, can we change back to chick crum for the new chicks for a few weeks? Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I wouldn't put the six week old chicks in with the 15 week girls. It will end in tears. They will marmalise them. Keep them separate until the chicks are well established, on the same food and able to stand up for themselves. It would be a good idea to put them where they can see and hear each other, and integrate them slowly, when the time is right. Swapping the 15 weekers onto chick crumbs isn't a good idea either ,as chick crumbs, Growers and Layers pellets are specifically designed to have the right nutrients for the hen at given stages of their development, and having them on the wrong one would mean that they might be missing out on or getting too much of a particular nutrient. You need another Eglu! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 I agree with Egluntine. Chickens are savage to newcomers at the best of times. You can't really integrate them till they are the same size and can take care of themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Absolutely 100% agree with Egluntine on both points. The younger birds would most likely end up being badly bullied. They need to be the same size as the other hens before being introduced. No amount of vinegar will help if they start picking on the younger chicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Thanks Kate. By the way....I am not clear what the vinegar is for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 I think you're supposed to spray all the hens with the vinegar to make them all smell the same so the newbies aren't picked on but if they're much smaller, it doesn't matter what they smell like if the big ones want to peck them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Aaah.....I see. I've got a bottle of Rive Gauche that I can't abide the smell of.....would that do instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 The hens might not like it either . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 True. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
