4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Stacy]

We have just brought home our first chick who is slowly settling into her new home. She is a Black Pekin Bantum. At the moment she remains in her ark with roost and run together however i am keen to let her into the graden but am unsure when to start as we have two cats. One is pretty laid back and I dont anticipate any issues with her but the other is partial to catching black birds/ pigeons! We plan to add another older hen later this week, could this help? Any advice would be appreciated

[feemcg]

You bought one chick on it's own?.....poor wee thing will be lonely, can you get it a companion soon? Would have been better to buy another one the same age at the same time rather than introducing an older hen later.......there will be a marked size difference too.

[Egluntyne]

How old is the chick?

 

Please don't put her in with an older hen if she is tiny. It will end in tears.

 

Articles on managing intros **here** and **here**

 

If the cat has a habit of catching birds, I would make sure it is indoors when the hens free range, unless you are out there to supervise.

[Stacy]

She is nine weeks old. They only had one so thats the reason she is on her own. I am desperate to get her a campanion but dont know what to get as am very new to this, any help????

[abwsco]

You can't add an older hen to the chick. They will kill it! Would imagine your cats would as well.

 

Sorry but no breeder should have sold you one chick.

[feemcg]

Try and find another breeder who has chicks........anything up to about 12 weeks should be ok to go in with her......are you sure it's a she?. If the breeder has been happy to let one chick go, he may also be happy to get rid of a suspected cockerel