Jules. Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 My chicks ( 7 weeks old today!) have been in the eglu for 2 weeks now. The big girls & the bantams have free ranged around them, then the chicks have had a free range when the big girls have been locked away. This week I let all the hens out together on a lovely sunny afternoon for about 1/2 hour, with no ill effects- no chasing, pecking or squarking. The chicks are as big as the bantams now, & although I know the 2 hen chicks can't go into the WIR for about another 10 weeks or so I was pleased with how things went with all the girls ( & boys) in the garden together. Of course, I was around all the time to keep a beady eye on things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Sounds like it was a step in the right direction. No argy bargy at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 My growers are 15 & 18 weeks and have been free ranging for about six weeks with the big girls and sleeping with them for three weeks. I spent a lot of time supervising but the younger ones soon learnt ducking and diving techniques and respect for their elders There's still the odd screech from the babies but they know their place and everyone gets along fine. I think a lot depends on your hens, mine were used to newbies coming in on a regular basis so it's not so much of a shock to them and they are remarkably tolerant. Mine are all large fowl and I would've never intentionally added bantams to the flock but two of the chicks I hatched from my first mixed lot of Ebay eggs have turned out to be bantam size and even they've had no bother fitting in. Their personality makes up for lack of size against the big girls Egeltine thinks she's at least three foot tall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 that is a lovely image Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Mine were out ranging with mum and the other big girls from a week old. Apache does swipe at them on occasion, but like Griffin's peeps, they soon learn to duck and weave. Sioux is very good, unless they overstep the mark and have to be checked. All in all they are all happy together and now the chicks even try to nab food out of the big girls mouths - sometimes they win! The little ones are now 5 weeks old, but are probably bantam sized. I won't put them in the cube at bed time just yet, but I don't worry about them ranging together. Since their mum died last Monday, I was particularly worried by possible bullying, but it never happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Last year my Pekins were free ranging with Mum along side the other girls from a day old.. she looked after them and we supervised.. They intergrated really well although went to their own house at night.. then earlier than planned they became one flock at 13 weeks without any problems Think it depends on your own girls.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 These are our girls (can't see one - she matches the dirt anyway and is more than likely to be the other side of mum) altogether, the chicks are 3 weeks here. So as long as you keep a watchful eye at first, you shouldn't have any worries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
