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

[bigbertha]

On the same day I brought home my two 10 wk old chicks I found my lovely gingernut ranger unwell. Following a trip to the vet she sadly had to be put down

My dilema is this - I am left with two 10 wk olds in an eglu (i was told to keep them seperate for 4 weeks) and a very sad and lonley (now not laying) silver grey dorking, in a cube. I am letting them get together in the garden but there is a lot of pecking (bit less today)from the dorking and I am terrified to leave them together in the run but also concerned that the dorking (who is huge) is cold and lonely in her cube.

Other problem is that even if I could get them to be OK together in the cube the little ones wont be able to get in the house as ladder is too high.

Has any one had this situation before?? Is it OK for chickens to be alone for a while?? Is it easier to introduce a chicken of similiar size (could get another large chicken for the Dorking but would need to go straight in cube as now no other space)??Shoud I try rehoming Dorking and starting again with the babaies (dont want to as Dorking is beautiful and good fun)

All advice greatfully received as am very new to "chickens" xx

 

Thanks - Funky chickenxx

 

Babs & Gertie 10 wks old

Talulah Silver Grey Dorking

[Egluntyne]

I wouldn't put 10 week old chicks in with a fully grown hen....it could be a recipe for disaster. The need to be at POL and big enough to stand up fo r themselves and at 10 weeks will not be at this stage.

 

**Click**

 

Might be best to let them freerange with a barrier between them as described in the linked article.

[sjp]

the ladder part of the problem might be the easier bit to fix could you make a tempary ramp all you need is a lenth of 1/2"(12 or 15mm)plywood the width of the cube ladder the same length as the length from the top of the ladder to the floor and some 2"x1" timber or slaters latth the same width srewwd on to the ply set the width of the timber apart use a piece of the timmdr as a quide then zip tie it in place

builders skips will be a good place to look

a ten week speckledy hybrid couped with this one no problem you'll just need to use ply insteed of the 4"x2"

[chelsea]

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear about your chicken.

 

I agreed with the above advice, you really need to keep big hens and little chicks seperate. It will probably be several weeks (more like another 10 weeks rather than 4) before you can mix them.

 

As suggested putting them somewhere where they can all see each other (but cant get to each other) by splitting the run/or similar is a good idea. Also by letting the big girl free range whilst the little ones are shut in will also get them used to each other and she will be able to see there are other hens in the garden, so wont feel so alone.

[Sara-W]

Could you perhaps get another POL chicken to keep your Dorking company? Plenty of room for one more in a cube Then she would be happier and make intros with the chicks easier I have 3 big girls and 6 15 week old chicks that have been free ranging together for 3 weeks. My intention is that the chicks will eventually move into the cube when they are of similar size and by that time they will all be friends (they are already!) The chicks have even been going inside the cube to have a look

Good luck! keep us posted on what you decide to do

Sara x

Endora Sally Henny Penny Esme

Sybil Enid Evelyn Queenie Agatha Mildred

Jemimah Lola Delilah

2nd hand empty at the moment!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I'd suggest getting another big girl to go with Talulah, then she'd have company until the babies can go into the cube with her, and I think the integration may be smoother too as it would be 2 + 2 rather than 1 + 2.

 

Good luck with your dilemma, and RIP little

 

Sha x

[Porkypie]

I'm not so sure about introducing one big bird to your current big bird Wouldn't you need to keep her seperate for a while (in case of disease and to get used to each other)? That would leave 3 runs and 3 hen houses?? I've just introduced one POL to two and they were in seperate runs for 4weeks - but then I don't have experience of introducing 1:1 and maybe I've misunderstood