chuckmum6 Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 (edited) I have introduced my three 10 week old chicks to the rest of the flock for some free ranging, I have been amazed how well they have all got on. Yesterday, I spent about 3hrs sitting in their part of the garden while they all were out together apart from one or two light pecks they all got on really well. I am sure my presence helped, I left them alone for the last part of the evening and they all took themselves of to their respective eglu and cube. Again today they have been all out together, I have kept a look out, but again all is fine. The chicks have been living in the free ranging area in their eglu while my girl roam around them for about 4 weeks so I guess they are used to them by now... see photo's below (there are quite alot - it was a nice day and I was in with the chooks with my camera for quite a while!). All 11 together. The boys, Parsley and Onion settled down for a good preen. Their sister Sage Roaming with the big girls! Love is...sharing a worm together! My totally 'mad as a box of frog's' broody Pekin, trying a new way to get into the nest box! and failing! Fingers crossed but she seems to be giving up on being broody (3rd time since May) - I have decided to keep one of my cockerels - Onion, but need to re-home the other (my orginal home fell though) I am having quite a job to find someone to have him any suggestions welcome (or offers!) Edited August 9, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 You have some green stuff! I seem to remember it is called grass?? Wonderful pictures Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 They are all lovely and look very happy together. i tried FR my two young girls with the others but they won't come out of their run, probably got something to do with Flora being jumped on by Prue who was horrible to her. Flora and Fleur run into their house and hide. I get the feeling this intro is going to take a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted August 9, 2010 Author Share Posted August 9, 2010 They are all lovely and look very happy together. i tried FR my two young girls with the others but they won't come out of their run, probably got something to do with Flora being jumped on by Prue who was horrible to her. Flora and Fleur run into their house and hide. I get the feeling this intro is going to take a while. Good luck, chickens are fickle things, I'm really surprised it went so well, hopefully they will continue to behave themselves! I gave them a cabbage as a treat which they loved- easy to please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Lovely photos. I haven't been brave enough to let the chicks ( 11 wks now ) free range with the big girls, but Dilbert has escaped into their run a couple of times , I think they've been too taken aback by the cheek of him to do anything about it Love the determined broody ! muppet is broody again and shut out of the coop , but just pancakes on the run floor instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Am impressed they have got on so well. Perhaps it's because 2 are boys, they are lovely - all of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted August 10, 2010 Author Share Posted August 10, 2010 Day three and still all going very well, the chicks are even now popping into the open cube run and have a try of the layers pellets, big girl water and even a sneaky dustbath!!! Then they forget how they got in and go up and down for a while. Of course while this is happening the big girls are guzzling the chicks water, dustbathing in their run etc ... funny how other chickens things are soooooo much better than their own (even though it is the same)! What would you suggest I do about the food? The chicks are still on growers (and too young for layers) also I have half a bag left that they still need to eat. I let them all out of their runs around 8 ish so they have had a chance for their breakfast. I then take the chicks grub away as the big girls were wolfing it down. I don't want to remove layers pellets and I don't want to stop the integration as it is working so well....any suggestions please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 I would think it's better for the big girls to be eating growers pellets than the chicks to eat layers. As long as the big girls eat their layers before they free range, I'd make just growers available to all while free ranging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 I'd definately use growers. The oldies may put on a bit of weight but if they are outside free ranging they will pick up the calcium they need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted August 11, 2010 Author Share Posted August 11, 2010 Thanks I will do, as the babies are feeling confident enough to go into the big ones run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
