Sooo much pooping

[ajayb]

Chicks are coming up 8 weeks old have been fully living outside in an eglu with run for 10 days. When can they be allowed to free range with our older hens (who have had several weeks to get used to them being outside during the day now)?

Thanks!

Edited April 6, 2012 by Guest

[surfer_chicken]

What's the chick to adult ratio?

 

I had 5 chicks and two adult hens and they free ranged together from about 10 weeks (one of the adults had brooded them anyway). I found that most of the time the other two ignored them, but if anything did kick off the little ones were too fast/better jumpers than the big girls to be caught, but I think the fact the big girls were outnumbered really helped.

[sjp]

let the chicks free range on their own a few times first so they get to know the area first start off with a short time then increase it then when you feel you are up to letting them all out togeather let the chicks out first then the older girls first time it's best if you do it about 30 mins before bed time just keep an eye on the girls that you know might get ratty with the youngsters plus the one the bottom of the pecking order they have the most to 'fear' with new additions to the mob the top girls will just have to put the youngsters in place once I find, but they normally get away with murder for a while 2 off mine were happily feather pecking Boris my cockeral today and he just stood there like a mug, he's about 8lb they are about 1lb if that

[ajayb]

Thanks for the replies - really appreciated.

 

I currently have 5 adult hens (no cockerel) and 4 chicks. I think I'll try the '30 mins before bedtime' suggestion for a few days so that, as suggested, we can supervise the interaction, then lettting them out before the older girls in the morning if we feel they're getting along OK.

 

I do wonder if they'll try to follow the older girls into the Cube at bedtime - it'll certainly be interesting to watch!