mimi5 Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 So the chicks are huge and growing a pace!! But I see lots of red in the combs I want to get some individual pics of them later to show you experts!!!! But of course need No 1 son's help I will be so depressed if I've only one girl in the bunch Then that raises lots of questions too! Like what will I do with her on her own?? Will intros down the line be difficult? Should I get some other girls as I did want to add to the flock? When would it be best to do that?? Hopefully pics later on....so keep a lookout! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 I added one home hatched pullet to a group last year ( had a 1pullet and 3 boys hatch under a broody ) but she had been Free Ranging with my mob from a couple of days old so she wasn't a stranger I had do it one before in that instance her broody /mom was in that group and hadn't been away from the pullet long has she reused to leave her 2 chicks until they were about 12 weeks old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Oh dear that's bad luck if you have but that's the rubbish bit about hatching you could introduce mum and all babies to the group as it will take you a while to rehome boys. I've put a hen and one little girl back to my mixed pen before they were in a big dog cage in the main pen then slept in a cat carrier then once they seemed ok with the others let them out and then one night when it was dark put them in the house with others leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 We've introduced one pullet to a breeding set of two hens and a cock without any problems really. She was obviously bottom of the pecking order but the cock favoured her which kept the older hens happy. She was alongside them for a planned two weeks but was so keen to get in we introduced her at a week. Of course she got beaten up immediately, but no serious injuries fortunately. We combined the introduction with an increase in the run size and doubled up on feeders and drinkers for a while. She's still with us having outlived her 'mothers' and we have just hatched 8 from her (5 pullets + 3 cockerels which is lucky), two of which will be going in with her, so she'll definitely be in charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 We had this twice last year - in each hatch there was only 1 pullet and several boys so mum and all the youngsters went back into the flock at around 12 weeks (in both cases the mother refused to leave her chicks). We didn't have any problems with it, even when the mum was a pekin taking her full size maran chicks back into the main flock. I did it slowly and let the hens decide where to sleep but it only took about a week of free ranging together before the mother & chicks decided to sleep in the cube with everyone else - easiest intros I've ever done and nearly a year on the relationship between each 'mother-daughter' pair is very strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted May 10, 2015 Author Share Posted May 10, 2015 Well the pics are up for all to see. easiest intros I've ever done and nearly a year on the relationship between each 'mother-daughter' pair is very strong. That's what I found last time I hatched. The intros were so easy and everyone just got on. I had problems introducing outsiders and it's resulted in illness and death But was really hoping for at least a couple of girls!!!!! So not fair the boys are all gorgeous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
