Solitary chicken - need advice

[Rhona R]

At the moment we have two runs, one with two chickens in, the other with hen and her three 7 week old chicks.

 

THe mother hen has always pecked at one chick, it stopped and then started again two weeks ago. The mother hen seems quite irritable with the chicks during the day, and paces up and down all evening, although they snuggle up together at night.

 

This is our first batch of chicks. When we take out the hen to free range, the chicks seem much calmer. Should we separate them altogether? We could put the hen back with the two chickens (she was always bottom of the pecking order) and just let the chicks remain on their own.

 

Were getting them sexed at nine weeks and then the plan is to introduce the remaining chicks to the flock. Will it be harder without their mother being introduced at the same time?

 

Not sure what to do for the best and appreciate any advice.

[sjp]

if the 'mom' is fed up with the chicks then put her back in with the adults just after dark if she gets really upset /won't settle in the morning when you let them out of the coop put her back in with the chicks the chicks will need to be at least 16-20 weeks old before they go in with the adults as they need to be on growers feed until then plus they won't be able to defend themselves properly in a run with adults you can let them free range together through as they'll have plenty of room to get away from the older birds

the 'mom' might be the most aggressive towards the chicks once she goes back into the main group once they stop been broody/mom then all maternal instincts finish most times

[Beantree]

We used to separate ours at 6 weeks (don't use broodies anymore) and then re-introduce mother with care, because she may be bullied as a newcomer.

[miller30]

Ive separated mine about a week ago 21 from different broodies ranging from 5-8 weeks as mums fed up put the mums back in with their groups bit of argy bargy nothing major their husbands sort it out lol .Now all babies are in a large predator proof pen with one broody and her chicks she's an old girl and likes to keep her babies as long as poss and since there are a few young boys in the group she keeps them in their place lol i would separate her if she's had enough what breeds are they? Saying that though I've had 4 week old babies run the flock before the oldest being my 10 year old hybrid ha ha but they have their own pens and house to go back to where i feed them as they need different food

[Rhona R]

Thanks all - advice much appreciated. Think we'll re-introduce mum this weekend, and the chicks when the walk in arrives, they'll be about 11 weeks then. We'll leave the nursery up in case it doesn't work out, and we can keep the little ones separate for a bit longer if need be.

[Purplemaniacs]

Sorry I might have misunderstood but 11 weeks is too young to introduce chicks to adult birds unless you can divide off your new WIR.

 

Chrissie

[Beantree]

The chicks will need to be at least 20 weeks old before they mix with hens on layers pellets. Up to then they need to be kept separated and on rearers pellets. We don't actually switch to layers pellets until the first pullet lays and at that stage we would introduce them, perhaps at 26 weeks. We also have chicks at 11 weeks at the moment and they wouldn't stand a chance with the adults as they are only half their size. The danger is not a bit of pecking order squabbling but the risk of serious injury from a well aimed peck from an angry laying, and so very defensive, hen.