My chicks are terrified of the big-momma hens..

[MyBabyHens]

I used to have 13 hens, and sadly lost 8 to a sickness that passed around. I now have 5 grown hens, just about a year old. they are pretty good layers, but i was bored of the small flock.

I got around 13 new chicks with the expectancy of 2-3 to pass, [but surprisingly they all survived]. They were late to being outside,as I was trying to wait for warmer weather. I just moved them out around the beginning of spring, as it was warmer in temperature, and I knew the chicks could handle it. Now, I am trying to integrate them, as they are large enough to fend themselves from bullying, or so I thought, and are very well used to the outdoors.

Sadly, I had a chick attacked very terribly along the side, and nearly lost a wing because of it.. The chicks have been terrified ever since, and wont go but 4 feet within proximity to the hens. Any tips on getting them back used to the hens?

P.S
The chick with the wing damage survived and healed very quickly!

 

[DobieLover]

Your older chickens are not mother hens. Broody hens are mother hens. And if they didn't hatch those chicks, it doesn't matter!
The biggest tip is to have at least 15 square feet of space per bird in your run. There also needs to be a lot of things in that run for the birds to hide behind, jump up on and scratch around in. It'll help the older birds find something more appropriate to do other than torment the intruders. Having multiple feed stations is also a tremendous help. I like to spread flat stones all around my run and put little piles of feed on them during the morning feeding.
Also did you give the small ones a separate space within the large birds area so that they could all get used to each other before you just let them intermingle? That's an important part of the integration.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

We've got the room here, plus I have a handy hubby, so we have three outdoor grow-out pens with hutches. These are silkies, and I can't take a chance they'll get beaten on the head, so I just integrate them when they are the same size, around 4-5 months old. By that time, they've all been free-ranging and seen each other a zillion times, so there are no issues.

As @DobieLover explained, for doing it like probably most do, lots of clutter for them to duck and hide is necessary. Here's a post with some ideas. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC!
I would say that without knowing what illness killed your older hens, its not a good idea to bring new ones in. They've survived but they may have short lives. As far as integration into the flock, @DobieLover has given you excellent pointers. Good luck to you and the flock!

 

[MyBabyHens]

I would say that without knowing what illness killed your older hens, its not a good idea to bring new ones in. They've survived but they may have short lives.

I did forget to mention that the sickness has been completely cleared whoops

 

[MyBabyHens]

Also did you give the small ones a separate space within the large birds area so that they could all get used to each other before you just let them intermingle? That's an important part of the integration.

I did! they met at the fence everyday, and it had seemed like the chicks and hens had gotten used to each other, as they began eating at the same fence, and the hens looked interested in them. (in a positive way)

 

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. Time, space, multiple feeding stations, and hiding places are all necessary to aid in the integration process.

 

[Tib]

I just integrated and have seem the same thing but its resolving itself fast because of advise about blind spots and places they can run to that the big ones can't. I have been watching them closely. everyone is right about hiding spots. Spent the entire day with a water bottle ready to break up a fight that never really happened because they could get behind things.

I used milk crates, built a mini crate with no bottom, and turned a section of the run into condominiums with bricks and wood shelves. The babies on day one were scared of them, but would still come out and eat, drink, do stuff even though they had feeders/water for themselves. The babies are loving the condos moving all over the place and the others are so curious about the changes they are checking that out more.

Last night they wanted to go in the coop to roost soooo bad but were scared. I waited until last light then moved them in, the whole time one of the females kept trying to lead them in over and over.

The older ones didn't care one bit about them last night, or even this morning which was a pleasant surprise. Little ones were still nervous this morning. They got the poop shower from sleeping on the floor, but so far today they are no where near as scared as day one.

They were all hanging out together and still getting a little pecking here and there but generally the two "flocks" are taking turns doing chicken things while the others are preening, napping, dust bathing.

I tested removing the blinds (basically wood sheets propped up to reduce line of sight and I could tell this was way too early so put them right back.

My amateur advice, give them blinders and places they can hang out in where the others will leave them alone and give it time. Someone said somewhere that I read this weekend do not ignore the vertical opportunities in your coop with roosts, props, clutter, etc.

 

[NatJ]

The chicks have been terrified ever since, and wont go but 4 feet within proximity to the hens.

Smart chicks!

If your coop and run are big enough, the chicks can just keep staying 4+ feet away from the hens, until the chicks feel that they are no longer in danger.

It is quite common for partly-grown chicks to stay away from the adult hens. It is also common for the hens to demand personal space, and peck any chick that comes "too close" (as defined by that particular hen.)

This is part of why people often recommend extra space during integration: it gives room for the chickens to avoid each other, and do their own thing without conflict.

Any tips on getting them back used to the hens?

Lots of space, safe places for the chicks, and lots of time (depending on how the hens act, that could be multiple weeks, maybe as long as multiple months of time.)