Reintroducing chicks to the small flock

[MsKaren]

Hi. My cochin bantam and silkie had 2 babies that we brought inside with mama since they hatched on Thanksgiving during the cold. We let the mama visit the rooster and two hens outside when it was nice, but eventually, she preferred to return outside. Now the chicks are about 15 weeks old, and with the weather warming up, we plan to put them in a large cage in the run during the day and section off the coop at night. I'm curious if their mom will remember them after about 2 months apart and if I made the right choice bringing them in/seperating them

 

[Mrs. K]

Each of us do it our own way, and we secretly think that is best. But what it really is, is best for us. We all seem to have different interpretations of cold too.

Personally, I don't separate a successful mother and chicks. One of the advantages of a broody hen, is she can raise them in the flock without any integration issues.

The mother will not remember them, or have any affinity for them, this will have the same issues as if you bought new chicks.I would do what you suggest for two or three days, then I would switch it. I would put your laying flock in the cage, and let the chicks in the coop/run so they can explore it without being chased.

Afte a couple of days - just 2-3, then let the old ones out about an hour before roosting. You want it where the urge to roost is getting pretty strong, greater than the urge to fight. The littles should follow them into the coop. Do keep a close eye on things for a couple of days.

DO make sure, you have multiple feed bowls hidden from each other, hideouts, mini walls and roosts where birds can get away from each other.

Mrs K

 

[MsKaren]

Each of us do it our own way, and we secretly think that is best. But what it really is, is best for us. We all seem to have different interpretations of cold too.

Personally, I don't separate a successful mother and chicks. One of the advantages of a broody hen, is she can raise them in the flock without any integration issues.

The mother will not remember them, or have any affinity for them, this will have the same issues as if you bought new chicks.I would do what you suggest for two or three days, then I would switch it. I would put your laying flock in the cage, and let the chicks in the coop/run so they can explore it without being chased.

Afte a couple of days - just 2-3, then let the old ones out about an hour before roosting. You want it where the urge to roost is getting pretty strong, greater than the urge to fight. The littles should follow them into the coop. Do keep a close eye on things for a couple of days.

DO make sure, you have multiple feed bowls hidden from each other, hideouts, mini walls and roosts where birds can get away from each other.

Mrs K

Thank you so much!!!

I couldn't decide if bringing them in or leaving them out was the best course. I was panicking because it was 8 degrees and going to get into the negatives. And our silkie decided that winter is the best time to begin laying eggs lol (the babies were her 5th and 6th eggs i believe).

I really appreciate the help!!! Thankfully, we have a camera in the coop, so I'll definitely be watching.

Do you think the rooster or the hens will be the most aggressive? The hens are 2 silkies (their mom is top hen), and 1 RIR bantam mix (bottom of the pecking order).

 

[Mrs. K]

The general rule of thumb, is the lowest bird, is the meanest bird to strangers.

 

[MsKaren]

The general rule of thumb, is the lowest bird, is the meanest bird to strangers.

Good to know!!! Thanks again!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Do you think the rooster or the hens will be the most aggressive?

In my experience hens are more likely to be aggressive than a rooster. But you don't get any guarantees with this. Anything can happen with living animals. More likely does not mean always.

I do not have any experience integrating 15 week old chicks. I integrate mine much younger. I'm not sure what sex those two are. That might make a difference.

I'm curious if their mom will remember them after about 2 months apart

I agree, she almost certainly will not. There are a few stories on this forum where they seemed to hold a lifelong bond but those are really rare. Typically, once they are weaned she wants nothing to do with them again, any more or less than any other hen.

if I made the right choice bringing them in/seperating them

As mentioned, we all do it our way. I don't consider any one way to be the right way where every other way is wrong. I don't know how much room you have in the coop or run, your management techniques, or even if your coop is elevated. There are a lot of different things that might influence what may be the "best" way for your unique situation but many people make a lot of different things work.

Good luck on the integration.

 

[MsKaren]

In my experience hens are more likely to be aggressive than a rooster. But you don't get any guarantees with this. Anything can happen with living animals. More likely does not mean always.

I do not have any experience integrating 15 week old chicks. I integrate mine much younger. I'm not sure what sex those two are. That might make a difference.


I agree, she almost certainly will not. There are a few stories on this forum where they seemed to hold a lifelong bond but those are really rare. Typically, once they are weaned she wants nothing to do with them again, any more or less than any other hen.


As mentioned, we all do it our way. I don't consider any one way to be the right way where every other way is wrong. I don't know how much room you have in the coop or run, your management techniques, or even if your coop is elevated. There are a lot of different things that might influence what may be the "best" way for your unique situation but many people make a lot of different things work.

Good luck on the integration.

Thank you so much! Unfortunately, I'm not sure what the sex of the chicks is. I believe there is one male and one female, but since they are a mixed breed—particularly a Silkie mix—it's difficult to tell for sure.

Once the babies were weaned, the mother got tired of them, so we put her back with the others. Thankfully, it seems like forcing her to stay with them wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

Currently, our coop and run aren’t very large. The coop measures 91.3 inches long, 44.4 inches wide, and 45.6 inches high, and it includes two nesting areas. The attached run is 45 inches long and 44 inches wide, and both sit directly on the ground. Additionally, we attached another run that is approximately 8 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 8 feet high. We have converted an old playhouse into a dust bath area within that space, as well as having a separate area for dust bathing in the smaller run.

 

[Mrs. K]

You are attempting to put 6 (?) birds in an area meant for 3-4, of course they are not full size birds, so maybe this will work. Be careful, try not to interfere, but on the other hand, if it goes insane - separate them. If that happens, you may need to remove some birds...and I know, no one wants to do that, but chicken math has to work both ways - adding and subtracting.

If you get this to work, do report back. A lot of people would like information. Posting some pictures of your set up would be good too.

Mrs K

 

[MsKaren]

Hi.

We did find another home for the rooster already and he'll be going to a bachelor pad soon. If either of the chicks are male, they'll also be going with him. We had planned on only have 4 hens total but then this happened (we were told the rooster was a hen when we got him and we found out the hard way).
Please don't be too harsh about this coop/run. We'll be adding a new raised coop and extending the run in the near future and keeping the tractor as an emergency coop. We will also be putting in more roosting bars and cleaning this week.

 

[Mrs. K]

I am not going to be hard at all, I think it is bigger than you stated.