Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: ktc on October 26, 2012, 15:31
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We have 2 6 week old bantams who are currently living with their foster mum (pekin) in a separate house and run within the main run. When and how should we integrate them with the big girls (black rock, columbian blacktail and bluebell) ? They can see and be seen but have not had any contact. We're about to start moving them onto growers' pellets. Also, any idea when we might be able to tell what sex they are (hints welcome).
Many thanks
Karen
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Hi Karen
I only put mine in with the big girls when they at point of lay and are ready to move onto layers pellets which is dependent on what breed they are
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Thanks Chick Chick. That makes sense. Should "mum" go back with the others sooner?
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mine used to all free range and every afternoon I would allow the mum and chicks to range out with the big girls, this way full integration was never a problem. The only reason I kept them separate for part of the day was so that they could fill up on their own food first.
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today we built a run within the big girls run so they can have close contact but the chicks wont get attacked (i know my old girls and how they reacted to new hens earlier this year!)
they will be like that for a good few weeks and during that time we will start to open the gate so they can mix until i am happy they can be together, mine are only 10 weeks and there is no way i could let the big girls near them just yet after the way they treated the 16 week old ones who were a lot bigger. My old girls may just be grumpy though!
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i decided to let mine all out together as the bigger girls were pulling out feathers from my 10 week olds in their small run. now i feel they have more chance to get away. still get the odd feather pulling but no blood shed.
luckily i introduced the same amount of babies and ducks all at the same time. with so many changes its been ok. i have one hen who will pull everyones feathers so have tried spray today.
kebi