Letting chicks with mum out of run

  • 3 Replies
  • 1272 Views
*

susiecool

  • Newbie
  • *
  • 1
Letting chicks with mum out of run
« on: June 13, 2011, 21:03 »
When can you let a mother and her chicks out of a fully enclosed run and in with other hens?  My hen is a good mother but getting stressed from being enclosed in a small run.

Thanks

*

joyfull

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: lincolnshire
  • 22168
    • Monarch Engineering Ltd
Re: Letting chicks with mum out of run
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2011, 21:18 »
I have one with 5 week old chicks out and about and another with chicks that were hatched in the hedgerow just a couple of days ago out and about - I never have a problem letting mine out  :)
Staffies are softer than you think.

*

evie2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: An exiled Scot in Derbyshire
  • 4387
Re: Letting chicks with mum out of run
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2011, 21:19 »
Hello Susie, welcome to our ever growing family :D

We kept Star and her chicks in their own run for the first week then let them out into a bigger run that was uncovered for another few days.  The other 4 big hens 'visited', there were no problems so mum and chicks joined the rest of the hens in the garden.  She takes the chicks back to the broody coop every night and is sometimes joined by one of the 'aunties'  ::) :lol:
May this day be blessed with gifts, understanding and friends.  Merlin 2001-2012 Pandora 2001-2013 xxx

*

Squibbs

  • 2nd Pumpkin Contest 2011
  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • 277
Re: Letting chicks with mum out of run
« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2011, 22:56 »
We've never separated our natural hatched chicks from the main flock - the mother hen does a very good job of keeping the others at bay and then by the time she decides she is bored with them they are part of the flock and accepted - if at the bottom of the pecking order.

Incubator raised chicks are different - I move them to where they can be seen at 4-6 weeks depending on the weather and then they get to run with the big flock at about 10-12 weeks. At this time they appear to be tolerated as long a they mind their Ps and Qs and integrate fully over time.

For the first couple of weeks I do feed the 'teenagers' in the closed run otherwise they would get bullied off.


My maths shows that bird is equal to or greater than the word...


xx
new chicks

Started by goodegg on Chicken Chat

2 Replies
5084 Views
Last post May 12, 2010, 19:27
by goodegg
xx
New first chicks

Started by Mutemonster on Chicken Chat

10 Replies
2554 Views
Last post July 09, 2010, 20:00
by Foghorn-Leghorn
xx
Chicks!

Started by Mulberry1990 on Chicken Chat

4 Replies
1690 Views
Last post February 13, 2011, 21:08
by joyfull
xx
New Chicks

Started by grinling on Chicken Chat

3 Replies
1201 Views
Last post April 19, 2012, 20:18
by grinling
 

Page created in 0.119 seconds with 29 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |