[rosie14]

Hi all, I have an Orpie with a lone chick (4 1/2 weeks old) both of whom are very close still but will be returning to the main chicken run at some point. We only have 1 other hen in the main run and my question is will it be obvious when they are ready and how do I do it?

I'm thinking one evening at dusk or darkness but as out nesting boxes are open and where they always roost how will I monitor their early wake up? I am expecting the remaining hen to have taken top position where as they were always equal before but I guess I wont know until I try lol! Do I just let them get on with it or what guys?

[brownysfp]

We use two runs: the first holds new chicks and their mothers. The free-ranging flock can see them but can't do anything unpleasant. The second is for youngsters post-mum before they join the rest. This has really cut down on integration problems; when it's time for the youngster to use the coop at night it isn't a stranger and doesn't suffer any bullying.

[Casey76]

Well I've always let my broody with chicks in the main run with the rest of the flock from when the chicks were a couple of days old.  Mum protects them from the others.

Personaly I would put them all together and keep a close eye on them for a bit to make sure there is no over the top bullying or chasing.  Mum will know best.

For the moment mum will probably want to keep roosting away from the others, so leave both houses available to her on a night, and let her choose.

[evie2]

This year is the first time we had a broody with chicks.  For the first week she was sitting, we locked the others out of the run, we then opened the gate so she and the other chickens could socialise.  For the last couple of days before the eggs were due to hatch and a couple after she was again locked in the run.  They were then moved and given a 6ft x 6ft uncovered run, the broody could fly out and the others could fly in, eventually we took one of the panels away and they free ranged with the broody, returning to the broody coop at night, sometimes joined by one of the other hens.

We never had any problem with them being accepted by the rest of the flock doing it this way.

[rosie14]

Thanks all. Hen and chick currently in a big rabbit hutch as a broody house contained in a large rabbit run!! The broody run wont fit in or alongside the big chicken run but the rabbit hutch will fit in it.

So do you think I should put mum and chick in with our other hen in the run but leave the option of the rabbit hutch (broody house!) inside the big run? Should I move them in at night, geeze I'm feeling nervous about this! But probably worrying over nothing. Our Welsummer is a flighty kind of nut job at the best of times, maybe she will just freak!