when to let chicks free range?

E

elmdene

New member
Joined
Oct 1, 2010
Messages
198
Reaction score
0
I have had my pekin, Sybil, in a separate coop since she became broody as the other 2 hens and Basil, the cockerel, were bullying her. She now has 3 four week old chicks (which I'm rather worried are all cockerels!).The coops are next to each other so that they can all see each other, and the other birds free range most of the day and come up and take a look.
My know-it-all neighbour tells me I should have let Sybil and the chicks out by now so that they can bond with the others, so yesterday I gave it a try. Both Basil and Myrtle pecked at one of the chicks which resulted in Sybil attacking Myrtle!! I had to literally pull them apart. Should I let them just sort out the pecking order or are the chicks in danger? We also have a cat who knows to keep a wide berth of the chickens but not sure about chicks, plus another visiting cat. I do feel mean as Sybil paces up and down the run, even when she can't see me. They have quite a bit of space but I know she would love to be outside - it just seems a dangerous place for a little bantam chick. I'm also worried about them eating something bad for them, or Sybil trying to feed them layers pellets - she was trying to get back into the main coop yesterday.
Also - are there any treats anyone can recommend for chicks - so far they are on chick crumbs plus some dried maggots and crushed dried mealworms as a treat, plus the grass they are on. Seems a bit boring to me. Sybil adores corn but I don't think I can give her any yet as she just feeds the chicks with it first.
 
my rooster is fantastc with the chicks and most my chicks were free ranging with the others with in a week of hatching but my broodies are nuts if any one even looks wrong at chicks. my rooster does stand up for he chicks but it does depend on your other chickens
if mum is lower down the pecking order it might be best to leave her a while till chicks can hold their own
 
If Mum wanrs to be out with the others, why not just keep the chicks in a safe grass run and let her out to rejoin the flock? I think 4 weeks is too young for them to be out unprotected from visiting cats etc but a bit of nice short grass will do them a lot of good. After all, if they'd been hatched in an incubator that's what you'd be doing by now. I got my chicks at 5 weeks old, made them a nice cosy box to roost in at night, and brought them up in sight of the other hens but separate and safe until 18 weeks, so they could eat chick crumb until 9-10 weeks and thewn growers pellets until joining the others. If they're all in together you can't give them this moire suitable feeding plan.
 
No need to worry about them eating a few layers pellets, no harm will come to them. They are still at a vulnerable age and should only free range under supervision. Other adults in a flock can kill chicks if they take a dislike to them.
 
My 2 broodies and their chicks (4 weeks and 2 weeks old) FR with everyone else when I am around. The others tend to ignore the chicks but the broodies will stick up for them.

The main reason I only have them out when I'm there atm is because there are at least 5 magpies in the garden that sit on top of the chicken run and I'm sure they could fly off with a pekin chick!
 
Best not listen to your 'knows nothing' neighbour. I would keep the chicks separated from the others until they are at least 8 weeks, because a simple peck from a big hen will do a lot of damage at this age, so will a cat. Mummy can go back with the others now during the day but she will be run ragged trying to protect the chicks if they go with her. Put mum back with chicks at night as it is getting cold now. In a couple of weeks she can stay with the others if she wants. As long as the chicks are kept in full view of all the others they will integrate without too many problems -there will be minor 'pecking order' type squabbles obviously.

Too early for corn with the chicks. Try tomatoes. They are in season and incredibly cheap. They will love the tiny slippery seeds in them and should be able to pass them through by now.

Find someone skilled with an air rifle to remove your magpies. Our bantams were being badly harrassed by a group of magpies -they will even bully your cat.
 
I dont mix them that young. They go onto a seperate lawn where no adults have been bar the broodies--not only is there the risk of injury from other birds also a much higher risk of coccidiosis ,herpes virus etc, mine remain seperate till POL. They also remain in coops unless I am sitting with them as we have foxes,badgers rooks and buzzard etc. It may seem idyllic to mix them but personally I feel its not worth the risk. Ros
 
Thanks for that - reassuring to know I am doing the right thing. My neighbour also laughed at me for mowing the grass where I put the coop, saying they would love to be in long grass. No chance of Sybil going out by herself at the moment as they all go berserk if separated. Will keep them as they are for the time being. Just off to try them with a tomato. :D
 
elmdene said:
Thanks for that - reassuring to know I am doing the right thing. My neighbour also laughed at me for mowing the grass where I put the coop, saying they would love to be in long grass. :D
Click to expand...

Your interfering neigbour obviously knows less than nothing about keeping chickens! Tell him that long grass can be fatal to chickens if it gets impacted in their crops. As for chicks, they need short grass to be in scale with their tiny bodies, when doing their first tries at finding food.
 
Yes - I have just started doing this, heavily supervised of course, and the others seem to be accepting them more now, without attacking them all the time. I have also tried the chicks with sweetcorn, which some one suggested, which they seemed to like, although they only ate the little bits that Sybil threw out. I think she is so thrilled to have something different to eat, she just goes crazy! My one concern is that there is lots of mistletoe in the garden and they may eat a berry by mistake, although I guess birds eat them with no problem.
 
elmdene said:
Yes - I have just started doing this, heavily supervised of course, and the others seem to be accepting them more now, without attacking them all the time. .
Click to expand...

Couldn't you just shut the others up for an hour or two, and then let hen + chicks out on their own for a while?
 
Just over a period of a few days the other chickens seem to have accepted the 'new family' and just let them do their own thing, so all fine. The chicks are still quite little though so I only let them out when I can keep an eye on them in case of cats, rooks etc.
 
do you have a largeish enclosure where you can put them? or can you set up a make shift one?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top