when will bantam and her chicks be ready for the flock?

[Anonymous]

Hi
I have a bantam hen with three chicks which she hatched within the main chicken run in a seperate shed. When the chicks were a week old I moved her and the chicks into a converted guinea-pig house with covered run in the main run so they can have access to some grass and fresh air. How long before they can all join in with the others (two hens and a cockerel).
Also they are having chick crumbs with the occasional piece of bread of fruit. How long should they stay on the chick crumbs...
One more thing - sorry! I have put a layer of shavings and some straw in the house, but every day the bantam chucks it all out. As it is likely to turn cold soon i am worried she will be cold - why does she scrape it out?
Many thanks!

 

[Chuck]

You didin't say how old the chicks are now. If they are around 8 weeks, they could come off the chick crumbs and go onto growers ration.

She's probably just scratching the bedding out because scratching is what chicken do and if there's no ledge in the door to stop it, it will keep happening. However, they will not need it to keep warm.

Advice on integration when we know how old the chicks are.

 

[Marigold]

You didin't say how old the chicks are now. If they are around 8 weeks, they could come off the chick crumbs and go onto growers ration.

Advice on integration when we know how old the chicks are.

Opinions differ about the wisdom of integrating young chicks with a flock of older hens. This used to be normal when all the birds were given a scattering of corn as their main food and freeranged for the rest. But nowadays most adult hens are fed on layers pellets, which are balanced for the needs of layers who have to produce a shell each day or so, so are higher in calcium than is good for young growers. The other way, when they come off chick crumbs at about 8 weeks, is to return the mother hen to the flock, and raise the growers in your small coop and run, and feed them on growers pellets, which will promote steady growth appropriate to their age. then integrate them with the adults at around 18-20 weeks, when they have grown enough to go on to layers feed.

 

[Anonymous]

hi - sorry - the chicks hatched 14th september so are only coming up 3 weeks. I was thinking of returning her and chicks to the flock about 8 weeks - I could stop the layers pellets for a while and feed them all on the 'growers' ration (to be honest although I give the adults layers pellets they hardly touch them - they prefer the scraps and mixed corn......Would this be ok?
Thanks for all the advice

 

[foxy]

As long as there is plenty of space for the youngsters to take cover/hide they should be fine. I sometimes integrate at this age with large fowl growers as by 8 weeks they are quite big. You might need an extra feeder/drinker initially as the older flock will bully the young ones, just depends on what breeds you have, be prepared though for trouble and to rear the youngsters separately if need be.

 

[elmdene]

I have three 11 week old pekin chicklets - 2 girls and a boy. They were hatched and raised in a separate house (although right next door to the other henhouse so in sight) but mum has now rejoined the grown-ups (a cockerel and 2 hens). They all free range during the day but totally separately, since the bigger ones started pecking the chicks. Strangely they all check out each others coops and eat each others food, but return to their own at night.
I had intended to find a new home for the chicklets but am now considering keeping them as they are my first lot and I love them to bits and am loathe to let them go!
Questions -
Firstly, will it be ok keeping 2 cockerels together - father and son?
Secondly, I am worried about how to bring them together. Since they ignore each other during the day, I will have to shut them in at night together and am worried about coming down in the morning to carnage.
Thirdly, I have a Bowframe coop with an extension so approx 3.3 sq.m of groundspace, plus quite a big roosting box above and 2 nest boxes. I think this is a bit crowded for 7 bantams (but I see a lot worse) although it means they will have more warmth on a cold winter's night when they can all cuddle up together. Also they are generally let out to free range during the day unless really wet or we are on holiday.
Can anyone give me some advice please.