The Poultry Keeper

debby124 · Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 17 Location: colnbrook berks

when is the best time to put mum and chicks into pen with the other girls? they have been out with mum for a week now, and the other hens can see them at first they were looking but now dont take much notice. also 1 chick got out today into the hens pen and they didnt take any notice of it, thought they might have a peck. also Rolling Eyes

they are a week old sun , any way at this early stage to sex them??? thank u all for your advice Smile

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1196 Location: Cornwall

What breed are the chicks? It makes sexing them easier if they're ones we all keep.

I'd say mum and babies can go out with the other hens now, I usually let mine go out after a week. Some people prefer to leave them til they're older but I've found the other hens tolerate young babies as they know they're babies, whereas when they're older the hens look on them as grown up chooks and chase and bully them.

debby124 · Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 17 Location: colnbrook berks

think they are light sussex cross. got the eggs off of man at the allotment and he has quite a few! but know the dad was a light sussex

debby124 · Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 17 Location: colnbrook berks

just tried and one of the hens had a go at mum then the other hen joined in, so i put them back in seperate pens again, should i leave them to thrash it out? worried about them treading on chicks Crying or Very sad

dj.chapman@hotmail.co.uk · Joined: 20 Jul 2008 Posts: 46 Location: norfolk

hi i always leave the hen and chicks together but separate from other birds for 6 weeks. then only mother goes back with the gang. at 12 weeks i introduced the chicks but then i don't like to see them fight . you could do it at night and spray all the birds with a weak water/vinegar mix they will all smell the same then and the fighting won't be as bad

debby124 · Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 17 Location: colnbrook berks

thanks for all your help Smile

have decided to keep them apart as the chicks are going to my friends when mum leaves. then i will do the vinigar thing. thanks to u all Smile

tracey061196 · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:25 pm Post subject:

I usually keep mine away for about 4 weeks until the chicks are that much bigger. They are in a pen joined to the other chicks and sometimes the other hens will have ago at mum through the wire.