The Poultry Keeper

nataleeps · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Reading

I'm new to chicken keeping. I was given 4 female chicks at about 2 weeks old. They are now 6 weeks old and I have their coop with inbuilt run ready, but their are still kept in the conservatory in a dog crate most of the time only let out into the run when its nice for a couple of hours or so.

I really want some eggs so I thought I'd get two POL hens that could go stratight into the coop and run. To my question. What age should my new chicks be before I should try and intoduce them to the POL. Would eight weeks be old enough?

I had also thought of waiting until my chicks are 8 weeks ish before I got the new hens and then intoducing my chicks and the point of lay at the same time to the coop and hoping since it was new to both they would be OK.

Any opinions or suggestions are welcome please.

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1744 Location: norfolk

I think that's a bit young yet tbh. Wait about 4 weeks and then try them after letting the big chickens see them up close but not touch for a few days beforehand. Incidentally, you say they are 8 weeks in the title but 6 weeks in the text. I'm going by the 8 weeks - think they should be 12 weeks before you let them in together.

nataleeps · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Reading

Thanks Kate, so do you mean I need to keep my chicks in the conservatory until they are 12 weeks old regardless of whether I get 2 older hens or not.

CP · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:28 am Post subject:

I would keep them separate until they are at least 12 weeks, preferably 16 weeks as they should still be on growers pellets until then.
Also the older & bigger they are, the more able they will be to withstand any bullying in the pecking order. Wink

nataleeps · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Reading

Thanks CP. I think I'll hold off on the POL then. How young can I let my 4 chicks out overnight in their coop. The coop is about 3 foot square, maybe a bit bigger.

CP · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:25 am Post subject:

If they're off heat then it may be OK. You'll have to watch out for draughts but if they can huddle together & they're all feathered then they should be fine.
Might be worth checking them a few hours after they've gone to bed & see if they look comfortable. Wink

nataleeps · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Reading

Thanks for all your comments. I think I'll keep them in overnight for at least another week maybe more.
The chicks are off the heat lamp now but my conservatory is heated. I'll have to turn the heat down as much as possible. I've started to increase the time they are outside. Yesterday I introduced them to their coop (by shutting them in it for 5 mins before letting them out) but today I notice they spent most of the time in the coop. Do you think they were too cold to be outside or maybe the neighbour's cat scared them?