The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: ellied on September 01, 2013, 08:24:40 am
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My single chick is now 10 weeks and living with the broody that raised her, in a semi-mobile outdoor pen. She's the size of the bantams now, maybe not the bulk yet but hopefully enough that the cats will see her as one of the flock rather than a stray sparrow to stalk :-\ and I'm thinking of letting them out so I can re-use the pen. The hen is laying again so could do with layer pellets rather than chick crumb and grass etc from where I can shift the run to day by day in 2 sections, but it is a bit early for the chick to have them so am I better keeping them separate a few more weeks til they can both have layers and the chick is a bit bigger still?
The other hens and cockerel are often around the pen or on top of it, so they have been in contact with the chick for the last few weeks and I am hoping that will help integration as I don't want her bullied either.
What age do you put your young pullets in with adult birds? I've just the one and she's not friendly so I don't want to make a mistake letting her out too soon and trying to catch her again!
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I let mine mix quite a lot - more than I'd planned originally. This year I've had hens, 12 weeks and 8 weeks growers all milling about the garden together without problems beyond the odd peck. No fuss, no blood, no bullying (apart from my 14 week marrans cockeral who wants to have a go at adult french copper black hen, who's broody.) I leave the gate open so growers can come out on their own and squeeze back to safety if they want for a couple of weeks before putting them in the hen house at night.
Maybe worse if there's just one newcommer - mine have been many chicks to few established hens.
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The Calcium levels in layers pellets are too high for chicks Ellied. They should go onto rearers at 6 weeks and stay on them until they lay or until at least 18 weeks. So that is the age to introduce the pullet to the rest of the flock. But you have the problem of her being on her own. I would keep mum and chick alongside the main flock to 18 weeks and then let them both in there together.
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OK, 18 weeks it is, thanks. I hope the hen manages without layers if I can't give her them while she's with the chick, she started laying again at 8-9 weeks and is the easiest egg to find so I'm ok with keeping them there, just could have done with the wee run for another resident and the hen looks a bit fed up watching her pals free range around her and perching overhead.. Will look for other options. One decision made, phew.