Animal Lovers Web Blog

Well, we finally bit the bullet and decided that we had to try to integrate our new chicks into the main hen house with the older birds. They’re about 10 weeks old now and getting really quite big.  In an attempt to make the transition as smooth as possible, all of our chickens have been mingling together in the run for a couple of weeks now and seem to have to been getting on together pretty well.  The chicks have also been exploring the hen house and helping themselves to food and water.

We decided that the best thing to do would be to close the door to the barn where the chicks normally sleep at night and see if they voluntarily made their way into the hen house.  Unfortunately, we think they may have been at the end of the queue when brains were given out and they just stood around helplessly at the hen house door, looking at the other chickens who had already tucked themselves up for the night!

Once it got really dark, we decided that a helping hand was necessary before they all became supper for any lucky fox that may be around.  After lifting them onto the perch, they seemed to settle down for the night, which was a real relief.   A few timely checks into the evening suggested all was well and we set our alarm clocks early to open the hen house door this morning.

It was with trepidation that we greeted the chicks this morning, but are delighted to say that all three chicks were still happily perching and we were really pleased.  

After a couple of nights assisting the chicks to bed, we hope that we can leave them to their own devices and that they will make their own way into the hen house at night, even if their old barn door is still open.  It seems to be working out ok so far and we are very pleasantly surprised.  Obviously, as Primrose , our cockerel chick gets older, harmony in the hen house may not last forever.  We’ll savour the moments whilst they last!

Diane

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