Well, it seems the chicks have outgrown their brooder box. They need to be moved into the big chicken house this week.
To all the chicken experts, what is your procedure for introducing pullets to the hen flock?
#grownostr #chickens #homesteading #foodsovereignty
I do it at night when the flock is roosting. They will get the pecking order figured out in a few days.
This is our plan as well. Surprise new friends when they all wake up the next day
We cage ours & set the cage in the pen all day for a few days, then we release them into the flock right before roosting time on whatever day everybody seems calm about eachothers presence. Usually day 3 or 4. We make sure they roost together Then we let them sort out their differences in the morning
The one time I introduced pullets into the flock, I put a box in the chicken house with a hole/door cut into it that was small enough that only the pullets could get into it. I put them in after dark, so they would all wake up together, but had the box so the smaller pullets could get away if the bigger hens or the rooster was picking on them. After a couple of weeks, I removed the box.
I have a small chicken tractor, I put them in it until I’m ready to switch them from grower to layer feed. They can all see each other and adjust. Then when it’s time, I move them in the dark.
Update: pullets have been in the hen house for three or four days and all is well.
I have an automatic door, and the hens file out to free range at daylight. I feed the hens outside then feed the little ones inside after the hens are away.
