Adding new chicks....

MelissaTXRn

Songster
6 Years
Jun 3, 2013
703
41
141
We have 2- approx. 12 week old Golden sex links. Today we aquired 2- 5 week old production reds. I know they are healthy and bug- freeand I wanted to put them together quickly. So I introduced them into the coop with the older ones from the start. They acted fine at first. Then the slight peck and baulk here and there started, it progressed to chasing and holding down and hard pecking. I knew it was a long shot, but I tried. We just finished our new hen house, but haven't finished the run so I moved the younger 2 to the new hen house where they are locked in. I will get a dog kennel tomorrow to put them in so they can coexist in the old coop with the other 2 while being protected. Will this work or should I leave them in the other coop for a while?
Advise or other ideas????
 
If you can, it would work best to leave the older ones in the old set up, and keep the younger ones in the new set up, until they are nearly the same size, then add the older ones to the new ones in the new house.

There is a slight advantage to the chickens on their home territory. May as well give it to the younger ones.

Mrs K
 
Maybe not since you only have one 2 month old and there will be 7 little ones. Just keep a close eye for a few days.
 
How bad can the pecking be? The 2mo old chicken pecks the chicks but it doesn't look like its hard. Now some of the chics are trying to peck her and then she pecks them. Right now I keep them all in the same pin with wire between them so the pecking will stop. I'm I stopping nature by doing this? My thinking is to allow the chicks to grow more so they can defend themselves.
 
I'm having the same problem with my birds. I have 3 girls that are 19 weeks and 7 that are 7 weeks. 2 of which are roos. The new ones are just old enough to be out in the coop but our 3 older hens are very aggressive with them. I free range them during the day and then put the little ones in the coop/run so they can establish the coop as home and get used to being outside. Then the older hens can peek at them and get comfortable with them being in their territory. . For now, I will continue to bring the younger ones back in to their brooder in the evenings until they are a little bigger and able to defend themselves and then try to reintroduce them.
 
There is a "pecking order" it was their territory first so they will get picked on as the bigger ones are trying to show them who's boss. But they are significantly smaller than them so I keep them separated until they are big enough to defend themselves because the older hens can potentially kill them.
 
Older hens will kill them. I raised several from eggs and even one of the sisters of the brood hen trapped a baby in the corner and pecked its brains out. I lost 2 that way. Now I have perches at all heights for lesser ones to hop up on to get away. I want to add some chicks in the spring but the only way I've been successful is by separating them until they can outrun the bigger ones and also fly well enough to get up on a perch. I believe keeping them in the coop separated by a cage so the hens can get used to their presence is the best way to do that but i'd like to hear opinions on that strategy.
 
Ive lost several young birds because they were introduced too small. I put the brood pen in the coop with the hens so they can get used to them. I dont put the chicks in until they can defend themselves. Best success i had was with a brood hen (natural mom). I kept her in the brood cage with tbe babies and let them out together so mom could protect them. She also kept them warm so i didnt even need a heat lamp. This time i have no mom to take care of them so i built a brood pen with a heat lamp. They are in an unheated coop and they stay huddled under the lamp. Hope they make it. If they survive i will have 7 different breeds.
 

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