Hello!
I am probably overthinking this but I wanted to get some feedback on integrating flocks. I have read several threads about this but still have a few questions. I wasn't sure if I should post here or in the coop form but opted here since it's an integration question?
For starters, I have a flock five chicks I got in May. Then we got 9 more chicks in early September that are 6 weeks old. Not important but we call them the syndicate to differentiate them. They have outgrown our tiny brooder and I'd like to move them outside. Temps at 50 at night and 65ish during the day. Our main flock free roams but I bought a 60x10 chicken run so I can start keeping everyone close during the mornings (and keep the new chicks in until they're 12 weeks or older).
For the chicken coop, I built Justin Rhodes chickshaw 2.0 that is in rough shape (we have goats that love climbing in and destroying everything in it). I would like to buy a second coop for the new chicks. I don't want a huge one though. I want a small, cheap one from Amazon or Tractor supply that I can keep around for when I have broody hens or a sick/injured/bully bird. Besides having a coop for emergencies, it'd be nice to have a coop with a run so I can feed the syndiate their grower feed easily.
What is the smallest size coop that I can get away with for nine 6-12 week old chickens before moving them into the chickshaw? Should I just put them in the chickshaw right off the bat even though they're half the size of our big ones? I've been letting them get to know each other a bit through some mesh and they seem to be okay. The chickshaw doesn't have areas for them to hide from the big ones though and there's still the issue of feeding them separately.
Pics in case they help:
The current fab five posing for a card or album cover or something
The chickshaw we're using. Pardon the mess, I'm winterizing the place.
The 9 chicks in the way-too-small brooder.
Pic of the coop I'm considering because it folds and could probably be stored fairly easy. Reviews say it's flimsy but I only need it for ~2 months + whatever arises.
I am probably overthinking this but I wanted to get some feedback on integrating flocks. I have read several threads about this but still have a few questions. I wasn't sure if I should post here or in the coop form but opted here since it's an integration question?
For starters, I have a flock five chicks I got in May. Then we got 9 more chicks in early September that are 6 weeks old. Not important but we call them the syndicate to differentiate them. They have outgrown our tiny brooder and I'd like to move them outside. Temps at 50 at night and 65ish during the day. Our main flock free roams but I bought a 60x10 chicken run so I can start keeping everyone close during the mornings (and keep the new chicks in until they're 12 weeks or older).
For the chicken coop, I built Justin Rhodes chickshaw 2.0 that is in rough shape (we have goats that love climbing in and destroying everything in it). I would like to buy a second coop for the new chicks. I don't want a huge one though. I want a small, cheap one from Amazon or Tractor supply that I can keep around for when I have broody hens or a sick/injured/bully bird. Besides having a coop for emergencies, it'd be nice to have a coop with a run so I can feed the syndiate their grower feed easily.
What is the smallest size coop that I can get away with for nine 6-12 week old chickens before moving them into the chickshaw? Should I just put them in the chickshaw right off the bat even though they're half the size of our big ones? I've been letting them get to know each other a bit through some mesh and they seem to be okay. The chickshaw doesn't have areas for them to hide from the big ones though and there's still the issue of feeding them separately.
Pics in case they help:
The current fab five posing for a card or album cover or something
The chickshaw we're using. Pardon the mess, I'm winterizing the place.
The 9 chicks in the way-too-small brooder.
Pic of the coop I'm considering because it folds and could probably be stored fairly easy. Reviews say it's flimsy but I only need it for ~2 months + whatever arises.