We have five 1+ year old leghorns we raised from chicks last year. This year we purchased 5 new chicks (2 Barred Rock, 2 RIR and 1 Easter Egger). We kept them in the house until they were about 6-7 weeks old at which point we moved them out to the existing run.
The way our coop/run is built is that part of the run actualy goes under the coop. So, we separated the run by using chicken wire from that point down and put a large dog crate in there to act as a temporary coop for the chicks. They had their own food & water in that area as well. We were told this would be the best way to integrate the chicks so that the older chickens would begin to get used to seeing them.
After a few weeks we started letting all of them out of the run and into the yard together so they could begin to mingle a little. About a week ago, we removed the chicken wire as well as the seperate food & water. There was a little pecking from the leghorns but after a couple of days they seem to be getting along nicely. The chicks have found their way to the food in the "big" coop, with a little help from me and are now coming and going freely. We originally left the old dog crate in the run for a few days even though they were no longer seperated but have since moved it out.
Here is my dilemma...the new chicks are still sleeping in a pile in the run. They do not go up to the coop at night with the leghorns. What is the best way for me to encourage this? Should I just put them all in the coop at night and lock them in? I don't want to cause too much of a ruckus or force anything that might cause the younger chicks to get picked on if it is not necessary. Most of the new chicks are already as big, if not bigger in a few cases, than the leghorns.
Any recommendation for how I can get all my girls roosting together in the coop??
Thanks in advance!
The way our coop/run is built is that part of the run actualy goes under the coop. So, we separated the run by using chicken wire from that point down and put a large dog crate in there to act as a temporary coop for the chicks. They had their own food & water in that area as well. We were told this would be the best way to integrate the chicks so that the older chickens would begin to get used to seeing them.
After a few weeks we started letting all of them out of the run and into the yard together so they could begin to mingle a little. About a week ago, we removed the chicken wire as well as the seperate food & water. There was a little pecking from the leghorns but after a couple of days they seem to be getting along nicely. The chicks have found their way to the food in the "big" coop, with a little help from me and are now coming and going freely. We originally left the old dog crate in the run for a few days even though they were no longer seperated but have since moved it out.
Here is my dilemma...the new chicks are still sleeping in a pile in the run. They do not go up to the coop at night with the leghorns. What is the best way for me to encourage this? Should I just put them all in the coop at night and lock them in? I don't want to cause too much of a ruckus or force anything that might cause the younger chicks to get picked on if it is not necessary. Most of the new chicks are already as big, if not bigger in a few cases, than the leghorns.
Any recommendation for how I can get all my girls roosting together in the coop??
Thanks in advance!