What do you predict will happen?

[Sussex19]

Same for me. I guess depends a lot on the temperament of your birds.

I think it helps a lot to have a well-established flock with mixed ages, as I did have a few more problems when I was just starting out.

 

[Dinoroar]

I think it helps a lot to have a well-established flock with mixed ages, as I did have a few more problems when I was just starting out.

I think that is a big part of it, good point.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I think it helps a lot to have a well-established flock with mixed ages, as I did have a few more problems when I was just starting out.

Just for full disclosure, I do have a large established flock in a different coop and run, of mixed ages and breeds. Three roosters and 37 hens. I add new pullets every year and cull the oldest and non-productive ones. I have a separate integration system for the new pullets into that flock, and have little trouble with them. I am making some modifications to it, so I'd rather wait a bit before adding new pullets just yet. (This is just the first time I've raised four batches of chicks back-to-back, mostly for the freezer. I'm just trying figure out now how to manage keeping them together, in stages, prior to butcher. As one age group is culled, another age group will be added into the camp, and so on.)

 

[Ms Biddy]

I'm curious how it goes! The large outdoor space with obstacles is helpful. As a side note, my favorite obstacle is a moveable screen made from an old wood screen door on its side with shelf brackets attached as feet. I've integrated mixed age grow outs successfully before though not quite so many at one time. They weren't hormonal yet which helped. It took a while for them to really mix, but in the meantime there wasn't a blood bath. Could go either way though. Depends on their temperaments.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

As a side note, my favorite obstacle is a moveable screen made from an old wood screen door on its side with shelf brackets attached as feet.

Oh oh oh! Thank you for the suggestion. I have a section of deck railing I was planning to use and cover with hardware cloth, but was trying to work out how best to stand it up in that space. You've given me a great idea - I don't have extra shelf brackets, but I do have a whole big pile of scrap lumber that'll do just fine.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think you are in decent shape. Of course it can go sideways, I don't give guarantees, but I like your chances.

 

[aart]

Since @aart confirmed my fears this morning, I've been working on gathering materials to make an integration area within that run, just to the right of that small coop and under the tarp.

Always good to have a backup plan.......if a fast addition blows up.

 

[Ms Biddy]

Oh oh oh! Thank you for the suggestion. I have a section of deck railing I was planning to use and cover with hardware cloth, but was trying to work out how best to stand it up in that space. You've given me a great idea - I don't have extra shelf brackets, but I do have a whole big pile of scrap lumber that'll do just fine.

It sounds perfect. Make the feet nice and long so it doesn't tip over when they jump off and on the top. These aren't great photos but the first one kind of shows how long the brackets are that I used, they're pretty long. I got them at tractor supply.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

All right. It's DONE and the 7-week-old chicks are now getting used to their own integration space within Camp Cockerel. The remaining fifteen 11-wk cockerels in the larger Camp started to crow this morning.

I opted to make a more secure space instead of a movable screen wall, due to the openness of the run and regular invasions of raccoons and opossums. And I built a 'Fort Knox' cabinet/hutch for their roosting space at night during the integration period. This cabinet is portable, doesn't waste any play space below or above it, and could be used later for brooding chicks or keeping quail, dove, or other small animals, like rabbits.

So here's the hutch, built entirely from scrap lumber and leftover hardware. I didn't spend one cent on making this. I didn't design it to be pretty, just functional and very secure. Since this photo, I've added shingles to the roof, and plan to add more vinyl 'shades' to the front screens, like those I put on the ends:

These shades will need tie-downs. I still plan to add grommets to the corners, and secure them with little bungies when I need to close them for weather:

The floor inside is a scrap of siding rather than wire mesh, for warmth in cold weather. Still easy enough to keep clean if I add litter, which I've done. Since the photo, I've added a short curb across the opening to contain litter. I made the opening wide enough for me to get my upper body all the way in there and reach both ends:

Parallel roosting bars inside are removable (with screws) for a smaller bunch of chicks, or for use with other animals. I can reconfigure the use if needed without taking the roof or back off:

And now, the integration enclosure, built between the Camp's coop and perimeter fence. The perimeter is existing chain-link fence, and interior separating panels from part of an old pallet and a section of old deck railing. I covered it with chicken wire only, since that's what I had left, and I only intended it to keep chickens separated from each other. The cabinet itself is supposed to be the real security. But since a raccoon raided the feeder a couple of nights ago, I added chain-link across that space, too. Still not secure around the edges of the tarp, but it'll keep the birds inside at least:

I replaced the vinyl tarp I had before (didn't fit right) with a new heavy-duty 8x10 tarp with grommets. The only money I've spent on this whole project:

The door is an insert from an old storm door, covered partly with a scrap of expanded metal (lower 2/3), and chicken wire fastened with metal strips on the inside. Old cabinet hinges. Outer latch is a U-shaped pipe holder, through which I push a large nail into a hole I drilled into the support post. Inner latch is a tiny scrap of wood made into a turnbuckle:

The gap between door jamb and the bigger shed will be left as is. It's not big enough for my main predators to get through. And here are some of the chicks exploring their new space yesterday:

And finally, the meet-up! Getting to know each other for several days before I open the door. I wanted to make a gap at the bottom of the divider fence or door, big enough for the littles to get through but too small for the bigger chicks. But they're really too close in size already, and I was running out of material, time and ideas. I needed to get it DONE. So I opted for just a period of look-don't-touch, then I'll open the door and watch. I've got plenty of obstacles and jungle gyms in the run, so that will help:

So far, so good. I'll post another update when the integration is complete, to let you know how it goes. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions to help, whether I used your ideas or not. Thank you: @aart @Ridgerunner @Brooks_ @Maddcatter @Ms Biddy .

 

[Brooks_]

All right. It's DONE and the 7-week-old chicks are now getting used to their own integration space within Camp Cockerel. The remaining fifteen 11-wk cockerels in the larger Camp started to crow this morning.

I opted to make a more secure space instead of a movable screen wall, due to the openness of the run and regular invasions of raccoons and opossums. And I built a 'Fort Knox' cabinet/hutch for their roosting space at night during the integration period. This cabinet is portable, doesn't waste any play space below or above it, and could be used later for brooding chicks or keeping quail, dove, or other small animals, like rabbits.

So here's the hutch, built entirely from scrap lumber and leftover hardware. I didn't spend one cent on making this. I didn't design it to be pretty, just functional and very secure. Since this photo, I've added shingles to the roof, and plan to add more vinyl 'shades' to the front screens, like those I put on the ends:

These shades will need tie-downs. I still plan to add grommets to the corners, and secure them with little bungies when I need to close them for weather:

The floor inside is a scrap of siding rather than wire mesh, for warmth in cold weather. Still easy enough to keep clean if I add litter, which I've done. Since the photo, I've added a short curb across the opening to contain litter. I made the opening wide enough for me to get my upper body all the way in there and reach both ends:

Parallel roosting bars inside are removable (with screws) for a smaller bunch of chicks, or for use with other animals. I can reconfigure the use if needed without taking the roof or back off:

And now, the integration enclosure, built between the Camp's coop and perimeter fence. The perimeter is existing chain-link fence, and interior separating panels from part of an old pallet and a section of old deck railing. I covered it with chicken wire only, since that's what I had left, and I only intended it to keep chickens separated from each other. The cabinet itself is supposed to be the real security. But since a raccoon raided the feeder a couple of nights ago, I added chain-link across that space, too. Still not secure around the edges of the tarp, but it'll keep the birds inside at least:

I replaced the vinyl tarp I had before (didn't fit right) with a new heavy-duty 8x10 tarp with grommets. The only money I've spent on this whole project:

The door is an insert from an old storm door, covered partly with a scrap of expanded metal (lower 2/3), and chicken wire fastened with metal strips on the inside. Old cabinet hinges. Outer latch is a U-shaped pipe holder, through which I push a large nail into a hole I drilled into the support post. Inner latch is a tiny scrap of wood made into a turnbuckle:

The gap between door jamb and the bigger shed will be left as is. It's not big enough for my main predators to get through. And here are some of the chicks exploring their new space yesterday:

And finally, the meet-up! Getting to know each other for several days before I open the door. I wanted to make a gap at the bottom of the divider fence or door, big enough for the littles to get through but too small for the bigger chicks. But they're really too close in size already, and I was running out of material, time and ideas. I needed to get it DONE. So I opted for just a period of look-don't-touch, then I'll open the door and watch. I've got plenty of obstacles and jungle gyms in the run, so that will help:

So far, so good. I'll post another update when the integration is complete, to let you know how it goes. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions to help, whether I used your ideas or not. Thank you: @aart @Ridgerunner @Brooks_ @Maddcatter @Ms Biddy .

Your pics aren't showing. It may be an issue on my end.