There is more than one way to use the "see but don't touch" integration method. You can set up a small pen within a larger pen, or use a divider to separate the newcomers from the main flock. I'm just lucky enough to have two coops to do it.
I have two groups of youngsters; a small group of 11-week old "teenagers" and a group of nine 5-week old peeps. Three of the peeps group are Easter Eggers that I want to place in with the 11-week old teenagers in the larger coop. The teenager group consists of three Easter Eggers and one BBR OEGB pullet. The young peeps in the brooder coop are three Easter Egger pullets and six Buckeyes.
The first photo below shows my medium sized coop containing the teenagers on the left. On the right is my brooder coop that is housing the nine 5-week old peeps. I moved the brooder coop right up against the larger coop so that the two groups can see and hear each other and get close without being able to touch each other. I spent a few hours today in a lawn chair in the shade, reading a book and quietly observing the two groups interact. This was the first day of them being so close to each other, although the coops have always been in very close proximity.
It was easy to see that there is a lot of interest between the two groups. The older teenagers seem to be more interested in the peeps than vice versa. Also, my BBR OEGB pullet "Midge" is keenly interested in figuring out how to get into the smaller coop to investigate it more.
The teenage EEs are also very interested! I could hear some quiet vocalizations going on.
The two groups getting a good look at each other.
I plan to leave them in this configuration until the birds let me know it's time to integrate. Don't ask me how I know, I just know. It usually takes about two weeks for the two groups to get really familiar with each other. The Buckeyes will be going into a tractor of their own while their three EE broodmates go into the larger coop with the teenagers. Then the brooder coop will be empty and ready for the next generation of peeps, or perhaps Midge will go broody and I can put her into the brooder coop to set some Buckeye eggs for me. Time will tell!
I have two groups of youngsters; a small group of 11-week old "teenagers" and a group of nine 5-week old peeps. Three of the peeps group are Easter Eggers that I want to place in with the 11-week old teenagers in the larger coop. The teenager group consists of three Easter Eggers and one BBR OEGB pullet. The young peeps in the brooder coop are three Easter Egger pullets and six Buckeyes.
The first photo below shows my medium sized coop containing the teenagers on the left. On the right is my brooder coop that is housing the nine 5-week old peeps. I moved the brooder coop right up against the larger coop so that the two groups can see and hear each other and get close without being able to touch each other. I spent a few hours today in a lawn chair in the shade, reading a book and quietly observing the two groups interact. This was the first day of them being so close to each other, although the coops have always been in very close proximity.
It was easy to see that there is a lot of interest between the two groups. The older teenagers seem to be more interested in the peeps than vice versa. Also, my BBR OEGB pullet "Midge" is keenly interested in figuring out how to get into the smaller coop to investigate it more.
The teenage EEs are also very interested! I could hear some quiet vocalizations going on.
The two groups getting a good look at each other.
I plan to leave them in this configuration until the birds let me know it's time to integrate. Don't ask me how I know, I just know. It usually takes about two weeks for the two groups to get really familiar with each other. The Buckeyes will be going into a tractor of their own while their three EE broodmates go into the larger coop with the teenagers. Then the brooder coop will be empty and ready for the next generation of peeps, or perhaps Midge will go broody and I can put her into the brooder coop to set some Buckeye eggs for me. Time will tell!
