3 week olds with 5 week olds

[jelibn1980]

Best way to introduce them to each other? I guess technically we already did when the littlest first came home...we put them in the brooder together supervised, but just for a few days, not every day. But now the 5 weekers are in the coop and the 3 weeks are still in the brooder. Another week or so and we wanna combine them. Whats the best way ?? They havent been "together" since the first week.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How many birds in each group? What do your outside facilities look like? How big is the coop? the run? Do you free range? Do you have adults out there? Do your older ones have access to the run? Do the older put themselves to bed in the coop after being in the run? Photos to see what you are working with could really help. Where are you? Trying to get an idea of your weather.

It's quite possible they will be fine together if you just dump the younger ones in there, much like you did in the brooder originally. Many people would be surprised at how often that works. But it's also possible you could have problems. The more room you have the better it generally works.

It's possible one of the answers to these questions might change my mind but I think the first thing I'd try is to just put them together when you can be around to observe. Then go from there, based on what they do. Try the easy way first.

 

[jelibn1980]

How many birds in each group? What do your outside facilities look like? How big is the coop? the run? Do you free range? Do you have adults out there? Do your older ones have access to the run? Do the older put themselves to bed in the coop after being in the run? Photos to see what you are working with could really help. Where are you? Trying to get an idea of your weather.

It's quite possible they will be fine together if you just dump the younger ones in there, much like you did in the brooder originally. Many people would be surprised at how often that works. But it's also possible you could have problems. The more room you have the better it generally works.

It's possible one of the answers to these questions might change my mind but I think the first thing I'd try is to just put them together when you can be around to observe. Then go from there, based on what they do. Try the easy way first.

ill see if i can attach a pic of my setup. Im in Georgia where its a trillion degrees...aka in the 90s. I have 5 of the 5 week olds and 4 of the 3 week olds. 9 total. (two barnevelders, 2 easter eggers, 1 barred rock, 2 americauna and 2 polish) The coop is 4'x4' and the run is 12'12'. No adults at all, just these 9 babies. We go out every day and open the coop door to let them in the run, and they come out sometimes, but mostly they sit in the coop all day with the door open. We havent free ranged them yet as i want them to get used to everything first. I worry they would just run off away from us. They dont go back to their coop at night yet, we go out and put them up.

(this pic was before completion, its fully closed and secure now)

 

[Ridgerunner]

That photo helps, thanks. The run isn't that bad for 9 chickens, even when they are grown. The problem is that the coop section is really small. You are in Georgia so you probably have weather that they can be outside year around. If you consider your run fully predator proof so you can leave the pop door open 24/7 you might be able to make it work. Use the coop just for a shelter to sleep and a place to lay eggs. Expect them to stay outside all day every day, regardless of weather. Feed and water outside. Not the best of situations. I'd think hard about enlarging the coop or at least boxing in a corner to give them protection against wind and rain blowing in.

By the time you are ready to start integration they will be old enough temperature will not be an issue. If you consider the run predator proof I'd put the younger chicks in there on the ground some morning when you can observe. See how they get along with the older ones. If they are OK, try putting all of them in the coop section after it is dark. If it is really dark they will probably stay up there. If you have to close the coop door to keep them in be down there before daylight to open the door so they can get out when they wake up.

If you don't consider your run predator proof I'd build a larger coop.

With that small coop section you are pushing the limits. It might or might not work.

 

[jelibn1980]

That photo helps, thanks. The run isn't that bad for 9 chickens, even when they are grown. The problem is that the coop section is really small. You are in Georgia so you probably have weather that they can be outside year around. If you consider your run fully predator proof so you can leave the pop door open 24/7 you might be able to make it work. Use the coop just for a shelter to sleep and a place to lay eggs. Expect them to stay outside all day every day, regardless of weather. Feed and water outside. Not the best of situations. I'd think hard about enlarging the coop or at least boxing in a corner to give them protection against wind and rain blowing in.

By the time you are ready to start integration they will be old enough temperature will not be an issue. If you consider the run predator proof I'd put the younger chicks in there on the ground some morning when you can observe. See how they get along with the older ones. If they are OK, try putting all of them in the coop section after it is dark. If it is really dark they will probably stay up there. If you have to close the coop door to keep them in be down there before daylight to open the door so they can get out when they wake up.

If you don't consider your run predator proof I'd build a larger coop.

With that small coop section you are pushing the limits. It might or might not work.

Thank you so much for all of the advice! We will definitely change the coop if we see the need arises once all 9 are out there and growing! I appreciate you taking the time to reply.