4 new chicks added

[dnx717]

This is long, but I'm explaining my lack of experience, lol. If you don't want a lengthy read then skip to the last two sentences.

Our first flock was 9 birds, consisting of 6 different breeds. We LOVED them but when I decided to go back into engineering school and my wife was 6 months pregnant with our second child we decided to sell off the flock. Just a few months later we decided we shouldn't be living without chickens! So, our only experience was one solid flock, we had one die, and then we sold. This second flock has been a different experience. We bought three birds and two of them are frequently broody. So we decided to take advantage of that opportunity and incorporate two chicks into the flock by placing them under the broodys. NATURALLY, the broodys broke the same day I bought the two new chicks! So the older birds were not remotely accepting of our new chicks and it was a painstaking process getting the two new chicks eventually incorporated into the existing flock. We have since lost two of the birds out of that second flock and I just bought 4 more new chicks. They are somewhere between 3-4 weeks old now. Today I decided to give the birds a chance to interact and the existing flock (3 hens) really aren't paying much attention to the littles. This to me is uncommon, but I have very limited experience. One thing I noticed is that we have had a tremendous amount of wild birds in the area the past couple of weeks. Do you think this has anything to do with the hens not terrorizing the young ones, or is this just a coincidence?

 

[sourland]

I think that most likely it is just a coincidence. Consider yourself lucky, and monitor the birds closely for the next couple of days. I'd be cautious of allowing them to spend the night in the same coop for a bit. Good luck.

 

[pennyJo1960]

can you tell me are the little ones at least with feathers?

 

[dnx717]

can you tell me are the little ones at least with feathers?

The little ones have begun to get adult feathers.

 

[dnx717]

I think that most likely it is just a coincidence. Consider yourself lucky, and monitor the birds closely for the next couple of days. I'd be cautious of allowing them to spend the night in the same coop for a bit. Good luck.

Yeah, they have separate living quarters for now. I am just experimenting to see how they interact today for a few hours and then will separate them again. It just surprises me to see how well they are interacting to this point.

 

[sourland]

Good, sensible husbandry approach.

 

[drumstick diva]

Maybe they are just waiting for you to put your guard down - and then they'll stage a massive free for all. Just kidding

 

[aart]

The little ones have begun to get adult feathers.

At 4 weeks they have their first set of feathers, not adult feathers.
They will grow in 2 more sets(juvenile molts) by 6 months old and those are their 'adult' feathers.

Tiny chicks are not much of a threat to adult chickens, so it can be much easier to integrate young. I brood in coop from 1 week after hatch, separated by a wire wall, then start integration at 4 weeks old.

Still good to follow the....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[Mrs. K]

^^ good advice.
I have wondered the same thing, if the wild birds get them kind of used to some little things. But also, the more often you add chicks, the better the flock is at accepting them.

Have hide outs, and safe zones with one way gates that are only big enough for the chicks to get through. And your worries are over, this spring I set up a shelter and safe zone using lattice panels, and integration went effortlessly.