Hi All,
Last night I integrated our 4 week old chicks into the coop which housed our 6-7 week old chicks. The 4 week old chicks are acting terrified and receive a quick peck from some of the older ones every now and again. Every time I go out there the 4 week olds are huddled in a corner and I have to coax them to the feed to eat. I thought since all my chicks are not full grown they would integrate okay. Now, I am second guessing. I do not want to bring the 4 week olds back into the house, they have outgrown the box. My coop is 8x8x8, so there is plenty of room. Do I need to just give them more time?
Would probably have been good to keep the two groups separated by a wire wall for a few day...or more.... before allowing physical contact. Could still do that if necessary.
Put out multiple feeder and waterers and some hiding places.
But a quick peck is nothing....unless blood letting ensues, or someone being pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, I'd just let them work it out.
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/
