4 weekers and 9 weekers

[LindseyC]

Today is the day! Here are photos of the 2 groups so you know what I’m dealing with and their approx sizes. My coop is 8x8 and the run is 16x8. We’ll add an 8x8 section going towards the back soon. I just want to make double.. triple sure you guys think this could work before I do it. I thought about taking a net with me to make quick catches if I need to.

I really, really, really want this to work.

View attachment 1400939

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The big ones in the second picture look to be older than 9 weeks.
That's a very nice coop.
They'll have plenty of space so I'd just go for it.
Keep an eye on them and if any of the bigs become too aggressive, remove the aggressive bird/s for a few days.

 

[ronott1]

Nice Job!

 

[LindseyC]

We got them on March 27th and they were just a few days old. It is 9 weeks to my calculations. We’ve been out here for 45 minutes and they stay pretty separate. Just some minor pecking from my Barred Rocks, which surprises me a bit. They are my sweetest, but also the most curious. I’ll be spending all day in the run! Ha!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I would expect them to stay in separate groups for some time.
Sweet birds to humans can wreak havoc to other birds.
RIRs are people friendly and have a reputation for being bullies in a mixed flock.
Aseels and Cornish can be worse.
Hundreds of years of breeding for certain characteristics are hard to deny.

 

[LindseyC]

Should I try to intervene with the Barred Rock pecking when she does, or only do so if it gets ugly and she doesn’t let up? Sorry for all the questions, but I’ll have a lot of time on my hands babysitting these fluff butts all day. The others haven’t even ventured over to check them out.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I would probably just let it play out.
You could also pull the Rock out for a day or two to knock her down in the pecking order but it won't likely be necessary.

 

[LindseyC]

I hope not! I don’t have a chicken jail yet.

 

[LindseyC]

Well, sat in the chicken run... all... day... long. Literally, all... day... long. They made me a nervous wreck. No major issues, but my Barred Rocks would just charge them on occasion and we can’t be having that. The others were getting kind of pecky and chasing them once in a while. My littles are still so little in comparison. It’s just not worth the worry. We put their big wooden brooder box out in the coop and made a big window in the side covered with wire. We’ll try again when they gain some size. I may let them in the run supervised, but no mixing permanently just yet.

 

[aart]

No major issues, but my Barred Rocks would just charge them on occasion and we can’t be having that.

That is normal chicken behavior, 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.

We put their big wooden brooder box out in the coop and made a big window in the side covered with wire. We’ll try again when they gain some size.

Good move! But I wouldn't wait until they 'gain some size'. You could put some 'tiny doors' in brooder so chicks can get out and in but not the larger birds.

Here's a great example of a simple way to do that:
@blackdog043 cardboard panel technique shown in post #8.

I have a more complicated set up:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/