7 week old chicks integration/housing

[hman0217]

Hi all


We are raising six new chicks to add to our flock of five mature hens. I've reached the point where the little ones can roam around the yard during the day and the older hens leave them alone.

Thing is I've been keeping them in a 2*3 dog crate in the barn (not pictured) and they're getting just a wee bit big for that now. So I'm considering moving them to the vacant dog house in the attached picture (on the right) which gives a generous 20 SQ ft.

Issue is the coop (on the left) is where they'll eventually live with the others. The distance is roughly 20 yards.

Question: if they occupy the dog house for the next few weeks until they're ready to fully integrate, how can I get them to accept the Main coop as home and not associate the dog house as their forever home? I don't wanna lock all 11 chickens up in the main coop for 3 days. That could be a slaughter.

Your thoughts please.

 

[Iluveggers]

Hi all


We are raising six new chicks to add to our flock of five mature hens. I've reached the point where the little ones can roam around the yard during the day and the older hens leave them alone.

Thing is I've been keeping them in a 2*3 dog crate in the barn (not pictured) and they're getting just a wee bit big for that now. So I'm considering moving them to the vacant dog house in the attached picture (on the right) which gives a generous 20 SQ ft.

Issue is the coop (on the left) is where they'll eventually live with the others. The distance is roughly 20 yards.

Question: if they occupy the dog house for the next few weeks until they're ready to fully integrate, how can I get them to accept the Main coop as home and not associate the dog house as their forever home? I don't wanna lock all 11 chickens up in the main coop for 3 days. That could be a slaughter.

Your thoughts please.



View attachment 3071617

Is the dog house moveable? You could put it right next to the coop, keep them separated, and then the switch might me easier since they are right next to the big one. Just an idea. Lol

 

[hman0217]

Additional info: the main coop has a fenced run around it. I COULD lock them all in the run for a few days and the coop would be the only shelter they have. Would that work?

 

[hman0217]

Is the dog house moveable? You could put it right next to the coop, keep them separated, and then the switch might me easier since they are right next to the big one. Just an idea. Lol

It's semi movable. I'd have to get some pallet forks for the tractor. One more implement to convince my wife we need

 

[My Bagurks]

First. Get the forks. You will find SOME way to use them. And I’m with Iluveggers. Best bet would be to move the dog house. Maybe put a little fence area around it to keep the little ones separate but still with the rest of the flock. The dog house being closer will help with when they move into the main coop. And roosting together or at least close is a good way to help the integration process.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you? Climate matters so if you put your general location into your profile people can give you better targeted advice.

I think you've gotten good advice already. Have you read these useful links about integration?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

Here's how I made an integration pen from a dog crate last summer: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mini-coop-or-integration-pen-from-a-large-dog-crate.76593/

 

[hman0217]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you? Climate matters so if you put your general location into your profile people can give you better targeted advice.

I think you've gotten good advice already. Have you read these useful links about integration?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

Here's how I made an integration pen from a dog crate last summer: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mini-coop-or-integration-pen-from-a-large-dog-crate.76593/

Thanks for all the handy links.

I am in upstate New york.

I did end up doing a similar project. I out the oversized dog crate in the enclosed run, which is hot wired, hardware clothed and very predator proof. The big girls and still showing the little ones who's boss but, at just about ten weeks of age, theyre starting to hold their own. At this point, the new birds are sleeping ontop of the dog crate, as shown.

This begs the question: will they be content sleeping on this high place or will they eventually want to move into the coop. In other words, will i have to usher them along or will i one day just find them claiming their place inside? Or...is every chicken different in this regard?

 

[rosemarythyme]

will they be content sleeping on this high place or will they eventually want to move into the coop. In other words, will i have to usher them along or will i one day just find them claiming their place inside?

Have they been inside the coop at all? The chicks won't see the coop as home if they aren't shown that it's home, whether that means you luring them inside and shutting the door, or manually placing them inside.

 

[hman0217]

Have they been inside the coop at all? The chicks won't see the coop as home if they aren't shown that it's home, whether that means you luring them inside and shutting the door, or manually placing them inside.

Not really, though some of them have been peeking their heads in. They seem very curious.

I'll plan on putting them in manually in two weeks, after a whole lot of chasing i reckon.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Not really, though some of them have been peeking their heads in. They seem very curious.

I'll plan on putting them in manually in two weeks, after a whole lot of chasing i reckon.

My chicks will go in and out of the coop, but won't treat it at home until I show them it is. What I do is close up/remove the brooder (so that's no longer an option), then round them up at night and manually place them in a smaller cage inside the coop. I find that if I do that, they'll just go in on their own after a few days.