9 and 5 weeks chicks first day together

[ScottyGill]

I’ve spent the week poring over info and asking questions but our two wee sets of 3 chicks integrated beautifully today with minimum distress, a few pecks and it was over. The baby marans total disinterest in treats stood in their favour. The mini coop which was ignored up until now was embraced today because the big ones went into it. If they don’t follow the big ones in to the coop tonight , we’ll find them and put them in. There’s no going back!
We’ve had them side by side for a week and yesterday both sets just sat next to each other. They got a fright and flocked together and have spent much of today in the same space.

Feeling pretty happy tonight.

 

[Criticalicious]

I would be worried about the size difference between the two groups but it sounds like you've done everything right. Congrats!

 

[slordaz]

Congratulations on progressing properly, I got 6 that next week can get outta the quarantine pen, they as well as the flock are eager to be together

 

[ScottyGill]

I would be worried about the size difference between the two groups but it sounds like you've done everything right. Congrats!

I was told it wouldn’t be an issue by others and it wasn’t too early and read about but why introducing while still little was better. Lots I read said not till 6-8 weeks but the older ones are so mellow with each other and I took the cues from them. Also I have read marans don’t try to dominate, the babies have taken their pecks and not complained. Nothing was vicious. If it was I was going to take them back out

 

[ScottyGill]

Congratulations on progressing properly, I got 6 that next week can get outta the quarantine pen, they as well as the flock are eager to be together

You can tell can’t you? They slept together all yesterday during the day on either side of the fence. The big ones don’t even mind sharing their food.

 

[Criticalicious]

I only have marans. They stand up for themselves and enforce the pecking order but they're usually too lazy to bother giving chase. Is that what mellow means in chicken terms?

 

[slordaz]

Yep, longest one it felt like was getting the late hatcher back with the broody felt like forever as had one single chick that was still alive when went to clean out the nest. was the longest week of my life felt like, was finally the other chicks that got the broody to accept him though, but he didn't think he should be in the brooder by himself and the usual toy to snuggle with didn't work on him lol

 

[ScottyGill]

Yep, longest one it felt like was getting the late hatcher back with the broody felt like forever as had one single chick that was still alive when went to clean out the nest. was the longest week of my life felt like, was finally the other chicks that got the broody to accept him though, but he didn't think he should be in the brooder by himself and the usual toy to snuggle with didn't work on him lol

We used a mirror which helped as our first chick from this batch was the first night in her own.

Tonight the little ones didn’t know where to go even though we’d tried putting them in the coop. Every time they tried themselves the bigger ones chased them. So we waited 15 mins after big ones went in then popped them in. Literally 2 mins of yelling them nothing. Just went to check and I can hear them all gently chirruping. Literally beside myself with relief

 

[ScottyGill]

I only have marans. They stand up for themselves and enforce the pecking order but they're usually too lazy to bother giving chase. Is that what mellow means in chicken terms?

Haha pretty much. Not much chasing going on, just a few looks. I did see my CCL cockerel do a wee karate chop with his legs but the recipient was underwhelmed. Today there’s been a couple of headpecks then it’s all over. The babies are the marans. They seem to have squabbled mostly about who get a to sleep next to who in the brooder. The older ones have not had many fights really. They all seem pretty chill

 

[ScottyGill]

The point of an automatic door is not to get up early but we set it super early today as per directions for first night together. I got up to watch. The big ones took 5 mins to appear. The wee ones were curled up in the nesting box. I'll close that off in a few days, pretty sure the first ones used it then soon found the roosting bars.

When husband went back down all are happily buzzing around. But he did see our little CCL pullet make a leap from mini coop and try to clar the fence, I don't think she can. But maybe she's thinking I've had enough of this. There was quite a bit of mingling today but one thing I noticed was the big ones won’t let the wee ones in the coop during the day. They spent a wet day under the coop while the older ones lay in comfort.

Again we had to put the little ones in tonight but they didn’t fuss once the door was shut. Is this likely to resolve itself. They aren’t vicious but they were mean