adding chicks to older (not much) flock

[hollytruitt]

Background:
Coop size 6X8 with two roost bars (8 ft)

Currently in the coop 9 pullets (6 Columbian Wyandotts with 1 of them possibly be a Silver Lace Wyandotte instead, two Plymoth Barr rocks, and 1 egyptian Fayoumis) These girls are calm and good natured. They are almost 7 weeks old.

Currently in a brooder (2nd brooder) we have 6 Light Brahmas in one section and they are 3 1/2 weeks and almost same size as our 9 in the coop due to their breed being a large breed.

In another section of the same brooder we have our problem pullets. One is a Buff Polish (3 1/2 week old) that suffered wry neck and is doing well now but small than the Brahmas. She was shipped with them as a freebie from McMurrary. She is half size of the Brahmas. The 2nd one is a runt from first girls in the coop. She is almost 7 weeks old. Both of these girls are the same size but different ages.

We have another set of chicks in the newborn brooder in the house. 6 Gold Lace Wyandotts 2 weeks old. They are not ready at all and will stay in the house but just something to know that this will be bought to the flock eventually.

Right now coop is without a run. We will have a run with the coop but in the meantime we are constructing a tractor so they can eat around safely. After that we will construct a run that will be attached to coop.

I would like to add the Brahmas to the 9 pullets in the coop however do not want them touching each other. I am thinking about putting chicken wire somewhere in coop to divide them up but will have to add (temporarily) a 2nd waterer/feeder.

Added pics for you: Any thoughts?? thank you for your time and expertise.

 

[mcdze]

thats alot .. id try putting them all together during the day if its warm .. first id let them all run out of food several hours, and its a 'good thing' when theyre all put together and the food gets presented. id still seperate them back to the brooder at night a few days and see how things go, keep an eye on things, adjust strategy as necessary .. if the first older batch is allowed to mature before theyre all used to each other then theyre going to definitely get pecky with the rest of them ...

 

[Kiki]

I too would put them all together now while they are all still young. All of them.

 

[Kiki]

What is this?

It's hard to tell for sure but It appears your roost bars are too close together and too close to the wall.
You may want to think about moving them further away from the wall and each other and raising them up higher.

 

[hollytruitt]

What is this?
View attachment 3507947


It's hard to tell for sure but It appears your roost bars are too close together and too close to the wall.
You may want to think about moving them further away from the wall and each other and raising them up higher.

Yep agree!! This was purchased from amish builders so yes I agree! We will be adjusting the roost and hopefully add a 3rd bar.
That is a sunflower seed suet. We wil be removing it soon. Its more for a distraction.

 

[hollytruitt]

So we are in Indiana. Weather is cold this week so pullets in coop have a heater but wont heat up the coop well enough for our 2 week old. Temps drop to 50s each night this week and raise about 65 during the day this week. Temps have been all over the map the past few months. Hot am/pm and then coldam/pm so forth.

We did remove 6 single comb brown leghorn pullets due to severe bullying that resulted in feather loss in entire flock left over in coop. I was hoping to give them time to recooperate for all the bullying that resulted in severe bleeding injuries. We will see if we can do it this weekend

 

[hollytruitt]

We also have a buff polish pullet with a big temper but slowly integrating her and the runt with brahmas. Brahamas are so so so sweet. . So they are fine in their brooder that is seperating the two groups.

Is there a way to seperate the groups in the coop without putting them together?