Adding chicks to small flock

[ZenSyd]

We were afraid to put them out there at night because we could not watch what is going on.

The mini run yes every day for 2 weeks but it’s only like 16 sq ft connected to the front of the crate.

On another note I am trying to find the chicken emojis.

 

[aart]

Not yet the coop because we kept the cage and their run apart from the coop. Should we bring them out there today? Maybe leave their crate under the new addition part of the coop where they are protected from the rain?

Might be a good idea...pics of all the set up would help in giving advice.
Might be good to keep new and old part of coop separated by wire and put the chicks in the new part.
That you can free range may help, but coop is tight space for integration.
8 weeks is high time to get them outside.

Too late for this batch, but this is how I, and others, integrate chicks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Oh, and.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[ZenSyd]

Might be a good idea...pics of all the set up would help in giving advice.
Might be good to keep new and old part of coop separated by wire and put the chicks in the new part.
That you can free range may help, but coop is tight space for integration.
8 weeks is high time to get them outside.

Too late for this batch, but this is how I, and others, integrate chicks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Oh, and.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2149880

Thank you I will do that. We are in SW Wisconsin. I’m adding a photos now

 

[Ridgerunner]

So you are in Wisconsin and your chicks are two months old. They can handle your weather, that is not an issue.

Do you consider that dog crate and mini-run predator proof so you can leave them out there at night? Or can you put that crate someplace that is? You also want it protected from rain and somewhere the adults can see it when they free range. Or do you have something else that can be a predator proof weather proof shelter for them.

With my understanding of your current situation I'd house those chicks outside for a week or so in a shelter/run to get them used to sleeping there. Then turn them loose to free range during the day but returning to that shelter at night. After three or four weeks of free ranging with the adults, I'd try moving them into the main coop at night. Move them in after dark, I just put them on the coop floor, they sleep wherever they sleep. As long as it is dark in the coop the older chickens can't see to attack them. Just be down there at first light so you can see how it is going and you can open the pop door.

There is a fair chance the next night they will want to return to their shelter instead of the main coop when it gets dark. I'd lock up the shelter so they can't get inside but leave the min-run open so they can go in there. You should be able to shut that to make them easier to catch if you need to. If it is dark they should be easy to catch but if you have security lights out there it could be more of a challenge. Just keep putting them in the main coop at night until they get the message. And be down there at first light until you are sure they will be OK locked in with the adults.

My facilities look a lot different from yours, it's nice to have a big walk-in coop. But you have what you have. I have two concerns with your integration. I envision your coop is still pretty small and does not provide a lot of hiding places or areas the young ones can get away from the older ones. In the morning when I do this it's pretty normal for my chicks to be on the roosts while the adults are on the coop floor. Your roosts may not be high enough for that to protect the chicks from the adults. I also have other areas where the chicks can hide from the adults. I'm not sure your coop is big enough to allow you to do that. A typical method is to lean a piece of plywood against a wall (fasten the top so it can't be knocked over). This gives them a good hiding spot but do it in a way that the chicks are not trapped. Leave both sides open.

My other concern are when they are going to bed. That's when mine are most vicious to each other. My brooder-raised chicks will not sleep on the main roosts with the adults until they pretty much mature, which is about the time they start laying eggs. So they look for a safer place to sleep. That might be your nests, that might even be a place outside the coop. As long as it is not in my nests and is a predator proof location I don't care where it is but this is a time you need to be observant.

In spite of what you read on this forum, sometimes these things go so smoothly you wonder what all the concern was about. The more room you have the more likely it is to be peaceful. That's why I'm so concerned about your coop, I think it is going to be pretty tight. But it could go really smoothly, I hope so. But occasionally you can have a disaster. That's why I suggest you go slowly, give them time to get used to each other. I think that helps your odds too.

 

[ZenSyd]

So you are in Wisconsin and your chicks are two months old. They can handle your weather, that is not an issue.

Do you consider that dog crate and mini-run predator proof so you can leave them out there at night? Or can you put that crate someplace that is? You also want it protected from rain and somewhere the adults can see it when they free range. Or do you have something else that can be a predator proof weather proof shelter for them.

With my understanding of your current situation I'd house those chicks outside for a week or so in a shelter/run to get them used to sleeping there. Then turn them loose to free range during the day but returning to that shelter at night. After three or four weeks of free ranging with the adults, I'd try moving them into the main coop at night. Move them in after dark, I just put them on the coop floor, they sleep wherever they sleep. As long as it is dark in the coop the older chickens can't see to attack them. Just be down there at first light so you can see how it is going and you can open the pop door.

There is a fair chance the next night they will want to return to their shelter instead of the main coop when it gets dark. I'd lock up the shelter so they can't get inside but leave the min-run open so they can go in there. You should be able to shut that to make them easier to catch if you need to. If it is dark they should be easy to catch but if you have security lights out there it could be more of a challenge. Just keep putting them in the main coop at night until they get the message. And be down there at first light until you are sure they will be OK locked in with the adults.

My facilities look a lot different from yours, it's nice to have a big walk-in coop. But you have what you have. I have two concerns with your integration. I envision your coop is still pretty small and does not provide a lot of hiding places or areas the young ones can get away from the older ones. In the morning when I do this it's pretty normal for my chicks to be on the roosts while the adults are on the coop floor. Your roosts may not be high enough for that to protect the chicks from the adults. I also have other areas where the chicks can hide from the adults. I'm not sure your coop is big enough to allow you to do that. A typical method is to lean a piece of plywood against a wall (fasten the top so it can't be knocked over). This gives them a good hiding spot but do it in a way that the chicks are not trapped. Leave both sides open.

My other concern are when they are going to bed. That's when mine are most vicious to each other. My brooder-raised chicks will not sleep on the main roosts with the adults until they pretty much mature, which is about the time they start laying eggs. So they look for a safer place to sleep. That might be your nests, that might even be a place outside the coop. As long as it is not in my nests and is a predator proof location I don't care where it is but this is a time you need to be observant.

In spite of what you read on this forum, sometimes these things go so smoothly you wonder what all the concern was about. The more room you have the more likely it is to be peaceful. That's why I'm so concerned about your coop, I think it is going to be pretty tight. But it could go really smoothly, I hope so. But occasionally you can have a disaster. That's why I suggest you go slowly, give them time to get used to each other. I think that helps your odds too.

This is extremely helpful information. I’m going to reread it and go over it with my husband. Here is a picture of their brooder/dog crate that we were planning to move out under the additional the coop site.

 

[ZenSyd]

This is extremely helpful information. I’m going to reread it and go over it with my husband. Here is a picture of their brooder/dog crate that we were planning to move out under the additional the coop site. View attachment 2149933

I meant under the addition to the coop where I’d will be dry. Then should we attach a mini run to the crate?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I meant under the addition to the coop where I’d will be dry. Then should we attach a mini run to the crate?

Since they will be able to see each other through that wire crate, probably not.

 

[ZenSyd]

Since they will be able to see each other through that wire crate, probably not.

Update. I put the chicks in the new addition while I was painting the outside. I placed a barrier at the open junction so they can see out and poke their heads out if they wish. They have been staying in there since 11 am. Four of the hens came in to lay eggs and then left dining their egg songs. The crate is right next to the coop door with the crate door open. It is pretty much ignored but all of the hens and chicks are used to it. Last night was the first night with the roofing addition open ended and no one slept in there. The hens went to their old spaces. And the chicks were inside the crate inside.
I just moved the addition barrier to make it wide enough so they can leave if they want to. They have food and water in there with them. To get out they will need to walk through the original space or wait for us to open the door. I would rather they choose to go out on their own. Do you think they will be able to find their way back if they do?

 

[ZenSyd]

Corrected Update. I put the chicks in the new addition while I was painting the outside. I placed a barrier at the open junction so they can see out and poke their heads out if they wish. They have been staying in there since 11 am. Four of the hens came in to lay eggs and then left singing their egg songs. We put the dog crate right next to the coop door with the crate door open. It has been pretty much ignored but all of the hens and chicks are used to it. Last night was the first night with the new addition open and none of the hens slept in there. The hens went to their old spaces. And the chicks were inside the crate inside our house. Tonight they stay out either way.
I just moved the addition barrier to make it wide enough so they can leave if they want to. They have food and water in there with them. To get out they will need to walk through the original space or wait for us to open the access door. I would rather they choose to go out on their own. Do you think they will be able to find their way back if they do?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Thank you I will do that. We are in SW Wisconsin. I’m adding a photos nowView attachment 2149910View attachment 2149912View attachment 2149913View attachment 2149914View attachment 2149915

Looking great but no they will not go of their own ...They should be fine in the coop