Adding to Flock

[DustyChick]

Hello,
I have (2) 3wk old chicks inside in a brooder I am hoping to put outside soon. The temps here are 60's/40's. I read the article & comments about integrating as early as 4 wks and got a few helpful hints.
My main coop/run has (4) 1 yr old girls in it. We've added on an un-covered run & right next to the main coop we have a modified rabbit hutch. I was hoping it would be the chicks brooder/halfway house for the next few weeks.
My questions are:
1. Will they be warm enough outside by themselves at night?
2. Do I let the chicks out of the hutch during the day to mingle with the older hens? Lock up at night by themselves?
Thx!

 

[Ridgerunner]

1. Will they be warm enough outside by themselves at night?

Start taking them out to acclimate them. You might be surprised at how well they can handle those temperatures now, ut if you can expose them to some cooler weather (and probably even if you don't) they can easily handle those temperatures by the time they are 5 weeks old.

2. Do I let the chicks out of the hutch during the day to mingle with the older hens? Lock up at night by themselves?

I don't know what that rabbit hutch looks like. Can the chicks and chickens see each other when they are in that hutch? If not build a small run inside the other run so they can see and be seen. I'd house the chicks in that hutch only if they can see each other for a week or so. Give them time to get to know it as home. Then make an opening big enough in the hutch door or that small run that the chicks can get through but the adults cannot. Create a safe haven/panic room they can run to if the older hens threaten them. Let the chicks sleep in that hutch at night for a few weeks at least, longer if they want to. Try to be patient and let them work it out as much as you can. Try to not lock them into small tight space with the adults until they are all roaming peacefully in that run.

 

[DustyChick]

The hutch is similar to this. We've modified it to be predator proof, added a ramp out & roost. I know it's small for full size birds...only meant to be temp brooder outside. It's right next to the larger coop inside the run. The girls should be able to see each other.

 

[rosemarythyme]

1. Do you mean with or without a heat source? I had 2 day old chicks outside at mid 40s at night but that was with a heating pad. I think at 3 weeks, it'd still be better to offer them a heat source to use.

2. Safest option is to find a way to restrict hen access to the hutch you're using. So chicks can get in and out, but hens can't get in.

What I did was make a mini run surrounding my the brooder by using chicken wire. I then spaced out some bricks for the chicken wire to sit on top of, to make chick sized gaps under the wire.

Then a week later the mini run went away and I simply covered the front opening of the brooder with some wire shelving that happened to fit, which left gaps on the side that were chick sized. You can replicate this by using cardboard big enough to cover your hutch opening, then cutting doorways that are chick sized.

More detailed notes and photos on my integration here.

 

[blackdog043]

If the hutch is that high off the ground, they can't see each other very good. It would be better if the hutch was ground level. Another idea, but I'm not sure how you could do this, close off the bottom with wire and somehow make a ramp the chicks would use to go up and down hopefully. When your ready to integrate, make one or two access doors on the bottom for the chicks to get back inside, but keep the big girls out.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If the hutch is that high off the ground, they can't see each other very good. It would be better if the hutch was ground level.

Good point. Can the legs be removed, even if only temporarily? Ground level is more inconvenient for us humans but is better for the hens and chicks to be able to see each other. Also means there'll be no need to make a ramp.