Adding to my flock

[Mark Armstrong]

Going to be adding 8 chicks to my flock of 10 hens and 1 rooster, They are around 10 months old, The chicks will be fully feathered out and around 5-6 weeks old, among other questions I'm curious if they need a place to escape to and how to keep their feed separate from the layer feed, while on the feed subject is the rooster ok eating layer feed, Thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You will need to set up a temporary pen to keep the chicks safe for a few weeks during integration. I often don't stop penning my chicks separately for about 6-8 weeks before I feel comfortable leaving everyone to their business.

I have found roosters live shorter lives eating layer. My flock gets fed an All Flock ration. If there are chicks than I put everyone on a non medicated grower. I keep a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs. My birds do better without a layer.

 

[sbhkma]

I totally agree. All Flock has more protein (18-20%) and as long as you have calcium free choice for layers it's a good option. The grower is also a good way to go with a mixed flock that includes chicks. I'd let the chicks get bigger before putting them with the bigs. Waiting 6-8 weeks puts them around 11-14 weeks, which should give them enough size and substance to merge pretty well.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I integrate when my chicks are 4-8 weeks. Chicks showing up in a flock is normal, and generally they are accepted with an occasional peck. Older birds are seen as intruders and you may see more aggression.

Your situation can dictate the decision of what age is best. Chicks to adult birds generally goes easy if there's enough space. Chicks to chicks is harder, and chicks to young birds is very hard.

 

[Mrs. K]

I may be making an assumption, but if your avatar is your run, it is wide open. You are really only using length and width of the run. And there is no place where a bird can get out of sight in that run. Subordinate chickens, and that is what the chicks will be until they lay, need to get out of the space of dominate chickens. I call it "bowing to the queen." If a bird can move out of their space, disappear from sight for a few seconds, I have seen them eating right next to each other, a few moments later. Your birds cannot do that in that set up.

A pallet up on cement blocks will provide a place where smaller birds can eat in relative peace. A bigger bird can crawl under there, but it is difficult and it will slow her down, and if she can eat somewhere else without doing that she generally will. A pallet leaned against the wall or set up as a small wall in the middle of the run, will allow the younger birds to eat there too. It should be out of sight of the other feed stations.

8 chicks to 10 is almost doubling your flock. Beware of chicken math that only goes one way, the adding. Unless you are also adding space. Generally the space stays the same, but chicks grow up and take up more space. Too many adult birds in a small space can cause a lot of problems.

Adding 8 chicks will help, because the more new chicks, tends to spread out the pecking. Setting up a one way gate that the chicks can still get through but the hens cannot will really help with integration. I would set my chicks in a confined run within the run with a wind shelter for the day or two. Then open the one way gate. The chicks will quickly recognize this as a safe space. Chase them yourself a bit to make sure they retreat there. Then let them work it out with the hens on their terms.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

among other questions I'm curious if they need a place to escape to

Absolutely!
Many ways to do that, here's how I do it:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Ditto on the feed suggestions above.

Your situation can dictate the decision of what age is best. Chicks to adult birds generally goes easy if there's enough space. Chicks to chicks is harder, and chicks to young birds is very hard.

Good points^^^


Here's some other tips and links on integration:
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Mark Armstrong]

Thanks folks for all of your responses, plenty of good information, just need to see what will work best with my coop and run, I will be enlarging my run this spring but these new birds will max out my coop, chicks are 3 weeks now so I have a little time before they outgrow their washtub brooder

 

[Chelseyb123]

Thanks for posting this i have 6week old chicks (2) that need to be put out side. I have flock of 12 that ive introduced a couple times a week when im out there. An this just really answered all my questions. Thank you an good luck with yours!

 

[aart]

I will be enlarging my run this spring but these new birds will max out my coop,

Yep, the coop is the limiter.

chicks are 3 weeks now so I have a little time before they outgrow their washtub brooder

Will be easier to integrate the younger they are...no reason to wait.