Adding young chicks to flock. A question about a method mentioned here

[cicene mete]

I saw a post in which someone described how they integrated there eight-week-old chicks with their existing flock. They mentioned that they cut a hole in the brooder cage that allowed the younger birds to come and go but was too small for the bigger ones to get through.

I would like to try this method, but I can't find the post, and I don't know how big to make the hole. My bigger birds seem to have a talent for wriggling into relatively small spaces.

If anyone has tried this method or has any ideas about the size to make the opening, please share. My little ones are in a pen inside the bigger chicken pen, so everyone can see everyone else already.

 

[giasmom]

I would guess it depends on the size of your chicks. Figure this, if your big girls can wiggle into small places, than your little one should be able to also. So I would just try to figure how small I would need it that the big ones couldn't fit through. Make any sense at all ?

 

[JennsPeeps]

The problem with this method is that it assumes the younger birds will know to escape to that area if attacked. Mine don't. They run around like crazy, sqwauking and trying to get away. Poor buff orp gets her own behind handed to her by the head hen, a BSL.

 

[MariposaMama]

I'm facing that same dilemma. I need to integrate my 14 weekers with the adults and don't know if I should cut a couple of smaller holes in the seperator fence or just open the gate and let them all mingle free for all style.

There hasn't been any agression through the fence that I've seen, but I just don't want any of the little ones to get beat up or taken advantage of by one of the roos.