adding younger chicks to older chicks

[Hangtown Farms]

eventually they will get used to each other. luckily they are still young even the older ones which does help/

 

[Jeffross1968]

did you have them in something so they could see each other and get use to each other first or did you just put them in there?

Just put them in there. Now, this would be only be for chicks around the age of the ones you have, or younger. I'd never put, say, 3 week olds with layers. When there are months difference in ages, and the oldest are big enough to do some serious damage, I'll keep them separate but visible to each other for as long as possible, weeks, before letting them free range together, and then housing them together.

But no matter what the age difference...if I'm adding younger ones to older ones, I ALWAYS do it when I have time to sit and watch them for a bit. I've never had problems, but it would be stupid to take past experiences for granted.

 

[animallover505]

Just put them in there. Now, this would be only be for chicks around the age of the ones you have, or younger. I'd never put, say, 3 week olds with layers. When there are months difference in ages, and the oldest are big enough to do some serious damage, I'll keep them separate but visible to each other for as long as possible, weeks, before letting them free range together, and then housing them together.

But no matter what the age difference...if I'm adding younger ones to older ones, I ALWAYS do it when I have time to sit and watch them for a bit. I've never had problems, but it would be stupid to take past experiences for granted.

my friend does all the time, putting 2 month olds with layers.

 

[Jeffross1968]

Well, it's a personal preference, that I guess all comes down to experience. 2 month olds are a big difference from 3 week olds though. But if you find something that works, you stick with it. I'm lucky that we have a second coop/run, and whatever is in there can be seen by all the birds in the big coop as they free range. So I don't feel it necessary to rush things.

 

[animallover505]

Sorry, I thought they said 3 month old. Sorry

 

[kearstin17]

ok so I found some chicken wire I didn't know we had. My coop/run is one unit and the coop is off the ground a little so I was able to run the chicken wire along the lower part to keep the smallers ones from being hurt and it gives them a good part of the run. I also put my small dog crate in the coop and that is where I will put the little ones to sleep. How will I know when it is time for me to bring down the chicken wire and let them all be together? so far the older chicks don't seem to notice or care about the little ones. the little ones keep trying to find a way out to get to the bigger chicks but that is about it. is there a set time or is there something I watch for that tells me it's time to let them be together?

 

[animallover505]

everyone will be really relaxed.

 

[cafarmgirl]

ok so I found some chicken wire I didn't know we had. My coop/run is one unit and the coop is off the ground a little so I was able to run the chicken wire along the lower part to keep the smallers ones from being hurt and it gives them a good part of the run. I also put my small dog crate in the coop and that is where I will put the little ones to sleep. How will I know when it is time for me to bring down the chicken wire and let them all be together? so far the older chicks don't seem to notice or care about the little ones. the little ones keep trying to find a way out to get to the bigger chicks but that is about it. is there a set time or is there something I watch for that tells me it's time to let them be together?

Just keep them like that for a couple days then try letting them mingle. As Jeffross1968 said, it's easier integrating young birds like yours. I suspect after they've seen each other for a short time they'll probably be just fine.

 

[HappyHenMama]

another thing you can try is letting them together supervised for a few hours at a time. put them in there seperate areas at sleep time.

I did this with my two babies that I got 3 weeks after my other 6. When my younger ones were 3 weeks old I started letting them out to free range with the 8 week olds for about an hour a day, supervising the whole time. Then when the younger ones were 5 weeks old I added them to the coop in their covered brooder box. The older girls couldn't get in the box to pick on them but everyone could see each other. I did this for a few days. The final step was to put them on the perch with the older ones after dusk when everyone had gone to bed so that they all woke up together the next day. They had the usual scuffels for pecking order but nothing serious and I added an extra feeder and waterer for a couple of weeks so that the if the younger ones were being kept from the feeder they had an extra one to go to. Everyone is now integrated and doing really well. They will continue to segregate themselves so don't be alarmed about that. This just seems to be the way of the chicken. The ones that are raised together will hang with each other and not mix to much with the newbies. Hope this helps and Good Luck to you.

 

[kearstin17]

thank you everyone for replying. The little ones are sleeping in the coop with the older ones tonight in a wire dog crate but there in there. I will put them back in the run tomorrow in there area and do this for a few days. I am having a hard time not running out there and checking on them but I am sure there ok. again thank you everyone for replying. I am new at this chicken thing and without this website and all of you I would be lost