Are the girls ready to go into the big coop?

[ConnecticutCowgirl]

Hi again! So as a somewhat newbie I have a few questions about mixing my two flocks...
We're planning to fence out an area in the main coop for the 5, 6-7 week olds to move into.
Are they old enough?
How long should I keep them in there?
SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!!

 

[nbenevento]

Are they fully feathered? Are the temps in your area consistently warm enough? You're doing the right thing keeping them separate from the older birds and you should keep it that way until they are the same size as the older ones. Even getting to know each other first doesn't help if they are a lot smaller, they will still get pecked and if and when the bleed, it will get much worse possibly to the point of death. If you are comfortable with the temperatures, which seems a little early to me yet, then go for it, but keep them separate for a couple more months.

 

[ConnecticutCowgirl]

They are fully feathered... The temp where I am has been consistently warm.... Thanks so much for your help!

 

[mamahen1980]

I have had a problem with one of my chicks guessing its a roo, picking fights with others and he draws blood, is it bad should i remove him from others? I had to put him alone for few days but now he seems to have calmed down. He was even trying to buck up at me. will he be an issue later on as he gets older? i say he is almost 5 weeks old now.

 

[DanEP]

If you have the room in the coop for your chicks to be kept separate from the big girls they will be fine. You just don't want the big girls to be able to get to the chicks. This will give the big girls time to get used to the chicks but not hurt them As far as how long they will need to stay there, I'd figure on a coupe of months at least. I like to get the new chicks to 3 1/2 - 4 months before trying to mix them into the flock.Having them next to each other will help them get used to each other and help with the integration when the time comes.I just like for the chicks to be pretty close to the size of the older girls before moving them into the flock. If you can free range them together for a while this will help to make things go easier when the time comes.Some flocks accept new kids with very little fuss some don't, but what your planning will help a lot.I had one flock that would accept chicks at 8 weeks but this one I have now will accept mama raised chicks at day 2 but doesn't like bator hatched chicks till about 3 - 4 months. just watch your flock while free ranging to see how they are with the chicks you'll know when it's time. There is still going to be some pecking order issues to settle but that's just part of growing up a chicken. as long as nobody is really getting hurt let it go, it's going to happen and the sooner they get it settled the sooner the flock will settle down.

Dan

 

[nbenevento]

In my experience, the roosters / cockerels are rarely the aggressive ones, it's almost always those darn girls fighting! The boys seem to break up the fights. If the one you are having problems is drawing blood, that can be a problem. Otherwise, it should calm down soon and shouldn't be a problem. Removing him for a couple days might help and it might not but seems to be worth a try.

 

[ConnecticutCowgirl]

THREE OR FOUR MONTHS!!!! I underestimated this!!!! I hope the set up I have will be alright for that long... And I don't know how long my dad wants to keep this weird contraption in his pride and joy!!!

 

[Jakoda]

I am in CT, and temps are not consistent where I am in Old Lyme, don't know what part of the state your in

I have year old chicks (in June), and right now 6 / 3 week olds (tomorrow), my plan is to keep them in the house until atleast 5-6 weeksold, depending on the temps ,,and I've built a temp housing for them INSIDE my other chicken run which is 12 x 20+ ,,this way the bigger girls (9 of them) can't get to them until they are atleast as above poster stated, 3-4 months old and close if not, the big chickens size..

 

[rachlore]

I have not heard about the three to four month time period. I was planning on moving my babies out next week or so. They are only three weeks old. I've read in multiple books and websites thta four to five weeks are perfect. The time period y'all are suggesting is shocking to me.

 

[nbenevento]

@rachlore, that may be ok if you are not combining them with adult chickens but if you are, forget what those books and whatever else you read say. Trust me, don't do it. I and many others are speaking from experience. They aren't big enough to defend themselves and will get the living crap pecked out of them. They will bleed and it will get worse until they are dead. My first time trying it was putting two 12 week old birds in with four, 1.5 year old hens and I had to pull them out within an hour an clean the blood off of them. I wasn't prepared and to immediately go out and buy material and build an attached coop and run on the spot. Since then I have extended what started out to be a 4' x 4' coop into a 16' long coop with 4 separate sections. But hey, that's how chicken math works, right?