baby chicks in with existing older chickens

[DAYnuh13]

We have 4 chicks we need to add into our existing chickens. We just got them later in the season so only a couple months younger than the rest. Any advice is welcome as we have made 2 attempts so far and the older chickens are being pretty aggressive.

 

[Offshoreorca]

Can you put them in a wire cage inside the run (during the day) and coop (during the night) so they can see each other for a couple weeks before being let free together. When you let them together, then have a place where the young chicks can go hide while the older ones are too big to get in. Also, it’s best to wait until the young ones grow a little larger so they can hold their own.

 

[DAYnuh13]

Yes, so we have had them in the coop for 2 weeks in a crate. They are getting big. Maybe we just have to separate them while outside for a bit. I think it's just being scared for the chicks. We have 10 hens, 1 rooster all 8 months old, and 4 chicks that are around 2 months old.

 

[Mrs. K]

What does your run look like? Is it a wide open space? Where a chicken can see every other chicken 100% of the time? If so, you need to add clutter. Platforms, roosts, mini walls, wind shelters, hideouts. A platform low to the ground that a smaller bird can escape to can help. Or a pallet wall pen, where a smaller bird can slip between, but a larger one cannot follow will really help. Set up multiple feed stations, but set them up so that if a bird is eating at one, she can't see a bird eating at the other. For chickens, being out of sight is out of mind.

Another trick, is to lock the big girls outside the run and coop, and let the chicks be inside the run/coop. This lets them explore with out being chased. To get comfortable at the feed station. Let the old birds in at as near to dark as you dare... the urge to roost will nearly be the same as the urge to fight. Check on them early in the morning.

MRs k