Combining flocks, moving younger chicks to the coop

[Mamaoflots]

Hey I also have a question about integration. I am slowly being regarded as the crazy chicken lady!!

We have 3, 4+ yr old girls, they are out in an old wendy house that we added perches too, and a opening so they could be let loose in to the run during the day.

My kids made me(well iwas excited to do it too) buy 12 day old chicks who are currently living in a run with heat lamps in my back room in the house. They are now nearly 5 weeks old.

My friend has 3 5m old Buff sussex girls who she can no longer keep, so I have agreed to take them on Sunday.

What/where/how do I integrate them? Should I integrate them with the adult hens or should I add them to the chicks. The chicks now have access to outdoors in the day when sunny.

Yesterday we let the big girls lose in our garden whilst supervising. My eldest took one of the chicks and tried to show them to the big girls and the big girls got spooked and ran off. They showed no interest in the chicks when the chicks were in the run.

In about 3 weeks we are also moving home, and the land we have will mean that they have plenty of play space and so shouldn't need to annoy each other, just hoping night times will go well.

What should I do with them all in the mean time?

Many thanks

 

[lauranickerson]

I guess you already know it but don't forget to quarantine your new hens specially because they are already grown up, you don't want anything to happen to your 10 weeks old chicks.
Let us know how you did with your integration. Today I set my 20 chicks (9 weeks old) out to free range in the yard with my 15 months hens. There was some pecking done specially when they came back inside the run but nothing too serious. I am still leaving the partition closed after I get them in, I am not brave enough yet, I think a few days more with this operation, then I will start leaving the partition open.

Haven't checked this thread in a while. Funny you mention that because I didn't really think of quarantining them at first, but when I brought them home, I checked the first one for lice, and she was COVERED in them. They all were. She said they were molting, too, which I believe for the most part, because I wasn't getting any eggs, and now I am. But I was getting some weird poos from them while in quarantine, so I broke down and wormed them (my first time ever worming). Their feathers are so much shinier, their poos are normal, and they seem to just be overall...better. I JUST put them in with my flock last weekend. They had been staying in the garage then greenhouse since I got them. Then I had to deal with one that got heat stroke on a hot day while in the greenhouse. I thought it was dead on it's back, but I was able to save it! Couldn't believe it. She's happy again with her friends.

Moral of the story - don't ever trust someone on Craigslist that says their flock is "perfectly healthy!" I know some people's are, but ALWAYS inspect thoroughly before bringing them home!

 

[Den in Penn]

Hey I also have a question about integration. I am slowly being regarded as the crazy chicken lady!!

We have 3, 4+ yr old girls, they are out in an old wendy house that we added perches too, and a opening so they could be let loose in to the run during the day.

My kids made me(well iwas excited to do it too) buy 12 day old chicks who are currently living in a run with heat lamps in my back room in the house. They are now nearly 5 weeks old.

My friend has 3 5m old Buff sussex girls who she can no longer keep, so I have agreed to take them on Sunday.

What/where/how do I integrate them? Should I integrate them with the adult hens or should I add them to the chicks. The chicks now have access to outdoors in the day when sunny.

Yesterday we let the big girls lose in our garden whilst supervising. My eldest took one of the chicks and tried to show them to the big girls and the big girls got spooked and ran off. They showed no interest in the chicks when the chicks were in the run.

In about 3 weeks we are also moving home, and the land we have will mean that they have plenty of play space and so shouldn't need to annoy each other, just hoping night times will go well.

What should I do with them all in the mean time?

Many thanks

Your friends 5 month olds are at the point of lay and are too mature to put with the 5 week olds. If you are moving in three weeks I would keep them seperate until after the move. This will also give you time to make sure the Sussex are healthy.

 

[Mamaoflots]

Thanks Den, that's pretty much what we decided. I am now in the middle of transforming the shed to accommodate them till we move. Exciting! Thanks again.