I have too many sets of chicks at the moment, and I've needed to move and combine groups. The older group of 7 is 6.5 weeks old. Then 3 chicks are 4.5 weeks old. They spent two weeks together in dog crates right next to each other in our shop. I moved a few of the older ones into the smaller group a few times and they did really well, spent the night there, etc.
Then I had a broody hen who needed to be moved into the shop (we gave her two chicks, she is doing great). I took the 6.5 week group outside, and gave them an eglu coop with long run in the field. The main flock is free ranging around them and has another coop nearby. That was two days ago, they have done really well. Last night, not wanting to lose ground on integrating the two groups, and because they have outgrown their space, I put the 3 chicks out with them after they'd gone to sleep. They snuggled right in.
This morning, the younger chicks are huddled in the coop and won't go outside and are crying. I pushed them outside so they had access to food and water. The older chicks are pecking them periodically and being bullies. They are huddled in a corner Meanwhile the adult hens are wandering around the outside, calming watching. A few of them are staying close to the littles, but they don't have access.
Do I wait this out, and hope for a happy group soon? I'm feeling almost certain I will have to catch them and put them back in the coop tonight, no way the older chicks will let them go in the door. Sigh.
Then I had a broody hen who needed to be moved into the shop (we gave her two chicks, she is doing great). I took the 6.5 week group outside, and gave them an eglu coop with long run in the field. The main flock is free ranging around them and has another coop nearby. That was two days ago, they have done really well. Last night, not wanting to lose ground on integrating the two groups, and because they have outgrown their space, I put the 3 chicks out with them after they'd gone to sleep. They snuggled right in.
This morning, the younger chicks are huddled in the coop and won't go outside and are crying. I pushed them outside so they had access to food and water. The older chicks are pecking them periodically and being bullies. They are huddled in a corner Meanwhile the adult hens are wandering around the outside, calming watching. A few of them are staying close to the littles, but they don't have access.
Do I wait this out, and hope for a happy group soon? I'm feeling almost certain I will have to catch them and put them back in the coop tonight, no way the older chicks will let them go in the door. Sigh.