Esther and Winnie~ Emerald ~ Momma Time~ UH-OH Egg Overload P46

[silkiechicken]

I would just let the two younings dual it out with the older ones. They'll get injured but nothing too bad really. It will take a week or two for them to eat comfortably in the pen with the rest. My new birds to the flock usually spend their first two days with heads in the corner. I pick a night and just plop them into the cage and that is that. They wake up to a scary new world.

Just gotta grit your teeth and let them grow up. It's hard but must be done. Good luck.

Edit: All the birds free range together from 3-5 weeks old and on so they aren't strangers when they get locked together at 3 months old.

 

[BeckyLa]

Do you let them range the yard at all? (yes, I'm one of the ones who haven't been keeping up. sorry). Integration might go easier if they spent time in a much bigger area where the young ones have somewhere to get away from the older ones. The space you have them in now is far too small and the poor babies have no where to run.

 

[barg]

When the wall is down and they have the whole thing open,
There is about 65 sq feet in the run(4ft x 16 FT.)
I do not let them free range at all, Ide love to but its not possible.
My fence is too short, my neighbors have animals that can get in the yard if they want to, and I have a one year old daughter that I dont want stepping in chicken poop, not to mention that she will try to eat it if she finds it.

That is why I've kept them in sight of each other for so long; Its been a couple weeks, at least, that they have been watching each other all day.

I'm not sure if the injury Winnie got was actually caused by a Chicken or trying to get away from one, but it was probably, trying to get away and ran into the bars.

 

[silkiechicken]

The injury is probably from running her head against the cage in attempts to get away. All of my birds have had those caused by the inaugural morning with the big girls. Only one who never got it was my large roo. He was instantly at the top.

 

[thndrdancr]

Oh heavens, that would be hard for me to watch. Ouchie, poor babies. I am so sorry it didnt go smooth, dont know why chickens have to be so territorial.

 

[barg]

What really sucks about this is that, If I do this now, I have to get them fully integrated within days.
Were supposed to go on vacation and have already limited that to two nights but, I'de have to feel comfortable leaving them for that long.

The chicks are back in the house for the night, i'm not sure what I'll do tomarrow.

Oh and, Winnies injury is not severe, the other chickens have also had similar injurys in the past without anything comming of it.
I am concerned that one could end up with something worse though.

 

[barg]

If anyone has anymore tricks that they have used to integrate their flock, I'de love to hear them too.
If you didnt read about how the integration attempt went today, click back one page.

Information update and Pics
The older pullets are 17 weeks old now, which means that, soon, they will be starting to lay.
I am going to continue this thread through the chicks being integrated and the older pullets laying their first egg; at that point i'll probably conclude this thread.

In prep for the first eggs, here's todays shot of the girls.
Their combs changed alot while my camera was broken.
Hazel Domineak

Mrs.Nezbit Emerald

At 9 weeks, The chicks combs

Rose Comb and Pea Comb- 9 weeks

 

[Lunachick]

I don't have enough experience to help you, but I like the suggestions of letting them roam the yard, but you can't do that. How about making a bigger run for all of them, is that possible? Anyway, good luck with them, and please keep us updated.

 

[silkiechicken]

Really, just put them in all day and let them dual it out. The girls will learn how to act around the others and will be fine. Most importantly though is that they are going to have to sleep together at night. I do my first integration by setting the new ones on the roost with the old ones at night so they wake up with each other and figure out that hey, they live here too, and are not just visitors that show up in the day taking their space.

 

[barg]

Quote:
How much light, if any, is there in your coop at night?