Full Integration started this morning

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Full integration started this morning. Been 3 hours with a little pecking. Put hiding places with escape routes. 2 feeders & 3 waterers. Closed the small coop so they couldn't get trapped in there. Had hose ready if it was needed. Henny & Penny are 12.5 weeks old, Lily (head hen), Carnation and Dahlia are 3 years old. Henny did the puff chest and stretched neck at Lily, but Lily quickly gave a couple of pecks and it stopped. She also did it to Dahlia and she did a peck. Henny ran to safety. Henny & Penny are moving out of the older girls way. There hasn't been any charging or chasing. Have ventured out of their pen (have 2 of the 3 doors open), they haven't ventured too far from the doors. They have gotten up on the outside roost and watched the older hens come and go. Been out here for 3 hours (minus a couple of potty breaks). Not seeing anything out of the norm. So far so good.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think you have made it. The younger birds will hang together as a sub flock, till they lay. Last week my sub flock started to disappear, at first I thought they were gone, but they are getting close to laying, and just blend with the flock instead of being always just a bit apart.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

It has been going good, just a few pecks here and there. Nothing serious more of you are in my space, back off. They have ventured all around the run. Even peeked in the big coop (that was cute). They are learning the rules...lol Waiting for roosting to see how that goes. About a half hour the older hens will go in to roost.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Well older hens roosted, chicks wouldn't go in the big coop. They stood and pecked the ramp door at the small coop. Understandable that has been their home for 8.5 weeks. So to keep them from stressing let them go into the small coop and closed the door.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sounds like it's going well, I wouldn't expect them to roost with the bigs on their first full day out, so it's fine to let them use their own coop/brooder for now.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Sounds like it's going well, I wouldn't expect them to roost with the bigs on their first full day out, so it's fine to let them use their own coop/brooder for now.

That's was my thinking. Was a big day for them, let them have their night time security. Figure when they are comfortable being with the big girls they will want to be with them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

That's was my thinking. Was a big day for them, let them have their night time security. Figure when they are comfortable being with the big girls they will want to be with them.

Well also roosting can lead to a lot of squabbles, and even hens that are fine with younger birds near them in the run might get pretty ornery once they have to share their roost with those youngsters. So I'd give them at least a few days, or a week, with only daytime together, and then maybe you can try putting them in the coop after that. I'd pick a day when you'd be available during dusk to be able to check in on them to make sure everything's ok. Chances are the chicks might be forced to sleep on the floor in the coop in the beginning, but that's fine, as long as they aren't being attacked by the hens.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

I'm going to let them do the roosting naturally, not interfer. If they decide to stay with the small coop that is fine with us, it does have a nesting box. We are at max number of chickens allowed.
Noticed this morning the older hens were staying by both feeders. Took action on that. Put 2 more bowls of feed in different areas. The 3 of them can't guard 4 feeding dishes, so there will always be 1 the younger ones can get to. That has worked.
Thanks to this site, I read all about introducing. A month of look but no touch, then took a panel away for a few hours to allow touch, that went so well after 3 days removed the extra hardware cloth off the wire portable pen was that way for a month. Going to wait until Saturday night (after they all go to bed) to take the portable pen out.
I do appreciate the heads up on what can happen. The older hens we took in. Landlord's son refused to buy feed for them for 2 years. Only feed they got was what I threw out there and what they foraged. Son's dog killed 2 chickens when the landlord came back. He asked if I wanted them or he would cull them. I couldn't stand the thought of them being culled just cause they were unwanted(and they were laying eggs in a dirt nest in front of our mower that is under a framed cover)Talked hubby into taking them. Got hooked fast Got the Golden Comet chicks(4 weeks old) on Father's Day. Got from a local breeder, their place was fabulous, very clean. All chickens looked happy & healthy. They gave us a tour of the entire place.

 

[rosemarythyme]

That works as well, having the chicks use their own coop, though don't be surprised if they decide to change it up on their own once they get older. And you handled the food situation nicely as well - as you said, the hens can't guard every source of food if there's more food stations available.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Sounds like a very successful day!

Best of luck!!!