grow out pen for flock integration?

[Beckadidi]

I want to follow the advice from the learning center and allow my girls to see each other before they are integrated. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to modify my coop and run to do this. CAFARMGIRL mentioned a "grow out pen." What does this look like? Does anyone have pics to share on this topic? I've got a while before the chicks are out of the brooder, but I need a plan! How have you sectioned off a part of your run or coop to do this. I need ideas thanks!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-integrate-your-chicken-flock-the-easy-way

 

[rinlareine]

We built this little pen for our five oldest chicks. It's light enough to carry around the yard to different spots and has a removable lid. When it's time to integrate them into the flock, we're just going to plop it in the run so the hens can get used to the chicks and not be able to attack them.

It's 3' by 4' and seems to be a pretty good size for five 6-7 week old chicks.

 

[centrarchid]

I want to follow the advice from the learning center and allow my girls to see each other before they are integrated. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to modify my coop and run to do this. CAFARMGIRL mentioned a "grow out pen." What does this look like? Does anyone have pics to share on this topic? I've got a while before the chicks are out of the brooder, but I need a plan! How have you sectioned off a part of your run or coop to do this. I need ideas thanks!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-integrate-your-chicken-flock-the-easy-way

I read posting you refer to above. Other techniques also possible and I use some routinely with birds younger than recommended without losses.


The growout pen is simply a larger run / coop.

How many birds are involved in total, each group, and what are relative ages / sizes?

 

[Beckadidi]

Thanks for the responses. I have just two older hens (3yrs old) and 4 new chicks (they are just 3 weeks old in the house right now). I can easily divide the run into a separate space, but I need a place for the chicks to sleep at night after they grow out of the brooder in the house. I'm afraid the run isn't totally predator proof, so I need a super-safe place for them to sleep at night.
ps I did find some posts on grow-out pens, but would appreciate any ideas for a sleeping area that hopefully doesn't require too much construction.

 

[centrarchid]

Hens will abuse such young chicks. Could you construct a creep-feeder inside existing coop for you hens. Chicks could retreat to it when harassed and would learn it is a refuge relatively quickly.

To predator proof run, think double boiler where you have two layers of fencing with a gap between around perimeter. Post a picture of it. You have some time before chicks should be introduced anyway.

 

[Beckadidi]

I'm not planning on putting the chicks in with the older ones anytime soon. I'm looking for an easy way to divide my current setup so the chicks are safe when they go outside in a few weeks. Could you tell me what a creep feeder is?

 

[centrarchid]

I'm not planning on putting the chicks in with the older ones anytime soon. I'm looking for an easy way to divide my current setup so the chicks are safe when they go outside in a few weeks. Could you tell me what a creep feeder is?

It is like a mini-coop you place inside larger coop where the mini has walls allowing passage of chicks but not adults..

 

[StephieSky]

This would work ?
Its called a chick sanctuary. I picked this up recently off a blog where a woman had the bottom open ( no netting or wire ) and raised the legs up incrementally as her young chickens got older. This kept the mean hens out and gave the chicks someplace they couid hole up with food and water just for them too while they were small enough to go in and out at will.
I'll can't find her in my favorites. But if I do I sure will give you the link to the original article she wrote. Plus, she has the pdf for download.
By the way, the center of the top of hers was solid. So the chicks always had a shaded area no matter where she moved it also. I remember that.

 

[centrarchid]

This would work ?
Its called a chick sanctuary. I picked this up recently off a blog where a woman had the bottom open ( no netting or wire ) and raised the legs up incrementally as her young chickens got older. This kept the mean hens out and gave the chicks someplace they couid hole up with food and water just for them too while they were small enough to go in and out at will.
I'll can't find her in my favorites. But if I do I sure will give you the link to the original article she wrote. Plus, she has the pdf for download.
By the way, the center of the top of hers was solid. So the chicks always had a shaded area no matter where she moved it also. I remember that.

That is a good one although it may need to be scaled down a bit. Those I used are not much more than overturned clothsbaskets.

 

[StephieSky]

That is a good one although it may need to be scaled down a bit. Those I used are not much more than overturned clothsbaskets.

I wish I could find the blog I downloaded it from. She had a cover over the center and a little house that stuck out of the top. I was thinking of using something like it outside my fenceline as a daycare center type thing for my chickens.
Her little chickens had their very own coop and run inside the bigger run lol It was so cute.