HELP- how to move staggered age chicks to coop

[NikkisChix]

Hello! My moms boss has hatched some RIR and silkie chicks for me which has been wonderful! However right now I have to have two brooder boxes going. The 5 in one box are all between 5 and 6 weeks old. The other brooder box right next to that one (they're clear tubs) contains 7 chicks with the oldest around 4 weeks?? And the youngest is about 2 weeks I think, only has wing feathers so far.

The 5 in the 'big chick' box seem SO ready to go out into the coop! What should I do???? Should I hold them in another week and then put all of the chicks out at once or should I go ahead and put them out and then bring down the other chicks for supervised playtimes in the run closer to when they'll be ready for the coop? And then if that all goes well, put them in one night after the bigger ones have settled to sleep?

I just don't know exactly the best thing to do right now because I love them and don't want them to all fight :/

 

[Judy]

It would be best to let everyone grow to adult size separately but within sight of each other. Then integrate either by placing them on the roost after dark, or while outside in a good sized space with distractions, places to hide, treats, more than one feeding station. You can try this earlier but you will need to supervise closely and should expect that some attacking will occur. If any blood is drawn, remove that chick and keep separate.

Different flocks give different resuls when trying to integrate. It can range from little problem to death. This thread is a good discussion of integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/803815/integrating-two-groups/0_20

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

There will always be some pecking, to get the order straightened out. Can the older 2 brooders have sight contact at least? They can hear the other chicks but if they can't see them putting all in the coop at the same time may cause them extra stress. If possible you could separate them by chicken wire or cage of some type. For a few days at least so they can see each other but not mingle. Helps them realize these birds are suppose to be there. Size difference would matter too, as well as temperament. I hear silkies are among the least aggressive bird. What I notice though, the younger the birds you "mix" the easier the transition is. At least until breeding hormones kick in.
Weather will effect how well they do also. If its still cool temps they may tend to pile unless you have a heat source, even then they might. How ever you do add them I normally make time to spend in the coop with the birds for 20-30 minutes to make sure no bird is overly aggressive or harassed more than others. Everyone will most likely peck and be pecked a little. Any bullies should be separated for a time and if they continue to do this day after day I personally remove them from the flock. I have small children and always moving in young birds throughout the year so I don't tolerate any excessive aggression.

The youngest birds are to young, unless you can set up the brooder in the coop and keep the older birds off/out of it.

Hope this helped.

 

[srpchickens]

I am struggling with this too. I have a dozen that are 8 wks old, and pretty well established in the coop and run. I got a surprise that 1, and maybe even a second, are roosters. They are a mix of easter eggers, tetra tints and red stars.

I have 6 cuckoo marans that are 5 weeks old and wanted to put them out there too...and when I set one down they mauled it. It ran through the run getting pecked hard by every bird that could get to it.

For the last 5 days the marans have been in a crate (dog style) in the center of the coop, so the birds have seen them, heard them, and even stuck their heads in the crate to check out the marans...so I assumed they would 'get used to them'

Even worse, I have another 6 coming that will be 5-9 weeks old when they arrive (Mcmurray Rainbow egg package) on Tuesday...so I will have to do this twice

Ideas?

 

[Eggcessive]

This contraption from Lowes portable fencing turns over for chicks and like it is for pullets. I put bird netting on top when I don't want any birds in or out, then use poultry netting zip-tied to it when chicks are very small. Then when the older birds are used to the, little ones, I leave it like it is where pullets can go in or out to feed, and at night they sleep in there on a little roost inside or the sides of the top rails. It all comes apart for storage. This is also a good way to introduce a couple of old birds to the flock.

 

[Judy]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882053/mixing-chickens/0_20#post_13421205

This is another thread that is going now, on basically the same situation.

I remember reading once where an experienced chicken keeper said he would just throw them in together without worrying about the rearranging of the pecking order causing any serious problems, and rarely saw anything worse than some hard pecks. He did use multiple feed stations and a large area, I believe free range. I've always felt the best chance for success lay in plenty of room, like at least the whole back yard.

 

[NikkisChix]

I just decided to put them all out in the run together and see how it went. There were two feed/water stations and the run is 4x16. Once I felt comfortable with the birds being together, in the coop they went to see how they'd handle that. So they've all been together since Saturday afternoon. I moved the heat lamp out in the coop on one side for the little ones. He coop is 4x7. All 11 of the chicks spent the day out in the run and I was surprised when the smallest chick ran out of the coop and flew/fell down the ramp and hung with the big chicks like it wasn't a big deal

 

[donrae]

I've had pretty good luck putting younger birds together. I've brooded up to a 4 week age difference, and in a grow out type pen you can have a little larger age range. Immature birds aren't near as mean as mature hens, they're not old enough to be firmly invested in their status. All baby animals determine their pecking order with others, chicks are no different. Lots of space and multiple feed/water stations are usually a good idea.

 

[rc4u]

letting them get same size is not an option with most as time in brooder ect gets stressfull and much extra work...I always combine early and outside to let them get to know each other also.. if it goes good then go for it...if not do it again next day...usually three days max and there good..jeff

 

[aart]

This is what I did....its working OK...can't wait until the youngest won't fit thru 2x4 fencing so I can open up their run.