Help with integrating younger birds:

[Traffie Chickens]

I have had my chicks in a fenced off area in our coop for a few weeks now, and I just don’t know what to look for, for when they are ready to be in with my older hens yet. Like if I should put them in with them now? Or should I wait? Any thoughts on what to do? Thanks! New to integration here.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Some more information about how many chicks and hens you have, age of the chicks, how big your coop is, and how big your outside area is could help us with specific comments or suggestions. But in general I'd let the chicks out after the hens have gone outside for the day. See what happens. I assume your hens leave the coop in the morning and only return to the coop to lay an egg?

Many different things could happen. Your hens may leave the chicks alone. They may chase and peck them. The chicks may stay in their pen or the coop for two or three days. They may all be on the ground outside in 15 minutes of you letting them out of their pen. The chicks may return to the coop to sleep at night or they may try sleeping outside. I don't care where they sleep as long as it is not in my nests and is somewhere predator safe.

 

[Traffie Chickens]

Some more information about how many chicks and hens you have, age of the chicks, how big your coop is, and how big your outside area is could help us with specific comments or suggestions. But in general I'd let the chicks out after the hens have gone outside for the day. See what happens. I assume your hens leave the coop in the morning and only return to the coop to lay an egg?

Many different things could happen. Your hens may leave the chicks alone. They may chase and peck them. The chicks may stay in their pen or the coop for two or three days. They may all be on the ground outside in 15 minutes of you letting them out of their pen. The chicks may return to the coop to sleep at night or they may try sleeping outside. I don't care where they sleep as long as it is not in my nests and is somewhere predator safe.

There are only 2 chicks and they are almost 11 weeks old. We used to free range our hens a lot, but recently we had a predator take a one , I have Benny trying to free range as much as possible, but we have only been letting them while they are supervised, or there are people outside. Other than that they stay in the 8 by 16 run, with an attached coop. Our yard is in the middle of nowhere, so they can pretty much go wherever. That’s why we have predators. we have 2 breeds of our older hens, pearl white leghorns, and red stars. The leghorns do not mind the younger ones, but the red stars chase, and go after them right when I take them out. So that’s what worries me.

 

[mcdze]

if theyre good-sized id do whats convenient for you, and get them on the daily program .. key is always plenty of space, older hens will never like immature ones, but as long as they can keep some distance theyll be alright .. i free range mine to, biggest step is them learning to put themselves up .. generally the older hens will patrol the coop entrance until they roost, then the younger ones will go in ..its a timing thing, i limit food in the coop and feed them in the evening that way theyre wanting in and will figure it out quick .

 

[Traffie Chickens]

if theyre good-sized id do whats convenient for you, and get them on the daily program .. key is always plenty of space, older hens will never like immature ones, but as long as they can keep some distance theyll be alright ..

One is mixed with black jersey giant so he is the same size as the older ones, but the other one is an EE and is way smaller than everyone else.

 

[Traffie Chickens]

This is the current situation, I thought it would be fine if I just let the chicks out with the older ones now, but right when I let them out the older hens ganged up and started pinning them down and ripping out feathers. they are aggressive! Should I keep trying?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Two chicks 11 weeks old, an 8' x 16' run and some mature hens, some of which chase the young ones. The chasing is the part that would worry me too. Many hens will peck or run off a chick that invades her personal space so chicks usually quickly learn to avoid the hens. A big part of your problem could easily be that they don't have enough room to avoid the hens or run away from them if they get chased. Integration can be a lot harder when room is tight.

I'd also have tried to just let them out after they have been in a see-but-don't-touch situation like yours. That usually works for me. Where are they being attacked? Inside that hardware cloth enclosed area or out in the main run? It sounds like the hens don't wait until their personal space is invaded, they attack as soon as they get a chance.

Can you identify a ringleader? One specific hen that is attacking or attacking first. If you can, isolate her and see what happens when she is not in the mix. That may at least tell you where your problem is. Sometimes isolating a troublemaker for a few days knocks her down in the pecking order so she is no longer a problem. It doesn't always work but it is worth a try.

One is mixed with black jersey giant so he is the same size as the older ones, but the other one is an EE and is way smaller than everyone else.

Is this the one they go after? Sometimes mature hens will attack a male chick once he gets old enough for them to see that he is male. Some people call that "schooling" him to teach him respect for the hens but it can result in seriously injured or dead chickens. He is a little young for that but some cockerels mature early. With your fairly tight space he does not have enough room to get away and stay away. If this is the case my only suggestions are to either get rid of him or keep him locked up until he matures enough to take over the flock, probably around 7 to 8 months of age.

Sometimes the one attacking is the dominant hen, making sure she stays dominant, especially if she is going after a male. Sometimes it is one at the bottom of the pecking order, she does not want one of them to rise higher than her lowly spot. I don't know what is going on so I don't know the best way to approach it. Isolating an aggressor is often a good start.

 

[Traffie Chickens]

Two chicks 11 weeks old, an 8' x 16' run and some mature hens, some of which chase the young ones. The chasing is the part that would worry me too. Many hens will peck or run off a chick that invades her personal space so chicks usually quickly learn to avoid the hens. A big part of your problem could easily be that they don't have enough room to avoid the hens or run away from them if they get chased. Integration can be a lot harder when room is tight.

I'd also have tried to just let them out after they have been in a see-but-don't-touch situation like yours. That usually works for me. Where are they being attacked? Inside that hardware cloth enclosed area or out in the main run? It sounds like the hens don't wait until their personal space is invaded, they attack as soon as they get a chance.

Can you identify a ringleader? One specific hen that is attacking or attacking first. If you can, isolate her and see what happens when she is not in the mix. That may at least tell you where your problem is. Sometimes isolating a troublemaker for a few days knocks her down in the pecking order so she is no longer a problem. It doesn't always work but it is worth a try.


Is this the one they go after? Sometimes mature hens will attack a male chick once he gets old enough for them to see that he is male. Some people call that "schooling" him to teach him respect for the hens but it can result in seriously injured or dead chickens. He is a little young for that but some cockerels mature early. With your fairly tight space he does not have enough room to get away and stay away. If this is the case my only suggestions are to either get rid of him or keep him locked up until he matures enough to take over the flock, probably around 7 to 8 months of age.

Sometimes the one attacking is the dominant hen, making sure she stays dominant, especially if she is going after a male. Sometimes it is one at the bottom of the pecking order, she does not want one of them to rise higher than her lowly spot. I don't know what is going on so I don't know the best way to approach it. Isolating an aggressor is often a good start.

Yes exactly, the young ones don’t go close to the hens and they still attack them, even when they aren’t close. They don’t just go after the male, they go after the female as well, in fact I think that they mainly go after her. I wondered if it was because she was small? And I think that the ring leader is the one on the very bottom of the pecking order. I always see her charge first and start up everyone else. They attack them in the run and in the outdoor area. But they seem fine if they are free ranging, which is weird to me. But I think I might as well just wait until the female chick has caught up in size with everyone, so she can defend herself. But you have been a great help! Thanks!

 

[Traffie Chickens]

I have been working with them for a while now and things are getting much better. Still not to the point where I would leave them unsupervised though, . I usually cage up the two bullies and then let all the others be together, and that seems great . But then after a bit I will let the bullies out and see what they do. If they start to charge then I spray them with water , just lightly. And it seems to be getting better now. I want to wait till they are good sizes, But the female chick is taking forever to grow! Does this seem like this will eventually work out? Any tips are great!