How do I introduce six 4 week old chicks to three 8 week old chickens?

[kidsNchicken]

Trying to figure out how to introduce six 4 week old chicks to three 8 week old chickens. One of my 8 week old chickens is a rooster and just wondering if that will cause any problems as well in introducing the younger ones in. All the chickens are currently in the same place together and have been since we got the younger chicks, but are divided by chicken wire. Any thoughts how I can put them all together? Thanks!

 

[Riverwoman]

My grandson and I have the same question. We have 6 Golden Laced Wyandottes 8 weeks old and 5 Columbian Wyandottes 4 weeks old. How and when do I introduce them?

 

[Den in Penn]

Shouldn't cause a problem. Immature chickens integrate much easier then mature ones do. Just continue to keep them separate for a couple of weeks till they get to know each other and just remove the barrier. They will scuffle for their place in the pecking order but it should be light.

 

[centrarchid]

Juveniles are not always less problematic than adults.

I use two approaches. First is when combing two or more groups onto an area none consider as home. Second is when the older birds are introduced to the younger birds singly on the turf of the younger birds. At intervals depending on the situation the older birds are introduced in the order of their rank with most dominant first.

 

[aart]

Juveniles are not always less problematic than adults.

I use two approaches. First is when combing two or more groups onto an area none consider as home. Second is when the older birds are introduced to the younger birds singly on the turf of the younger birds. At intervals depending on the situation the older birds are introduced in the order of their rank with most dominant first.

That's for sure!!

If the divided coop you have them in is big enough, just taking down the wire might work well as they both have their own place/food/water.
Might want to wait until the smallers are bigger tho, 4 weeks is pretty little.
There will still be some scuffling and fighting probably, as long as things don't get bloody r on one is pinned down'trapped and abused let them work it out.


Here's some notes I've taken on integration that I found to be very helpful.......
......take what applies or might help and ignore the rest.
See if any of them, or the links provided at the bottom, might offer some tips that will assist you in your situation:

Integration of new chickens into flock.

Consider medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
Poultry Biosecurity
BYC 'medical quarantine' search

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact. Integrating new birds of equal size works best.

For smaller chicks I used a large wire dog crate right in the coop for the smallers. I removed the crate door and put up a piece of wire fencing over the opening and bent up one corner just enough for the smallers to fit thru but the biggers could not. Feed and water inside the crate for the smallers. Make sure the smallers know how to get in and out of the crate opening before exposing them to the olders. this worked out great for me, by the time the crate was too small for the them to roost in there(about 3 weeks), they had pretty much integrated themselves to the olders.

If you have too many smallers to fit in a crate you can partition off part of the coop with a wire wall and make the same openings for smallers escape.


The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide out of line of sight and/or up and away from any bully birds.

Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Clemsonchickfan]

I integrated 4 week old Buff Orpingtons with 8 week old Cuckoo Marans and Brown Leghorns about a month ago.

The older pullets were confined to the coop at the time. I simply put the youngsters in the coop one afternoon with the intention of them being in there for an hour and was ready to pull them out if the pecking got too ugly. Each group kept off on their own. I was shocked at how little issues they had. They were more curious than angry.

I did the same thing for about four days. Then I put them in the coop for good one evening. A few days later I opened the pop door and let them out into the run. They were more interested in exploring the new space than fighting. They worked out their pecking order pretty well and all get along now.

What worked for me may not work for someone else, though. Every flock, setup, and person is different. I say to try whatever your intuition is saying to do, then be flexible in case it doesn't work. There will be some pecking and bullying as they establish a pecking order, just don't let it get too violent. Once a chick get injured, even her friends will start picking on her.

Good luck.

 

[aart]

I integrated 4 week old Buff Orpingtons with 8 week old Cuckoo Marans and Brown Leghorns about a month ago.

The older pullets were confined to the coop at the time. I simply put the youngsters in the coop one afternoon with the intention of them being in there for an hour and was ready to pull them out if the pecking got too ugly. Each group kept off on their own. I was shocked at how little issues they had. They were more curious than angry.

I did the same thing for about four days. Then I put them in the coop for good one evening. A few days later I opened the pop door and let them out into the run. They were more interested in exploring the new space than fighting. They worked out their pecking order pretty well and all get along now.

What worked for me may not work for someone else, though. Every flock, setup, and person is different. I say to try whatever your intuition is saying to do, then be flexible in case it doesn't work. There will be some pecking and bullying as they establish a pecking order, just don't let it get too violent. Once a chick get injured, even her friends will start picking on her.

Good luck.

Exactly!
Observation, learning about chicken behaviors and having a plan B (or C) is the way to go.

 

[kidsNchicken]

I put them together and placed them outside in there new digs. All seems well and my Barred Plymouth Rock Roo is really a great rooster to them all! : )

 

[Clemsonchickfan]

That's great. I think a lot of times we over think and over worry about things.