How to get 6 week chicks go into coup?

[Sams Backyard Flock]

You’re overthinking it. One group will be easy, and the next make you tear your hair out. Put them in at night as long as you need to. They won’t want to roost for several more weeks. If they aren’t roosting by 12 weeks, start putting them up on the roost. Also, go ahead and integrate them with the adults. It might solve the issues faster.

I thought I had to wait until they were almost the same size as the older ones to integrate? We do have Them in their section so they can see each other for now. Is It okay to integrate them now? I’m sure they would learn from the old ones . Just don’t want them hurt.

 

[3KillerBs]

We live in Northern California and the summer has been very hot days of 101-104 at night it cools down to 60’s for now. This week we have a break in temp, highs 88 today but 93-96 for the week.

It's possible that the coop is too hot for them to be comfortable.

 

[Sams Backyard Flock]

It's possible that the coop is too hot for them to be comfortable.

I have misters and a fan during the day. Maybe I can run the fan at night and see if it makes a difference and a little more patience too. It’s all been great advice I love this website

 

[3KillerBs]

I have misters and a fan during the day. Maybe I can run the fan at night and see if it makes a difference and a little more patience too. It’s all been great advice I love this website

Does your coop have ventilation at the very top under the roof?

Heat and ammonia both rise.

 

[Sams Backyard Flock]

They are in a transition coup that is screened on one side and one door fully closed in on the other side, so should have plenty of air. I think. I only turn the light on at dusk to lure them in and then I turn it off. Because of the summer temps. We used to have this in our Mud Room. Converted an older coup for transition from brooder to integrating them with the older chicks in the main coup and run.

 

[3KillerBs]

They are in a transition coup that is screened on one side and one door fully closed in on the other side, so should have plenty of air. I think. I only turn the light on at dusk to lure them in and then I turn it off. Because of the summer temps. We used to have this in our Mud Room. Converted an older coup for transition from brooder to integrating them with the older chicks in the main coup and run.

I don't see any ventilation directly underneath the roof so it's probably trapping heat.

 

[Sams Backyard Flock]

There is a 3 inch gap along the roof .

 

[BullChick]

I thought I had to wait until they were almost the same size as the older ones to integrate? We do have Them in their section so they can see each other for now. Is It okay to integrate them now? I’m sure they would learn from the old ones . Just don’t want them hurt.

Unless you have big bullies, yes. The pecking order is just that. The chicks might get a peck on the head. Aside from normal behavior, I doubt you’ll have an issue. I know in my coop, young chicks are welcome even without a broody.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I thought I had to wait until they were almost the same size as the older ones to integrate? We do have Them in their section so they can see each other for now. Is It okay to integrate them now? I’m sure they would learn from the old ones . Just don’t want them hurt.

Actually helps with their behavior to integrate earlier, as they'll start copying what they see the adults doing (i.e. roosting). So with my last two batches of chicks, I never really had to teach them to go into the coop... I'd manually put them in the coop for a few night (to home them to it, as my brooder is in the run), and then once I leave it up to the chicks to figure out where to go, they'll follow the adults into the coop at night.

You could use more clutter in the run for integration purposes. A good thread on obstacles: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/ and my early integration article (with run obstacle layout): https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/