Chicken math struck me, so I had 6 hens, who are currently 6 weeks old now, and got 4 more. One of the 4 is 1 week older than the others, but I got all 4 a week ago. So they are 2 week and 1 week olds. I am expecting to set these new ones out at 3 or 4 weeks old when they have enough feathers. So I initially put the first 6 into the outside coop and run at 4 weeks old. They were there for like 5 days before I got the 4 new chicks. Figuring that I would have integration issues, I created a brooder with a wire mesh separating two sections. One section I put the new chicks in, and the other larger section I put back the original 6 chicks. They were together for a week and then I put the older six back outside. Now the 4 new chicks are in their own small brooder. So by the time these 4 chicks are big enough to go to the outside coop, they will be about 4 weeks old, and the older chicks about 8 weeks old. Do you see integration problems with that? Would the bigger chicks be so big and mean to the smaller chicks to cause harm? I can separate the nesting box area in the coop with a wire mesh for the smaller chicks if necessary, just don't really want to... Or do you all think another approach is better?
they shoudnt be mean if you spilt up your coop and run and let them get to know each other......do that for a few weeks and than see how they are un seperated. works for me all the time also
I did the exact same thing and I waited until the youngest were 3 months last year. I had 2 brooders. The whole integration process took a very long 3 weeks. I bought 3 more babies 3 days ago to add to my flock, which I never thought I'd be doing. Those darn chick days! Anyways I have 11 chickens with 10 different breeds.lol. I love them all. I don't mind starting over since I have Everything I need. I handle my babies daily, so they grow up super friendly!
I guess I will section off the coop then. I been using that section to store feed, but I guess this would be a better use.
