Incorporating Chicks

[Jewels82]

So today we have no choice but to incorporate our 6 week old chicks with our 10 week old chicks. I have family coming into town and we need the space the younger chicks are in and the coop set up doesn't allow for separation of the two. So with that in mind is there anything I can do to help ease the transition? Does it help if I stand there and police them as the "alpha"? Thanks in advance!

 

[Theorrin]

you can stand there but the minute you leave they may start pecking

 

[drangle]

Get some stuff the little ones can hide under or in but the big ones can’t. I use old mineral tubs with holes cut in them for the chicks to hide in.

They will get used to each other. The little ones might get terrorised for a week or two.

 

[Penpal]

As Drangle wrote, give the little ones an escape hatch. This is what is done with livestock guardian puppies so the sheep can't hurt them. It is done with calves that are kept with larger cattle so the calves can get to the calf starter feed but the adults can't.

 

[Jewels82]

I don't have any mineral tubs but I got some cardboard boxes and will cut some holes in them. I'll report back and let everyone know how it goes. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Jewels82]

I just realized I never did an update. Incorporation actually went pretty well. I think the fact that the smaller chicks far outnumbered the older chicks helped a good bit. And the younger ones didn't use the boxes at first but they are using them now so thanks so much for the tip!

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Great pictures of a very nice setup! Glad the integration went well.