Integrating 1 clutch followed by 2nd clutch. Remove cage?

[C Siena]

With all the wonderful advise on this site the first chicks 7 wks now, are integrated. 2+wks see no touch. Okay, I could have accomplished this sooner. They are sleeping on top of their cage/brooder for a couple of nights But should I remove the cage?

I want to bring the 3.5 wk chicks to the coop, in the same cage (with mesh around for a few days) for the see no touch time. Should I remove the cage (a security I thought) but they are rarely going into it. I was thinking to remove the cage tomorrow afternoon/evening and opening the coop/run early Saturday morning, watching behavior. If all goes well, putting the cage back inside Sunday afternoon with the young ones. Does this sound correct? reasonable?

I have the cardboard on top of the large cage so the poop that doesn't land on the boards, doesn't fall into their cage. Ha, not like they haven't been scratching around all over the coop already.

 

[cavemanrich]

Sounds like a good plan. I would leave the cage as is. Let the 7 week ones slowly transition to roost with your adult chickens. Then slip the younger chicks inside cage, when ready to do such.
Observe, and then decide.
To your surprise, It may be the older of the chicks pecking on the younger ones initially. As long as not terribly vicious activity is occurring, (serious injury) let things shake out on their own. There will always be pecking order ordeals in most flocks.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[C Siena]

Sounds like a good plan. I would leave the cage as is. Let the 7 week ones slowly transition to roost with your adult chickens. Then slip the younger chicks inside cage, when ready to do such.
Observe, and then decide.
To your surprise, It may be the older of the chicks pecking on the younger ones initially. As long as not terribly vicious activity is occurring, (serious injury) let things shake out on their own. There will always be pecking order ordeals in most flocks.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thank you. Yes, pecking orders exist through life. I will not be surprised by the 7 wks going after the younger ones, I expect it which is why I'm adding the mesh to keep little heads inside and outside. After one week, I'll remove the mesh from one side and observe.
There is not enough room on the roost for the additional 6 but we'll be adding another 8' roost tomorrow. Half tried to roost with adults and they let them know they are not welcome, yet.

Are you saying, not to put the younger chicks in the cage until the others roost up high instead of on the branches? I thought maybe the removal of the cage for a couple of days and then when reintroduced with the chicks might show, new cage new tenants