Integrating 4 week old chicks with 10 week old chicks

[happyhatcher1981]

I have 4 hens that are 10 weeks old in the coop and chicken run. I have 4 other 4 week old chicks in the brooder. Can you lovely people weigh in on the best way to integrate the littles to the bigger littles? Thank you very much!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It depends on the breeds and how much space they have.
Given enough space, adequate feed and water stations, they should be fine.
One correction, you have 10 week old pullets. Females aren't hens till they are a year old.

 

[igorsMistress]

Have they seen each other but been unable to interact directly? It's a good idea to let them get to know each other between wire and then supervise them when they first start to mingle so you can keep an eye on things.

I just integrated a couple of cockerels into my littles and the bullies, 2 boys, had to be thrown in jail for a few days. There's still a bit of pecking each other here and there but the bullies aren't trying to murder the new boys any longer.

What's your set up like? That will help with suggestions.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This is another case where it would be nice to have your general location displayed in your profile so we would have an idea on your weather. Is it warm enough that those four week olds don't need supplemental heat? I assume the ten week old chicks are outside in the coop/run. Where are the 4 week old chicks? In the coop, in your house, or somewhere else? How big in feet or meters is your coop, how big in feet or meters is your run? I can't offer specific advice or make specific suggestions when I don't know what you are working with.

There are a lot of different things you could try. Sometimes this stuff is so easy you wonder what all the concern was. Sometimes chicks die. The more room you have the better your chances of success. It is often very helpful to house them where they can see each other but can't attack each other for at least a week or even more. A safe haven/panic room might come in handy. Wide separated feeding and watering stations are a good idea. It can be really helpful if they can get out of line of sight of each other. That could be by really having lots of room or by having places they can hide under, behind or over. Not trying to force them to be really close together, either by day or especially at night, can relieve a lot of stress on them. I don't know how you might implement any of these since I don't know what you are working with.

My definition of success in integration is that no one gets hurt. They can merge into one flock where they are all sitting around a campfire, making smores, and singing Cum Bah Lah together can come later when they all grow up. That moment comes when my youngest pullets start to lay. Until then I'm just happy when no one gets hurt.

 

[Mrs. K]

One way gates work like a charm, especially if there is a considerable size difference between the two groups.

Set up a brooder area inside the run. Doing see but no touch for a week. Then open the brooder so that the chicks can go in and out like water, but the older birds can not follow them. I have used lattice panels, or some time of fencing and then just lifting the fencing up a couple of inches from the ground. Keep feeding the chicks inside the safety zone.

This lets the chicks venture forth and retreat away from the bigs on their own terms, not human terms.

Mrs K

 

[happyhatcher1981]

It depends on the breeds and how much space they have.
Given enough space, adequate feed and water stations, they should be fine.
One correction, you have 10 week old pullets. Females aren't hens till they are a year old.

Thank you for the insight and the correction. Here is a pic of the run where the pullets 10 week old pullets are.

 

[happyhatcher1981]

It depends on the breeds and how much space they have.
Given enough space, adequate feed and water stations, they should be fine.
One correction, you have 10 week old pullets. Females aren't hens till they are a year old.

Thank you for the insight and the correction. Here is a pic of the run where the pullets 10 week old pullets are.

One way gates work like a charm, especially if there is a considerable size difference between the two groups.

Set up a brooder area inside the run. Doing see but no touch for a week. Then open the brooder so that the chicks can go in and out like water, but the older birds can not follow them. I have used lattice panels, or some time of fencing and then just lifting the fencing up a couple of inches from the ground. Keep feeding the chicks inside the safety zone.

This lets the chicks venture forth and retreat away from the bigs on their own terms, not human terms.

Mrs K

Thank you this is helpful information

 

[happyhatcher1981]

Have they seen each other but been unable to interact directly? It's a good idea to let them get to know each other between wire and then supervise them when they first start to mingle so you can keep an eye on things.

I just integrated a couple of cockerels into my littles and the bullies, 2 boys, had to be thrown in jail for a few days. There's still a bit of pecking each other here and there but the bullies aren't trying to murder the new boys any longer.

What's your set up like? That will help with suggestions.

We are in Georgia. 60s at night and low 80s afternoon. I have no heat outside for the older pullets. Attaching pic of setup.

 

[happyhatcher1981]

This is another case where it would be nice to have your general location displayed in your profile so we would have an idea on your weather. Is it warm enough that those four week olds don't need supplemental heat? I assume the ten week old chicks are outside in the coop/run. Where are the 4 week old chicks? In the coop, in your house, or somewhere else? How big in feet or meters is your coop, how big in feet or meters is your run? I can't offer specific advice or make specific suggestions when I don't know what you are working with.

There are a lot of different things you could try. Sometimes this stuff is so easy you wonder what all the concern was. Sometimes chicks die. The more room you have the better your chances of success. It is often very helpful to house them where they can see each other but can't attack each other for at least a week or even more. A safe haven/panic room might come in handy. Wide separated feeding and watering stations are a good idea. It can be really helpful if they can get out of line of sight of each other. That could be by really having lots of room or by having places they can hide under, behind or over. Not trying to force them to be really close together, either by day or especially at night, can relieve a lot of stress on them. I don't know how you might implement any of these since I don't know what you are working with.

My definition of success in integration is that no one gets hurt. They can merge into one flock where they are all sitting around a campfire, making smores, and singing Cum Bah Lah together can come later when they all grow up. That moment comes when my youngest pullets start to lay. Until then I'm just happy when no one gets hurt.

The coop is 12sf the run is 64 sf. In Georgia. 80s afternoon low 60s at night. Brooder inside no heat lamp. They are on pine shavings. Pics of setup attached. Thank you so much for your insight.

 

[Ponte]

I integrated mine a few weeks ago using aart’s article as a guideline and it worked great. Out of a piece of plywood and 2x4 I build a safe area where only the chicks could enter for protection and for feed and water. Now the chicks are so intergrated that they are roosting in the top bar with the older pullets