Integrating 7 chicks

[Micmac1234]

Hello! I have 7 chicks that I will need to integrate into my current flock of 6. I know I need to do the whole see don’t touch deal but I truly cannot think of a way to do that. How could I contain 7 hens among another 6? I have dog crates but they aren’t going to be big enough…. The chicks were 4 weeks old yesterday.

 

[CoopBoots]

Can you post pictures or just describe your run space? My experience in integration (joining up 19 babies with an existing flock of 13) mostly just involved a separate sleeping space and putting up chicken wire for a temporary divider. After a little while I realized the babies could easily outrun my big chickens as there is a lot of space + places to hide, so now they range with no dividers and just sleep separately at night.

 

[Cluckwork Orange]

I don't know your birds' personalities, but I've had luck with just giving the chicks a hiding place that they can fit into, but the adults cannot.

maybe cut a small door in one of the dog crates with a feeder and waterer inside for the chicks?

other possibility, do the dog crates disassemble into panels? can you combine them into some sort of playpen?

 

[Micmac1234]

Can you post pictures or just describe your run space? My experience in integration (joining up 19 babies with an existing flock of 13) mostly just involved a separate sleeping space and putting up chicken wire for a temporary divider. After a little while I realized the babies could easily outrun my big chickens as there is a lot of space + places to hide, so now they range with no dividers and just sleep separately at night.

Yes, I will post pictures! There is a tunnel that runs behind the coop and shed into the run, also pictured.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I'd just section off a corner in the coop, and make a couple hidey holes that the chicks can get in and out of. The only thing that concerns me is the tunnel, if they get trapped in there between 2 hens might not be good. Is the run predator proof?

 

[Micmac1234]

I'd just section off a corner in the coop, and make a couple hidey holes that the chicks can get in and out of. The only thing that concerns me is the tunnel, if they get trapped in there between 2 hens might not be good. Is the run predator proof?

The run is not predator proof unfortunately. I used chicken wire and I know predators can rip right into it. The tunnel is fairly wide. I’ve crawled through it so they shouldn’t get trapped

 

[Micmac1234]

I'd just section off a corner in the coop, and make a couple hidey holes that the chicks can get in and out of. The only thing that concerns me is the tunnel, if they get trapped in there between 2 hens might not be good. Is the run predator proof?

So I have a backup feeder and then I would need a backup waterer. I’m trying to think of the best way to prop the wire up… I have those green fence stakes but not sure how to keep them standing

 

[gimmie birdies]

I don't mix hens and chicks until they are at least 6-7-8-9 weeks old.

 

[Micmac1234]

I don't mix hens and chicks until they are at least 6-7-8-9 weeks old.

Yes, I’m not going to either I just want to mentally prepare and physically prepare I’m also going out of town when they’re 9 weeks so I’m hoping to have harmony among the chickens before I go.

 

[Cluckwork Orange]

I don't mix hens and chicks until they are at least 6-7-8-9 weeks old.