Integrating 8 and 10 wk olds!

[cochinbantam-lover]

Back with another question.

So far what I have done is ..... they are all in the coop together but I have them separated but they are still able to see one another and get close to each other too. My question is how long should they be kept like this before they can all be together safely? Being pretty close in age and size I hope not too long. Thoughts please!
Thanks!

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

I would keep them like that for a few days. Let them be together, and see how they do. Make sure you have places for the picked on ones to hide, if they have to, and more than one feeder/waterer is helpful too.

Good luck!

 

[newchicksnducks]

I agree with One Acre. Mine were 4+ weeks apart in age, I kept them separated for a week, then integrated them while outside in the run. That left plenty of room for the smaller ones to escape the older if needed. It did help that the younger group was a flock of 7, and only 3 in the older group. Sheer numbers helped outweigh age

 

[saladin]

When you are talking about chicks this young it should not matter one bit. You could have just put them together from the start.

The only problem would be overcrowding; as long as they had plenty of room then it would not matter at all.

The problem comes when you are introducing only one new chick to a flock or with older stock.
If they peck at each other some then that is just normal chicken behavior.
saladin

 

[m2wandc]

I had mine like this for a few weeks before I opened the separator....and when I did put them together without the separation, one of my older chicks went on a rampage pecking at the younger ones....so my resolution that worked was to put that agressive chicken in chicken jail for a few days...and now that she's back in there with them, she is still the top dog chicken, and she still runs the show, but she's not chasing them and torturing them constantly...now she just co-exists with them. (not really 'friends' by any means)