Integrating 8 week olds with laying hens

[AtomicFireball]

Hey hey!

I have 13 8-and-9 week olds who are very crowded in their brooder. We’re removing our rooster from the coop (he’s going to freezer camp) today, which just leaves our two laying hens. Since the babies have grown up in the flock, could we put them out with the other two girls? They outnumber the layers so they should be good, right?

First time chicken mom and I just want my babies to have room.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How big is your set up? You are saying the chicks have been in the flock all along but not the coop?

 

[AtomicFireball]

Oop, I see where that was confusing. They’ve grown in their flock of 13. They have a pen adjacent to the run for the laying hens, but have never been together without the dividers. So since these 13 are close, I figured since they outnumber the two larger hens, they shouldn’t have an issue?

 

[lazy gardener]

They won't have an issue unless they do. There is safety in numbers. As long as your coop/run is big enough: 4 s.f./10 s.f. per bird, and has multiple feeding/water stations, plenty of roost space and lots of areas where they can get out of sight but not trapped in any dead end areas, they should be fine.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not expect any problem at all, but you might consider this, you could put your two hens where your chicks were, and the chicks where the hens are now. That would let your chicks acclimate to the new set up, find the hideouts, the feed bowl.

However, truthfully, I would be surprised if you had any trouble at all.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

but you might consider this, you could put your two hens where your chicks were, and the chicks where the hens are now. That would let your chicks acclimate to the new set up, find the hideouts, the feed bowl.

Great idea....

...and remember the basics...

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.