Integrating a 12 week old flock w/ an 8 week old flock....HELP

[M Kelley]

I hope this is posted in the right spot!

I have been trying to intergrate my (4) 8 week old chicks with my (6) 12 week old chicks. I figured it wouldn't be that bad because they are only 4 weeks apart. Boy was I wrong! I have been putting my younger ones in a dog crate in the run for the last 2 weeks and every few days I would take them out of the crate to see how the older chickens reacted towards them, I have one bully that is a bully to even the older ones in the flock but she seems to be the one that goes right after the younger ones. I recently tried placing them in the coop at night, it seemed ok, my older chickens don't sleep on the perch for some reason, they sleep on top of the nesting boxes that are directly in front of the window. When we put them in the coop, all four went into a nesting box and stayed there, the older ones jumped off the top of the nesting boxes to check them out with a little pecking but then went back to bed. The next morning the 4 younger ones found their way out of the coop and were hiding behind the crate that I left in the run, I watched them throughout the day and they would venture out into the run and the older ones would peck them a little, but it didn't seem to bad, figuring that was normal. Later on in the day, my bully had one of the younger chicks cornered and was starting to hurt her and all the other older ones were also pecking at the little one that was cornered. It seems like the bully will start it and then all the others follow her and start being mean. I immediately gathered the younger ones and put them back in the dog crate but didn't take the dog crate out of the in case any progress was made. The other problem I have is what do I do with the younger chickens at night? They have completely outgrown what I had them in before I started putting them in the crate and I have no way of separating them in the coop at night. I'm at a loss and I'm considering finding a new home for my little ones, which I really don't want to do but I don't want them to get hurt. Please help, this is my first time raising chickens and would appreciate any and all ideas.

 

[CoopDeDoo]

I hope this is posted in the right spot!

I have been trying to intergrate my (4) 8 week old chicks with my (6) 12 week old chicks. I figured it wouldn't be that bad because they are only 4 weeks apart. Boy was I wrong! I have been putting my younger ones in a dog crate in the run for the last 2 weeks and every few days I would take them out of the crate to see how the older chickens reacted towards them, I have one bully that is a bully to even the older ones in the flock but she seems to be the one that goes right after the younger ones. I recently tried placing them in the coop at night, it seemed ok, my older chickens don't sleep on the perch for some reason, they sleep on top of the nesting boxes that are directly in front of the window. When we put them in the coop, all four went into a nesting box and stayed there, the older ones jumped off the top of the nesting boxes to check them out with a little pecking but then went back to bed. The next morning the 4 younger ones found their way out of the coop and were hiding behind the crate that I left in the run, I watched them throughout the day and they would venture out into the run and the older ones would peck them a little, but it didn't seem to bad, figuring that was normal. Later on in the day, my bully had one of the younger chicks cornered and was starting to hurt her and all the other older ones were also pecking at the little one that was cornered. It seems like the bully will start it and then all the others follow her and start being mean. I immediately gathered the younger ones and put them back in the dog crate but didn't take the dog crate out of the in case any progress was made. The other problem I have is what do I do with the younger chickens at night? They have completely outgrown what I had them in before I started putting them in the crate and I have no way of separating them in the coop at night. I'm at a loss and I'm considering finding a new home for my little ones, which I really don't want to do but I don't want them to get hurt. Please help, this is my first time raising chickens and would appreciate any and all ideas.

It is tough..what breeds do you have? Some integrate better than others. I have had the best luck with equal numbers (ie 4:4 or most recently 2:2). I have had to separate bullies in the past also.

Last year I built another coop - the "retirement coop" for my original 4 y/o olds. This years pullets are in the old refurbished coop. Not the solution for everyone but it made life more pleasant

 

[Mrs. K]

I am thinking a couple of things: What is your set up like? Do you have enough space? Space is a big issue, and day by day, you are going to be losing space as the birds grow up to maturity. Often times what seems like enough space when they are little, rapidly becomes less space with full size birds, and yours are a long ways from full size.

The other reason I bring up space, is that you basically have nearly doubled the number of birds in the flock. In a contained run/coop, in a smaller set up, even one extra bird can cause stress in the flock. Right now, I am starting to feel the stress of my birds rise, as I have a broody with a bunch of chicks. As the chicks grow, they take up space, and there is a little tension growing too. I see it when they roost. I need to do some thinning next week. And I can get away with it for a while, as I free range most days, which dramatically increases their space.

Now if you have enough space, then what does the space in your run look like? Is it one big open space? That is what I see in lots of pictures, and that does not give a bird any place to get away from other birds or out of sight of other birds. Put a pallet up on blocks, so that birds can get under it or on top of it. While it looks more crowded, this actually adds square feet to your set up, and can give some shade. Put a box kitty corner or just out a bit from the fence, or lean another pallet against the wall of the coop so that smaller birds can get behind it. Put some roosts up outside in the run. Add multiple feeders and waterers to make sure all can eat.

But first I would measure, if you are short of space, you might need to let some birds go.

Mrs K

 

[CoopDeDoo]

...I Add multiple feeders and waterers to make sure all can eat.

But first I would measure, if you are short of space, you might need to let some birds go.

Mrs K

This...... I forgot add....always more than one feeder and water. And I use a tarp and pvc pipe as "lean to".

 

[M Kelley]

I have 5 silver laced wyandottes and 1 barred rock (who is the sweetest chicken) these are the 12 week olds. My 8 week olds are all different, I have an ameraucana, a golden laced wyandotte, a new hampshire red and a brahma. Unfortunately it's not possible to add another coop.

 

[M Kelley]

Mrs. K,

Thank you for the ideas, my coop is 4x6 and my run 12x12. The coop is raised up so they can go under it for shade. Also, is it normal for my 12 week old chickens to not roost at night? I keep the food in the coop to keep it from getting wet when it rains and the water is out in the run, this set up has worked great up until trying to add the younger chickens. My older chickens will go in through out the day to eat but spend the day in the run, I don't close the door to the coop at night because my run and yard is predator proof.

 

[CoopDeDoo]

Mrs. K,

Thank you for the ideas, my coop is 4x6 and my run 12x12. The coop is raised up so they can go under it for shade. Also, is it normal for my 12 week old chickens to not roost at night? I keep the food in the coop to keep it from getting wet when it rains and the water is out in the run, this set up has worked great up until trying to add the younger chickens. My older chickens will go in through out the day to eat but spend the day in the run, I don't close the door to the coop at night because my run and yard is predator proof.

I would add another feeder and water dish. You may want to try isolating your bullies to the dog crate for a day or two and see if the younger group can integrate with others. There will still be pecking order squabbles but hopefully no injuries. When you let your bullies back in - they will be the ones that have to re-establish themselves. I have isolated for up to two weeks in the past. I have personal aversion to wyandottes - all of mine have been aggressive - but they were hatchery birds and not bred for temperament. I am slowly switching my flock over to JGs and Favs (breeder birds) and I just love the temperament of these girls. I have enough drama in my work life - don't need a dramatic hobby too

Good luck to you and let us know things go!