Integrating baby chicks with older chicks

[Matilda Belle]

I have three sets of chicks all two weeks apart...two are 7 weeks, two are 5 weeks and the other are 2-3 weeks. They are all silkies. Is it safe to introduce them all at once?

 

[SueT]

Make temporary dividers first, so they can see each other thru a fence and get acquainted, then monitor reactions and play it by ear....

 

[Matilda Belle]

What is behavior to watch for? I’ve been doing some supervised visits here and there. I’ve noticed some chest bumping but that’s about it.

 

[SueT]

WEll, you may be okay then, if they aren't attacking the smaller ones. Make sure there is more than one feed station so the littles don't get pushed out.

 

[Matilda Belle]

Will something like this work? The smaller two flocks seem okay together, no pecking at all. There is conflict with the oldest so they wouldn’t have access to the smaller two flocks.

 

[SueT]

That's exactly perfect!

 

[Matilda Belle]

Great. Now I just have to try not to check on them every hour of the night. Lol

 

[centrarchid]

I add larger chicks to smaller with larger added singly to ensure they do not cause too much trouble. If all works as planned, then first moved dominant chick protects smallest as other larger chicks added.

 

[Matilda Belle]

They all made it through the night okay. This morning I removed the cage and I’m watching them. There is some pecking going on. Between the older flocks. Will that eventually stop?

 

[aart]

There is some pecking going on. Between the older flocks. Will that eventually stop?

There will always be some pecking, even in a well established flock.
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.