Integrating baby chicks...

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

How long to integrate new chicks to an existing flock of older birds? I will be putting the now 4 week old BR's outside into the brooder inside the coop within the next two weeks. I'm curious as to how long is the average adjustment / getting to know you phase. Understanding how long this will take will impact how large the brooder should be to accommodate growth.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

When mine turned 5 weeks I put them into the cage in a separate enclosure so they can see each other, I opened the door last week for a day and let them live together for a couple hours, but then put them back into the separate cage for night, I am always worried, but now they are sevenweeks and though they get chased a lot, that extra week helped and they are integrated!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

That sounds pretty quick. Thank you. I have one hen who is aggressive with me and I'm concerned with how she will interact with the little ones. Also, while they are still confined to their separate brooder cage I will be working on expanding the run by another 32 square feet so there will be much more area for them to run.

 

[Ridgerunner]

There is no telling. A lot depends on the individual personality of your chickens,
how much room you have, the quality of that room, and when that room is available. A couple of weeks may be plenty, you may need to use that area as a safe haven/panic room for a while.

Make it bigger than the absolute minimum. You may have more chicks the next time you do this even if it's bigger than you need this time.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

There is no telling. A lot depends on the individual personality of your chickens,
how much room you have, the quality of that room, and when that room is available. A couple of weeks may be plenty, you may need to use that area as a safe haven/panic room for a while.

Make it bigger than the absolute minimum. You may have more chicks the next time you do this even if it's bigger than you need this time.

That's what I was thinking in case it takes longer. I've noticed that chickens (and quite frankly most animals) get a little cranky when they don't have enough space. Thank you.

 

[aart]

Understanding how long this will take will impact how large the brooder should be to accommodate growth.

Don't skimp on space.
Here's how I integrate:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

 

[Rlmp817]

I second aarts integration technique. I have 5 chicks (1-3 weeks old) in a wire cage brooder in my coop, the little ones scoot in and out of the wire cage and the larger girls mostly ignore them. The 3 week old ones go on exploratory missions and then duck and run for cover, lol. They are so funny to watch, but it has helped tremendous brooding them in the run as soon as possible. They are already part of the flock with no real issues.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

Here's how I integrate:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

LOVE your chicken corral!!!! I usually chase them into a corner so that is genius

 

[aart]

LOVE your chicken corral!!!! I usually chase them into a corner so that is genius

Thanks, I'm too creaky to chase chickens so it was a necessity.
Last batch I only needed it one night.