Integrating chickens and chicks

[Mel281]

I have 3 chickens that are a little over 1 year old. This May, we got new chicks. One of them got into the pen with the big ones and someone killed it. I'm guessing it was my GL Wyandotte. She is definitely the most aggressive toward them.

The two groups of birds have been living outdoors in neighboring pens for about a month, and still the big ones chase the fence line trying to get at the little ones, especially that GL Wyandottle.

Any tips on getting them to get along or do I just have to wait until the new ones are big enough to defend themselves?
Thanks!


Additional info:
I also have a 3.5 year old BO that tolerates them ok, if she could aid somehow in the integration.

The new ones are- 7 weeks old (one brown leghorn hatchery mistake)
-9 weeks old (four easter eggers, the smallest of the bunch. Hatchery hatched, then farm raised, brought home by me 2 weeks ago)
-10 weeks old (2 Welsummers)

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

treat them with scratch along the fence line to get them used to eating together is one thing have read that sticks to my mind. @aart has some good suggestions regarding integration...

Gary

 

[henless]

There are several different way to integrate chickens. One way is to do like your doing. Keep the new ones in a separate pen next to the older flock. Let them see each other and get to used to each other. Once the younger chicks are as big as the older flock, then you can start the process.

After raising the chicks next to the older flock, I put mine in with the old flock at night. I put the new ones up on the roost with the older hens. Next morning, everyone gets along pretty good. There will still be some pecking & chasing going on. Be sure have have objects scattered around the coop/run. This will give the chicks something to hide behind.

Another way is to have some openings cut between the two pens that are large enough for the chicks, but too small for the adults to get through. This allows the chicks to wander into the older flock, but still gives them an escape route when things get rough. I've never done it this way, but several people here on byc have.

 

[Leighe]

Unless the chicks are being raised by hens, I keep my chicks in separate quarters until 6 months....I also usually have a minimum of 7 chicks together so there is a "gang". My chicks stay in separate quarters in the big chicken pen and I let them out for a little bit after the big ones have come in. There's definitely a pecking order. At 6 months old they will already have been going out with the big ones, for about a month, but staying in their own coop at night. Then I lock them out of their coop. I have to go in and put them on the roosts for 1-3 nights and then we are usually fine. I put mine on lower rungs but no biggie. They've been able to run through big pen for a coupla months so they know places to hide but usually by then I don't have any problems.

 

[aart]

It's too late for you now but,
I've found integrating chicks when very young is the best way to go.
It took some effort to get it set up right,
and I have lots of space which also helps with any integration.

Knowing how much space you have and what your set up looks like,
sizes of coops/runs in feet by feet and pics,
would garner more specific suggestions to help you now.

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.

 

[aart]

Forgot to add, and didn't want to clutter previous post with an edit:

The GLW, might need to isolate her for a week or two or three to take her down off her 'mad' while the others integrate, then add her back later once things have settled down with the others.

Might also consider getting rid of her if she doesn't shape up,
no need to have a trouble maker in the flock wreaking havoc on everyone's mellow.
I've had a couple GLW mixes that were both mean as all get out,
I was glad the day they left the flock, so was everyone else.

 

[Mel281]

Thank you! I can try to post pictures of their roaming space later today. It's not as big as I would like it to be, but we have hawks around so I'm limited to what I can safely fence off and cover with a hawk net.