Integrating chicks and rooster

[ryansmom06]

Hi I am having an issue integrating my 6 hens and 1 rooster with my older flock. The littles are 14 weeks. The older ones range from 4 years to 7 months. They all free range fine no real problems. I put them together at night but when I check on them in the morning the littles will not go out in the run. They stay in the coop where there is no food or water. Do I just leave them and let them adjust? I don’t want them to get dehydrated. Help.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

What does your setup look like? Pictures would help. How many older and how many younger? Do you have an area you can temporarily section off so they can see each other but not touch each other. Multiple feed and water stations are a must, it's all about resources

 

[littlechickenmama17]

I agree with @Auntiejessi3
You may or may not be able to do this, but when i'm integrating young chicks with my older flock, I put them in a cage or separate run where the hens/roosters can SEE the arrivals but can't do anything to them. It keeps the chicks safe but can become familiar with the older chickens. Once it seems that the older flock doesn't pay aggressive or additional attention to the chicks, THEN put them on the roost bar at night with the flock. There is thought behind this, that if they woke up with the new arrivals, they are more likely to fully accept them. This is just what works with my flock, hope this helps!

 

[ryansmom06]

What does your setup look like? Pictures would help. How many older and how many younger? Do you have an area you can temporarily section off so they can see each other but not touch each other. Multiple feed and water stations are a must, it's all about resources

 

[ryansmom06]

They have been caged in with them for a few weeks. Free range together. 200 square feet. 10 older and 7 littles

 

[Auntiejessi3]

They have been caged in with them for a few weeks. Free range together. 200 square feet. 10 older and 7 littles

If there has been no blood shed, I'd just add another waterer and feeder and leave everyone be. My batch of 4 littles, back in March, I nicknamed the coop mongers because they wouldn't get out of the coop. At 9 weeks I believe I locked them out of the coop after the ladies laid and after that they came and went like normal, but still slept on the coop floor for another week or so. There is no rushing integration, it takes as long as it takes, and they will be two separate flocks until your new birds start laying, then they will fully integrate

 

[Mrs. K]

Go watch them. I am betting that there is one or two mean old biddy's and the others might just follow their lead. Put the mean ones where you have the chicks now. Let the chicks be with the more mellow older birds for a good week or two.

As for adding another feed bowl, that is important. BUT it is REALLY important to set it up behind a mini wall of cardboard or plywood, so that a bird eating at it cannot see the bird eating at any other station. Cardboard, plywood, pallets, totes...anything that can set up a way for birds to step behind. Straw bales work well too. If you set them up in the middle, you can feed on both sides.

Mrs K

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm currently under Avian Flu lockdown, but I've noticed that when integrating in my huge coop (16'x16'), the youngsters who are released from their integration pen at 5-6 weeks often don't leave the main coop for another month. No bullying going on, just an apparently disinclination to face the wide unknown.

I have multiple feed and water stations in the coop as well as the run.

 

[ryansmom06]

Another question why would the rooster all of the sudden peck feathers from his chicks. Like just to be mean!!?