Integrating chicks

[Klsullivan99]

hi- we moved the three five week old chicks out to the coop/run with the big chicks that are about 4 weeks older than them. The older ones won’t let the babies near the food and water. I added another food/water source and they still are territorially.

The baby chicks basically hang out in the coop while the big ones are in the run. Will they work this out?

 

[Klsullivan99]

hi- we moved the three five week old chicks out to the coop/run with the big chicks that are about 4 weeks older than them. The older ones won’t let the babies near the food and water. I added another food/water source and they still are territorially.

The baby chicks basically hang out in the coop while the big ones are in the run. Will they work this out?

There are 3 older ones. Pictures might help.. I did let the big ones out to free range a lot this weekend but I have to go to work today and we have hawks so they are back in the run.

 

[llombardo]

I am still integrating since June. It's probably the longest integration in chicken history.

I have 4 feeders in different areas, 4 waterers in different areas, a few hiding spots on the ground, a few branches so they can go high.

I am seeing them mingle a little bit now but the two older girls still will peck and chase. They are almost ready to start laying(younger ones) so the boy is starting to mate with them. I now see the older girls trying to peck the younger ones during mating.

They need to be getting along by the time the snow comes because I need them to be safe and be able to move around.

 

[Pork Pie]

Check out these links
Aart integration text
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

Flock integration
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/topic-of-the-week-adding-new-chickens-to-the-flock.1164542/
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1098683/introducing-new-chickens-to-old-flock#post_16895615

 

[Klsullivan99]

I am still integrating since June. It's probably the longest integration in chicken history.

I have 4 feeders in different areas, 4 waterers in different areas, a few hiding spots on the ground, a few branches so they can go high.

I am seeing them mingle a little bit now but the two older girls still will peck and chase. They are almost ready to start laying(younger ones) so the boy is starting to mate with them. I now see the older girls trying to peck the younger ones during mating.

They need to be getting along by the time the snow comes because I need them to be safe and be able to move around.

I’m concerned the big chicks won’t let the babies eat at all unless I separate them. When I added the second feeder they divided up and seemed to be territorial. The babies just watched from the coop. Trying to let nature take its course and them establish an order...the older ones should accept them eventually right?

 

[aart]

rying to let nature take its course and them establish an order...the older ones should accept them eventually right?

Eventually, yes, but it could take weeks.
You may need to set up more feeders and waterers...and set up some 'line of sight' blocks and places the youngers can get up and away from older birds.
You may just want to keep youngers in coop with feed/water, and olders out of coop for the day...at least until you can set up some barriers/distractions.

 

[llombardo]

I’m concerned the big chicks won’t let the babies eat at all unless I separate them. When I added the second feeder they divided up and seemed to be territorial. The babies just watched from the coop. Trying to let nature take its course and them establish an order...the older ones should accept them eventually right?

The feeders have to be spread out. I have two on the right side of coop, 1 in the coop and one up high on an activity center

The babies need to learn the layout and any himding spots you provide. So I would set all that up--block small areas where they can get stuck. Let the babies have the run during the day for a few days with the older ones locked in coop. That way the babies can learn the area.

 

[bajabirdbrain]

We put a cage within the run with a small door only allowing the small chicks to enter. They have their own water and food and after a couple of days they have the ability to leave their "panic room" at their choice.

The big girls have pretty much left the kids alone and the little ones are fearless in trying to get their share of seeds, mealworms, etc from the big girls. Our challenge is to get the kids to leave their Mama Heating Pad and their "panic room" and walk up the ramp into the coop with the others.

Another challenge is the kids are eating different food than the big girls. Not sure how we are going to address this.

 

[Klsullivan99]

Thanks! I will add another feed/water perhaps in the coop until they adjust.