Integrating chicks

[Allegra17]

I’ve had my two 9 week old chicks outside in the area where my three older hens live. They have been in a cage but able to see each other for about a week now. All has been well. I decided to open the door to their cage to see if they wanted to free range in the large gated area around the chicken coop where I let my older ladies spend the day. They came out but one of my older hens immediately ran over and started aggressively pecking and the chicks ran back into the cage. I closed the gate on the younger chicks. This is my first time integrating chicks into my flock. Is this normal? Should I let them just work it out on their own or does this mean they need more time together but separated? Any tips appreciated! I never thought of any of my 3 hens as being aggressive. They seem super sweet and gentle so this shocked me a bit!

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

People have most success with making a little safe space for the chicks that they can get into but the older hens can’t. This way, if anyone’s aggressive, the chicks can run back and the hen can’t follow them. Having lots of things in the run for them to hide under/behind also helps a lot.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You might need more than a week of see but no touch, but if you're available to supervise no reason not to continue trying to let them out.

I always expect hens to go after chicks. As long as they don't attack them to the point of injuryI let them do it - the chicks need to learn to run away. I don't know what your overall chicken area set up looks like, but since the reality is your chicks are already too old for "chick only" doors having plenty of clutter for hiding places and multiple feeders would be the way to go.

 

[Allegra17]

You might need more than a week of see but no touch, but if you're available to supervise no reason not to continue trying to let them out.

I always expect hens to go after chicks. As long as they don't attack them to the point of injuryI let them do it - the chicks need to learn to run away. I don't know what your overall chicken area set up looks like, but since the reality is your chicks are already too old for "chick only" doors having plenty of clutter for hiding places and multiple feeders would be the way to go.

Got it. How would I know when to intervene if I’m there to supervise? It seemed so scary when she went after her since I’m not used to it

 

[rosemarythyme]

Got it. How would I know when to intervene if I’m there to supervise? It seemed so scary when she went after her since I’m not used to it

Assuming the chicks have somewhere to run to (hence the clutter) what I want is for the chicks to learn to either avoid any aggressive hen or run away when she gets close - and they'll only learn that with experience. If the hen pecks them once or twice or chases them briefly that's ok. If the hen continued to pursue them and corners them and won't let up, or pecks them to the point that injury is a risk, that's NOT ok.

 

[Companihen]

I'm in the same boat here.... I have 3 copper marans hens and 1 lavender aracuna bantam. The lavender is absolutely at the top of the pecking order!
I'm trying to integrate 5 bantam chicks (1 mille fleur cockerel, 1mile fleur pullet, 2 little frizzle pullets and 1 fluffy silkie im not sure what gender is), they are 13 weeks old and have been living next door to the hens for 7 weeks.
The lavender bantam sets on the chicks as soon as she can whenever I have both free ranging in the garden. Esp the silkie, the slkie fights back and a v big fight happens which so far has only ever stopped because I have intervened... the cockerel will fight the copper maran hens and in the end one of other backs off.

I really need them in the same run and and coop as soon as possible now but not sure what to do as the fighting/pecking is not great. The frizzles are tiny compared to the hens and pretty nervy... the silkie s same size as the lavender bantam now. But otherwise the chicks are a lot smaller than the copper marans still.

 

[Ahrandol86]

Got it. How would I know when to intervene if I’m there to supervise? It seemed so scary when she went after her since I’m not used to it

I use a spray bottle with water.