I have my chicks and ducklings outside now that they're 6 wks old. We built a new coop for our 4 hens and moved the new birds into their old coop. We used this set up because it seemed the safest route. This way they all can see each other and get used to each other. But the question is how long do I keep the newbies locked up and away from the older gals? I'm assuming around 4 mos or so that way they'll be bigger and able to defend themselves if need be. Any feedback and suggestions are appreciated
Hello. Good idea you have there. I wouldn't go for 4 months, however I would keep a watch on how big they grow. I suggest after 2 months let them interact with the other birds. I hate to say, but they will fight: there's really no preventative for that unless you want to keep them locked away forever or work out an advanced method of doing it. Either way you can't go wrong, and it looks like you got most of it under control. (Love the coop, too!) Good luck!
Thanks Silky okay. I'll let them have a playdate here in a few wks. But I'm still legit nervous. Lol like a protective mama!
Don't worry. I'd actually wait maybe a month before letting them have a playdate. I don't blame you being nervous. I was too when I first got my chickens. But not to worry, chickens fight for a reason, to gain dominance. Good luck. You got it from here.
We got our first chicks (5ea) a couple of years ago and then bought more (6ea) about 8 months later and had one heck of a time introducing the new chicks to the chickens once they got about 6 weeks old. I think it took a good month and a half of short play dates to get them to a point where the older ones were not aggressive around them. We just bought more chicks (6ea) a little over a month ago and they are now just over 6 weeks old and they have been introduced to the chickens with no issues. We let the older chickens free range at times when we are home, yesterday we let the chicks out into the yard as well and they interacted with each other with no issues at all. A few other times they were put in the same coop with the door open to the run and the regular coop door open for escape routes and neither were not needed. I would say open the newbie's door and let them interact with each other just stay close in case there is more pecking/ fighting that they can handle.
I raised my chicks in my coop brooder, with my 10 one year old chickens. At 4 weeks I opened the brooder and made a panic door for it, so they could get away from the big girls if needed. I also have boards leaned up against the coop and run walls for them to get away, if needed. So far they have been getting along very well, with only a peck here and there, nothing aggressive. I would open the door for your chicks to start interacting with your bigger girls now. Make a small opening for the chicks to get back into their own space, to get away. Also provide the chicks with their own food and water in their coop still, so they aren't competing with the big girls. After 3 days, I started leaving the brooder wire door open 24/7 so the chicks can interact whenever they want to,(which is most of the day) but the cardboard is still in place so they have their own food and water. Just to ease your mind a little, chicks are less of a threat to your big girls vs introducing older chickens. Give it a try and see what happens.
Blackdog043- I would do the exact same thing if my coop was bigger. I like the idea of keeping them together even if there is a barrier.