Integrating new chicks - better with younger or older established birds?

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello friends!

I have 3 4 week old chicks that I will be integrating into my existing flocks in a few weeks and I'm trying to plan on the best way to do this. I have a flock of birds that are over a year old and I have a flock of bantam birds that are 3 months old. Which flock should I try to add the newest chicks to? I'm not sure what is the better idea. Plus, I'm not 100% sure that one of the 3 month old bantams is a roo or not. Would that matter at that age? Any advice or suggestions you could make would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

If the bantams and the 4 week olds are close to size, I'd suggest putting them together. As far as putting them in with the one year olds, I'd wait until the 4 week olds are more like three months old or so. If you put them in the adults now, depending on the adults, it can be very bad.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

I think that the 4 week old chicks will be close in size to my bantams in a few weeks. I was leaning that way with the integration because the bantams are pretty chill and they were just let out not too long ago. I'll go slow and take my time, but I feel that the adults are just too set in their ways and bossy to do any real integration without some serious intervention and it would be a very long process. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[aart]

It's more about size of space than size of birds.

I like to integrate chicks at about 4-6 weeks, after brooding them in the coop with a special temporary setup:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/


Then there are the......
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.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[3KillerBs]

I like to integrate chicks at about 4-6 weeks, after brooding them in the coop with a special temporary setup:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

I was about to recommend that article.

I have great success with integration at this age, though I think it helps that I'm frequently hatching/buying new chicks so that my birds are accusstomed to it.

It also helps that Australorps are, in general, laid-back, easygoing birds, that I have a huge space with lots of clutter, and that I have roosters, who are good chick caretakers.

A cluttered run​

 

[aart]

though I think it helps that I'm frequently hatching/buying new chicks so that my birds are accusstomed to it.

Yes, it does. You also have lots of space in your setup.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

Thanks everyone. I've successfully integrated chicks before. I just never had the option of choosing which flock (adult vs. 3 month olds). Plus, the younger ones are bantams, which is also new for me. My one biggest concern at this point is that I'm pretty sure one of the 3 month old bantams is a rooster. Would it still be okay to integrate the chicks into that flock if that is the case?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Thanks everyone. I've successfully integrated chicks before. I just never had the option of choosing which flock (adult vs. 3 month olds). Plus, the younger ones are bantams, which is also new for me. My one biggest concern at this point is that I'm pretty sure one of the 3 month old bantams is a rooster. Would it still be okay to integrate the chicks into that flock if that is the case?

As long as he's not mounting them, they should be fine. I would expect him to start mounting anywhere between 4-5months old, depending on his breed. If he starts mounting them when they're too young, he can cause some stunted growth problems in them.

 

[3KillerBs]

My one biggest concern at this point is that I'm pretty sure one of the 3 month old bantams is a rooster. Would it still be okay to integrate the chicks into that flock if that is the case?

Depends on the cockerel. There could be aggression, but a really excellent one may even take them under his wing and protect them.

I had a 4-month-old Black Langshan "babysitting" a batch of 4-week chicks once. He sat next to the integration pen interacting with them for a week and then took on the role of big brother and escort once they were loose in the coop.