Integrating new Chicks to flock, Special Situation

[harmesonfarm]

We have about 6 older ladies and we've got 8 new chicks who are about 5-7 weeks old now probably (really not sure their exact ages but all but one pretty much are full feathered) 6 suspected pullets, 2 suspected roos.

Question being, we've recently discovered lice on our 6 ladies and are treating them for a cold as well...
I'm hesitant to start the integration because of the treatments we are doing, and because I don't want either to spread to the young ones. Is there a window I'm missing then here? Or if their kept penned near the free-ranging girls they shouldn't pick either up?

I understand that the earlier you can integrate the better it is on everyone, but at the same time I really don't want to put added risk to the young ones if it's really not necessary. It would be almost another 3-4 weeks before we would integrate then which would make the chicks about 8-10 weeks perhaps. I can find info on fast-tacking integration but nothing about if you take longer?

Hoping for some advice from someone with more experience in this department as these are our first chicks and integration.
The new chicks when we do bring them to integrate will go into their own little tractor before going into the coop itself (we are in the process of building a new one so we would rather them all move in at the same time...?)

Is this an OK plan? There's a part of me that is stressing out as I feel were missing an important window to get the chicks and chickens to know each other...but on the other hand safety first?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Chickens don't get "colds" - there are, though, several respiratory infections that they can contract and identifying just what you are dealing with would be key in any input as to introducing new birds into their midst as there are some which will leave any surviving birds as lifetime carriers, meaning they will infect new birds brought into their area. Have you identified the specific illness your birds have and how are you currently treating it? Keeping the little ones penned and allowing the infected birds to free range will not prevent infection on either count (the lice or RI) as the free ranging birds will be drawn to the penned birds to investigate them.

 

[harmesonfarm]

We are treating them right now with vitamin / electrolyte water called "stress aid".
Just starting day 4 of the treatment, going to 6 days, then if no improvement going to start them on antibiotics.
This is the method that was suggested for treatment of the "cold".

The symptoms are a little sneezing, coughing and head shaking after eating mostly, though it can happen otherwise as well. Wheezy sounding in general, we thought perhaps it was from too much dust in the coop as they appear better through the day. One hen though is the worst, and also had the most lice, i ended up taking a video of her breathing on the roost because it was so odd...she kept lifting her head up and down as she breathed.
They all have great appetites still, are very active (since lice were dealt with even more so), and no other symptoms appearing other than some watery poop i noticed today, I was going to look around and see if it was normal as i have pictures to compare to.

This is day 6 since we last treated for lice and there is still no evidence of them being back (we will treat again in the 2 week period after last treatment to get any hatched eggs).
They are dust bathing happily and regularly again, which is also a good sign.