Integrating new chicks

[grandi]

My 8 wk chicks are now outside in smaller coop in chicken run that 8 older hens have access to
when is it safe to let them all be together?

 

[DobieLover]

My 8 wk chicks are now outside in smaller coop in chicken run that 8 older hens have access to
when is it safe to let them all be together?

Can you please post pictures of your entire setup? The run, the permanent coop (inside and out) and state the total area?
The key to successful integration is a LOT of space. Not just 10 sq ft per bird which is completely substandard for integration, but a LOT of space.

 

[rosemarythyme]

x2 above, and add clutter to the mix.

Initial introduction (see but don't touch) can last a week or two, you kind of have to go by how the chickens are acting on each side of the fence, before you allow them access to one another.

 

[aart]

Some tips about......

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/

 

[Ridgerunner]

You are dealing with living animals, it is never totally safe no matter what you do. You always need to observe and see how it goes. Many of us do this type of thing all the time, usually without issues. I'll admit my observation time is pretty limited, my experience with the way I do it has shown it to just not be an issue. Until you get that experience please observe. Go by what you see, not what some stranger like me over the internet tells you will maybe happen. We are all different.

If you can do a least some of the things that Aart mentions your odds of success go way up. House them across wire so they get to know each other, multiple feed and water stations, hiding spaces, and especially usable space. Even when I am pretty crowed mine have over 50 square feet per bird outside and weather year around where they can be outside all day every day. All the room in the world doesn't do you any good if they can't get to it.

The way I understand it you have an unknown number of 8-week-old chicks (not eight 1-week-olds) in a shelter or coop in the run. Can they see each other? If not , I'd section off a piece of that run with wire so they can. Then after at least one week across wire I'd let them go and see what happens.

I'd avoid as much as you can trying to force them to be together. Let them mingle at their own pace. If the chicks want to return to that shelter to sleep instead of going to the main coop, excellent. I don't try to move mine into the main coop until they have roamed together for a month or so, at least for the ones that live in my outside shelter. For the ones that I raise in my brooder in the main coop from hatch I let them out at 5 weeks of age.

I don't know what your main coop looks like, that could be an issue. It's not just size though "big" helps. It's also about how it is laid out with clutter and roost space. The two times I consider mine to be mostly at risk are at night when they are going to bed and when they wake up locked in the coop without access to all that wonderful room outside.

We do this all the time. Knowing what your facilities look like and a bit on your management techniques (free range? when do you let them out?) we might be able to offer specific suggestions that we think will help you in your unique situation.

 

[Mrs. K]

Let them decide. Open up your safety zone, so that the chicks can go in an out with ease, but the bigger girls can't follow them. Keep an eye on them, do not interfere unless one is trapped. If so, just put them back in the safety zone, but don't lock it.

Mine are a week old, and mixing with the big girls just fine.

Mrs K