Integrating new chicks..

[Ash6867]

I have eight barred rock females that are already in the coop. They are 7 weeks old. I had wanted 2 to 4 more but didn't have room in the brooder at the time. I just bought 3 Rhode Island Reds and 3 Spotted Sussex, they are 3 weeks old. They are in the brooder. I'm concerned because by Barred Rocks seem a little aggressive to me. They are quite feisty and the Sussex are bigger that the RIRs right now. These new ones have totally different personalities. I'm concerned that even I do all the suggested things to integrate them, they will still bully them or kill them. I plan on letting them get bigger of course. Has anyone mixed these breeds with this slight age difference and when do you do it?

 

[BDutch]

Good to ask here!

I have no experience with Barred rock. Sussex and RIR (bantams) are friendly chicks and I believe its great that you are careful if you see they behave friendlier than your Barred rock.

I’m no expert, only once I tried to mix 6 weeks old with 12 week old chicks of the same breed. I made a hiding place place with a cardboatd box. I made openings at 2 sides where onle the little ones fitted through. There was water and chick feed in the box, But the bigger girls weren’t nice for them and I didn’t feel great about it the first week. After the first week integration improved and after two weeks the problems were over. Might be harder with the barred rock though.

I found a similar thread for you that might be helpful to read: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/integrating-salmon-faverolles-and-barred-rocks-🤔.1494858/

@rosemarythyme knows more about integration. Maybe she can help?

 

[aart]

Has anyone mixed these breeds with this slight age difference and when do you do it?

It really has doesn't have much to do with breeds, more about territory and resources.
Lots of space and multiple feed/water stations will help.

Here's 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/

 

[rosemarythyme]

@rosemarythyme knows more about integration. Maybe she can help?

aart's tips above covers the basics. I've never had to integrate younger pullets with older pullets, as it's a different interaction than young chicks integrating with hens.

Given that they're 4 weeks apart, my guess is if they get penned in a safe space in the older birds' enclosure for 1-2 weeks see but no touch, you might be able to just release them to join the older group at the end of that period and have them be accepted, though it'd be best to supervise that initial meeting.

 

[Mrs. K]

I put them in right away. I use the safety zone, a place where the chicks can escape to, and eat in there. For the safety zone to work, the chicks are not trapped in the safety zone, they can go out into the run when they want, but if thing get too much, then they just escape back to the safety zone.