Integrating New Chicks

[Southern Ground]

Hi everyone! Enjoying reading the posts so far; lots of great info on here. We picked up 5 pullets last week from the local Feed Store with the intention of having egg laying hens and only found out afterward that they are Cornish Cross chicks. We've fully researched the "Breed" and intend to make the best of them with controlled diet and exercise. They are about 1.5 to 2 weeks now and are thriving. The kids love watching them in the yard and they are beginning to flutter about.

Today we were offered some RIR pullets and would like to add those to the flock as well to get a good cross section of both meat and egg birds and to not end up chickenless if our CC go south over the summer.

The RIR pullets are approx. the same age as the CC-can anyone offer specific advice on integrating the new chicks with minimal disturbance to the force?

Cheers,

SG

 

[DragonRider]

You can actually integrate them that young straightaway with little or no effect on either breed. We integrated our three very small and young Cornish Rock babies with our five maturing bantams by putting the youngsters in a cage inside the coop so they could all see each other. After a few weeks, since the bantams were so much older and had already established their pecking order, we were able to let the Cornish hens in the coop and they are all getting along nicely now.

Yours are too young to have already established their pecking order, so they should integrate rather well I would think?

Anyone else, am I wrong here..?

*I just got three new Buff Leghorns this afternoon, so i will have to do the integration process again soon when the chicks are old enough to go out in the coop. They are only 3 weeks right now and have not feathered out yet. (They are cute as a button though, sure do love having babies around again!

 

[Southern Ground]

Thanks for the reply DragonRider. That's pretty much what I was thinking also, but it's nice to have someone confirm it. Anyone else care to chime in?

Cheers,

SG

 

[kemclaughlin]

I pulled out all of the established chicks and put them in a separate container. Then I put the new chicks in the brooder and let them hang out for a few minutes. Then I pick up the established chicks, one at a time, smallest to largest and after checking them over, I put them back in. It seems to work very well, with little or no disruption or issues with bullying.

 

[DragonRider]

Sure thing, glad we were able to help. I guess as long as they are used to seeing each other for a moment before you actually allow them to "invade each others space", so to speak, it seems that even if there is a little pecking and bullying for a little while when you integrate them, it does no real damage and helps them to establish their "Pecking order"..? I hate to throw that term around so much, but it actually does apply here! LOL!