Integrating new chicks

[norbru]

We have 2 Roo's & 4 hens at 13 weeks old. We waited until we were for sure that the Roo's were in fact Roo's, which we are almost sure they are, we want to keep them both! They get along very well (for now) ..So we purchased 7 more pullets at 8 week old to even the ratio between them. They are 3-4 weeks apart in age . Suggestions on how to put them together, we free range the original 6 when we are home ??

 

[uzisuzuki]

What I've been told/read here is that if they're age/size difference is fairly decent, you'll have to keep them separated until they get to about the same size. What has been suggested to me and what I'm doing with mine right now is to have the year-olds and their 3 month-old offspring in the same pen but separated (so, the babies are cornered off in a pen within the pen). The idea is to get them used to each other in a way that they can't bully each other. When the adult flock free ranges, I let their offspring free range with them.

I haven't been told how long you should keep them separated like this because I think it's different for every flock? I'm not sure. It's kind of a test things out as I go along deal with me. The chicks I have that are a month younger than the 3 month-olds are still separated from everyone as they are much smaller and get immediately singled out for bullying.

They will peck at each other when they do integrate, that's totally normal. They have to create a new flock dynamic and establish their pecking order. You'll be able to tell the difference between pecking order stuff and one chicken is going to kill the other (or at least I have so far, I may be lucking out here).

 

[norbru]

Thank you very much.