Integrating younger chicks into the hen house

[flockmomma]

I have 23-26 week old pullets/guineas/1roo in our coop. The babies, about 11-12 weeks old now, are in a separate, but close by, pen. All of them free range, btw, so they are all around each other already. They have just been going to different nighttime accommodations. The adults are RSLs, BOs, BAs, and EEs (the Roo is an EE). The babies are varied breeds and there are two blue slate turkeys.

My one Roo is not acting rooish yet. No mounting, crowing, and is very laid back. Just info I figured might be good to know. He doesn't seem to have any aggressive behaviors at this point in time.

Should I consider integrating them now, or wait a bit? Our first frost shouldn't be until some time in October, and it would be better for them to be in the chicken house by then (their current housing is a three sided structure with a fence).

 

[Den in Penn]

I wouldn't worry about a little frost as a deadline, young chickens can easily handle that. At the begining of October they will be nearing the point of lay or maturity. Whether they start then who knows? Closer to that point is better. Anyhu since they have already be mixing during the day you could put them together anytime. I mentioned them reaching the POL that really is more of a deadline then the frost, as you'll want them to start to use the nest boxes in the coop, I'm sure. My last years pullets I left in the grow out tractor past the point of lay. Most of them used the nest boxes in the coop, but a couple used a corner in the tractor, till I moved them one night and removed the tractor from thier area. Long way of saying it's when you want to now.

 

[Triplell]

My main flock consists of many different ages. My nubee's are approximately 13 weeks old and there is 18 of them. I want to integrate them with the 39 others. I let my main group free range all day long while the young ones are in a coop right next to them. They are able to see each other. I have an old fashion dairy barn that is my chicken barn with a ton of room. The main coop is 11.5x23 , I know that there is plenty of room. I want to let the pullets free range soon and can only be done when integrated with the others.
Please help.

 

[Den in Penn]

Triplell, space is often the way to make integrations work better. Free ranging in one way to allow the the most space. Since they have seen each other for awhile how letting them range is the next step. The only problem may be if you only have one door into the coop.

 

[flockmomma]

The only chicks I am worried about at all are the three dopey polish chicks. They have had feathers removed before from their heads by the other chicks. The rest have had no more issues than the occasional pullet chasing them off some food she wanted. And that seems to have stopped.

 

[houseofknauss]

My main flock consists of many different ages. My nubee's are approximately 13 weeks old and there is 18 of them. I want to integrate them with the 39 others. I let my main group free range all day long while the young ones are in a coop right next to them. They are able to see each other. I have an old fashion dairy barn that is my chicken barn with a ton of room. The main coop is 11.5x23 , I know that there is plenty of room. I want to let the pullets free range soon and can only be done when integrated with the others.
Please help.

my juniors are 7 weeks old and in the junior grow out pen. I put them in there at about 4 weeks old and left them in there for 5 days so they knew it was their new home. they get let out during the day to free range while we are home and totally enjoy it. the roo and the other hens come over and investigate them several times a day and occasionally get a peck in(which they promptly get yelled at for and go running because they know) the babies stay pretty close to their junior coop. when you are home I would let them out....by the end of October is my plan to have them integrated(fingers crossed)

 

[yogamebird]

Such great info on this website!

Our "little girls" are 14 weeks old and have been living in a dog crate within the chicken run since they were 6 weeks old. We started letting them out and into the run - and when we can, out of the run - a few weeks ago to mix with the 2 "big girls." When we do so, we remove the little girls' feed and water so it's not in the mix. They is some mild pecking and chasing but we're not seeing any particularly violent behavior.

Question: It's been a few weeks with no terrible behavior. Is it safe to NOT watch them every minute while they're mixing in the run? I assume once we introduce food into the mix we'll be needing to watch them pretty closely. The littlies are 4 weeks away from layer feed.