Integrating

[Kerrychickmom]

Hello I am new to raising chickens and would love some advice on a issue I am having . Let me start at the beginning I was just getting six chickens well that 6 turned into 11 and was suppose to be 12 but they only had 1 easteregger left and I wanted 2 and the following week they were getting more in . Well when u went the next week to get my other Easter egged it was so small my other one grew so fast well anyway I couldn’t put with the bigger one which are about 2 weeks older roughly they said so I got 2 more baby’s so I could put 3 together ! So now I have 14 !! Well now they are bigger and I am trying to entergrate then into the flock! I have a section just for then within the run !and bring them in brooder at night ! Well when I am out there I let them with the other chickens and watch . Little peaking goes on but most of them leave them alone except 1 of my australorp (Abigail )she just keeps going after them and they steack from her peak but no blood . Not sure what to do ? Sorry for the long post

 

[kwhites634]

Hello I am new to raising chickens and would love some advice on a issue I am having . Let me start at the beginning I was just getting six chickens well that 6 turned into 11 and was suppose to be 12 but they only had 1 easteregger left and I wanted 2 and the following week they were getting more in . Well when u went the next week to get my other Easter egged it was so small my other one grew so fast well anyway I couldn’t put with the bigger one which are about 2 weeks older roughly they said so I got 2 more baby’s so I could put 3 together ! So now I have 14 !! Well now they are bigger and I am trying to entergrate then into the flock! I have a section just for then within the run !and bring them in brooder at night ! Well when I am out there I let them with the other chickens and watch . Little peaking goes on but most of them leave them alone except 1 of my australorp (Abigail )she just keeps going after them and they steack from her peak but no blood . Not sure what to do ? Sorry for the long post

Some may disagree, but if it were me I'd separate Abigail. The other would probably sort things out. I'd probably set up an area where the smaller ones can get away from the larger ones if they need to. By the time you reintegrate Abigail she won't be so high in the pecking order & will hopefully be too busy defending herself to be pestering the young ones.

 

[Cryss]

Don't try to integrate them immediately. Let them get to know each other by putting the chicks in the run with wire separating them from the adults but fully visible and with their own coop. I use a big dog cage and a couple tarps. Don't turn them loose with the adults for a couple weeks. Keep in mind when deciding if the chicks are ready that it is not age but size that matters. After 2-3 weeks wait till everyone is sound asleep. A red light is helpful so you don't wake them. (many headlamps have them). Put the chicks in the roost with the adults. In the morning they are sleepy and just kind of accepting. Once you let them all out in the morning you can hang out for a while to make sure there's no bullying. If that happens put them back on the other side of the wire for another week or 2.
Good luck!

 

[Kerrychickmom]

Don't try to integrate them immediately. Let them get to know each other by putting the chicks in the run with wire separating them from the adults but fully visible and with their own coop. I use a big dog cage and a couple tarps. Don't turn them loose with the adults for a couple weeks. Keep in mind when deciding if the chicks are ready that it is not age but size that matters. After 2-3 weeks wait till everyone is sound asleep. A red light is helpful so you don't wake them. (many headlamps have them). Put the chicks in the roost with the adults. In the morning they are sleepy and just kind of accepting. Once you let them all out in the morning you can hang out for a while to make sure there's no bullying. If that happens put them back on the other side of the wire for another week or 2.
Good luck!

Thank you for your reply and suggestion they are separate in the same pen I was just letting them mingle now it’s been a 1 and a half week like that ! My other 11 hens are not adult birds they are about 2-3 weeks ahead of the others .

 

[lazy gardener]

Kerry, what are the ages of the birds? I think you are on the right track, by integrating them now. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be. @kwhites634 is spot on with his advice. Take Abbigail away from the group.

You can help the integration process by being sure they have plenty to do: Give them some perches. Give them a couple bales of hay to run around, and climb over. I like to make a hay bale pyramid/tunnel by placing 2 bales on the ground, covering with some plywood or scrap lumber, and then laying a 3rd bale across the top to span the created tunnel. If they have removed the vegetation, turn your run into a deep litter run by adding: spent coop litter, hay, grass clippings, leaves, garden debris. My goal is to make a 6" deep layer of composting litter. Many behavior and health benefits to be had from deep litter.

What are the exact dimensions of your coop and run. Back yard MINIMUM recommendation is 4 s.f. in coop and 10 s.f. in run per bird. While you're at it, you might want to assess your perch space: 1 l.f./bird. And your ventilation: 1 s.f./bird or 10% of floor space, which ever is greater. Less than the minimum space allotment can result in increased aggression, feather picking, blood shed and even cannibalism. Once any of these behaviors start, they are very difficult to stop.

 

[chickens really]

It's doesn't sound to bad and Chickens understand Chickens and pecking order. Unless blood is shed do not interfere in the process.

 

[Kerrychickmom]

Kerry, what are the ages of the birds? I think you are on the right track, by integrating them now. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be. @kwhites634 is spot on with his advice. Take Abbigail away from the group.

You can help the integration process by being sure they have plenty to do: Give them some perches. Give them a couple bales of hay to run around, and climb over. I like to make a hay bale pyramid/tunnel by placing 2 bales on the ground, covering with some plywood or scrap lumber, and then laying a 3rd bale across the top to span the created tunnel. If they have removed the vegetation, turn your run into a deep litter run by adding: spent coop litter, hay, grass clippings, leaves, garden debris. My goal is to make a 6" deep layer of composting litter. Many behavior and health benefits to be had from deep litter.

What are the exact dimensions of your coop and run. Back yard MINIMUM recommendation is 4 s.f. in coop and 10 s.f. in run per bird. While you're at it, you might want to assess your perch space: 1 l.f./bird. And your ventilation: 1 s.f./bird or 10% of floor space, which ever is greater. Less than the minimum space allotment can result in increased aggression, feather picking, blood shed and even cannibalism. Once any of these behaviors start, they are very difficult to stop.

lazy Gardener , Thank you my first 11 are about 8-9 weeks old and the 3 are about 1-2 weeks behind !

 

[Kerrychickmom]

It's doesn't sound to bad and Chickens understand Chickens and pecking order. Unless blood is shed do not interfere in the process.

Flock master ! Thank you I am only letting them together when I am watching them for now just in case it gets out of control just not sure how far to let the peaking go ? Like not sure what is the normal peaking

 

[Kerrychickmom]

Some may disagree, but if it were me I'd separate Abigail. The other would probably sort things out. I'd probably set up an area where the smaller ones can get away from the larger ones if they need to. By the time you reintegrate Abigail she won't be so high in the pecking order & will hopefully be too busy defending herself to be pestering the young ones.

Thank you Kwhites 634, I may have to do that if she keeps it up

 

[Kerrychickmom]

It's doesn't sound to bad and Chickens understand Chickens and pecking order. Unless blood is shed do not interfere in the process.

Chickens really ! Thank you for you response ! I am really happy I joined