Integration Behaviors

[AinaWGSD]

I would think about adding more clutter when you do release the littles. It won't look as nice as it does now, but once everyone is getting along you can tidy it up.

This is what my big coop looks like at the moment as we introduced two new groups of chicks to the pullets that were already out there. The oldest pullets are 17 weeks, then there are two 7 week old cockerels, and 32 5 week old chicks. So far everyone is mingling nicely

 

[thecatumbrella]

I would think about adding more clutter when you do release the littles.

Absolutely!

It's a work in progress right now, but I have lots of junk to toss in for evading the big girls. By the way, I love your autofill cup setup in the back with the little step! Seems like a smart way to keep the bedding out.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Absolutely!

It's a work in progress right now, but I have lots of junk to toss in for evading the big girls. By the way, I love your autofill cup setup in the back with the little step! Seems like a smart way to keep the bedding out.

Yeah, I would add the junk right before releasing the littles. That way the change in scenery will throw the big girls off their game a little.

Thanks! We actually didn't think about it keeping bedding out. We just wanted to be sure the smallest chicks could reach. But it has done a great job of keeping the cups cleaner, so bonus function!

 

[thecatumbrella]

Yeah, I would add the junk right before releasing the littles. That way the change in scenery will throw the big girls off their game a little.

Speaking of throwing them off their game, here's a question for you. We really want to build a coop (we've been using Omlet prefabs for the last couple years). What if this new coop were introduced at the same time as the littles starting their overnights? Would that just be utter chaos? Or would it kind of level the playing field since everyone will need to be coop trained on the new setup?

 

[AinaWGSD]

As long as the coop is big enough, it should kind of act as an equalizer I think. That's kind of what we did. The 17 week olds we had to move out to the big coop (it's out at my uncle's farm) because the cockerels from that hatch were starting to crow and we're not allowed roosters in town. But we threw everyone else together at the same time. Initially we had the big girls fenced in the corner, but they kept getting out, and then the littlest started getting in. So we took a chance and added the clutter and took down the fencing after I think 3 days.

 

[thecatumbrella]

As long as the coop is big enough, it should kind of act as an equalizer I think. That's kind of what we did. The 17 week olds we had to move out to the big coop (it's out at my uncle's farm) because the cockerels from that hatch were starting to crow and we're not allowed roosters in town. But we threw everyone else together at the same time. Initially we had the big girls fenced in the corner, but they kept getting out, and then the littlest started getting in. So we took a chance and added the clutter and took down the fencing after I think 3 days.

Well if it worked for you, then I'm sold. Can't wait to tell my husband about our new 30 day deadline to design and build something from scratch!