Integration day 2 (15 week pullet and 6 week chicks)

[city_girl_farming]

So far we are only keeping them together in the chicken yard during the day. Seems like it’s going a little better than day 1 when she was relentlessly chasing them. I still catch her chasing and pulling their feathers a bit if they are in an area I think she feels territorial over.. but they are all eating fine and grazing their boxes fine… seems like she mostly likes to stay away from them. she’s either out in the yard alone and they’r all inside the small run in the coop (pictured) (it’s left open) or vice versa…

at night she’s sleeping in the coop by herself and the chicks are still in a brooder.. we are still working on the permanent coop but should be done this weekend. Question for next steps, do I let her sleep in the new coop by herself or put them all together when it’s this weekend ? When are they ready to all sleep together? Lol

 

[sourland]

I'd introduce all to the new coop at the same time. That way she will not regard it as 'hers'.

 

[redinator]

I'd introduce all to the new coop at the same time. That way she will not regard it as 'hers'.

I'd also move them in at night so they wake up in there in the morning together. It maybe a 'bonding' experience since it's new to all of them and they'll all be a bit confused.

 

[city_girl_farming]

Should I do it already even though she’s still chasing and pecking somewhat?

 

[redinator]

Should I do it already even though she’s still chasing and pecking somewhat?

Here's a post I made a few weeks ago when I was integrating. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/integration-phase-one-complete-whats-next.1661723/

My set up a bit different, but it was my first time too and I got a lot of good advice on the next steps.

 

[redinator]

Should I do it already even though she’s still chasing and pecking somewhat?

When I integrated I assumed the roll of the mother hen for both sets of chicks, correcting the older chicks if they got too aggressive and protecting the younger ones by blocking the older chicks if they pursued the younger ones. It only took a few days (15-20 minute sessions of supervised interaction per day) for the older chicks to learn acceptable behavior.

 

[Doodlemom63]

So far we are only keeping them together in the chicken yard during the day. Seems like it’s going a little better than day 1 when she was relentlessly chasing them. I still catch her chasing and pulling their feathers a bit if they are in an area I think she feels territorial over.. but they are all eating fine and grazing their boxes fine… seems like she mostly likes to stay away from them. she’s either out in the yard alone and they’r all inside the small run in the coop (pictured) (it’s left open) or vice versa…

at night she’s sleeping in the coop by herself and the chicks are still in a brooder.. we are still working on the permanent coop but should be done this weekend. Question for next steps, do I let her sleep in the new coop by herself or put them all together when it’s this weekend ? When are they ready to all sleep together? Lol

Nice setup I’m intrigued by the grassy patches covered in wire, can you tell me about that please?

 

[city_girl_farming]

Nice setup I’m intrigued by the grassy patches covered in wire, can you tell me about that please?

Thank you!! They’r grazing boxes there are a lot of videos on YouTube on how you can build them. We just threw some grass seed and it’s been giving! The idea is that the chickens will only eat the top and not the roots. The hardware cloth is so that they don’t scratch the roots out otherwise you won’t be able to grow anything because they love that. You can throw all kinds of seeds too and give them variety. I think they’r also called salad bars lol

 

[Doodlemom63]

Thank you!! They’r grazing boxes there are a lot of videos on YouTube on how you can build them. We just threw some grass seed and it’s been giving! The idea is that the chickens will only eat the top and not the roots. The hardware cloth is so that they don’t scratch the roots out otherwise you won’t be able to grow anything because they love that. You can throw all kinds of seeds too and give them variety. I think they’r also called salad bars lol

I’m definitely going to look at some YouTube tonight, I have a outdoor brooder and when chicks seem to be ready to get out in the mini run I attach they leave no grass at all I end up with a big bald spot in the yard so this will definitely save my yard area around the brooder love this idea! Thanks for responding!