Integration; phase one complete . . .what's next?

[redinator]

Your overall plan is solid. My concern with integration is always space. Your "safe haven" plan can certainly help with that. Hopefully it is enough.


When a chicken is trying to kill another chicken they usually try to peck the head to drill a hole through to the brain. If one is trapped in a corner or against a wall or fence, it often tries to lay down and cover its head. If the attacked continues to try to peck, I'd intervene quickly.

My thinking was it'd be easier to manage/intervene in a smaller area, but I see what you're saying.

I could continue having the older chicks free ranging and younger chicks in the run for a couple of weeks until the RIR are 6 weeks (when they're larger than snack size) and I'd be more comfortable letting them all free range together. At 4 weeks they just seem a bit too small in comparison to 'hope for the best'.

ETA: The idea to wait until the RIR are 6 weeks could work out better. By then I'll have a better idea of which are males and have them separated into the two side yards to grow out.