Intergrating new chicks to existing flock??

[maresdestiny]

did that work? I have 12 week old chicks in a cage in my coop and in the afternoon I have been letting them all free range together . I have one Red that everyday runs into the coup and pecks the chicks. 

Did not work. We ended up splitting the coop in Half with reds on one side and Wells Summers on the other side as well as their run outside. To this day we have one red left and all four Wells Summers still in the split coop

 

[Blooie]

This is an old thread but since it's been resurrected, I'll jump in. My chicks are fully integrated with the flock by 4 weeks. No issues, no dead chicks, and no headaches. Every batch of chicks, every time.

I brood outdoors in a wire pen within the run from the start. The Bigs can see the Littles, and the Littles learn by watching the Bigs. I have panic doors in their brooder, little doors big enough for them to get back in but small enough to keep the Bigs from following. At first I just propped the brooder door open enough for them to go in and out, but now with the addition of the portal door system I copied from @azygous life is so much simpler.


Gladys on this side of the pen and Kat on the opposite side, keeping an eye on the newest arrivals. I often run a line of scratch on both sides of the wire. The Bigs and the Littles are then eating head to head but can't squabble through the wire, encouraging food sharing later on.


Two of the chicks in front of the Portal door, which hasn't been opened for the day yet. The flap opens up and is latched to the wire of the pen.




Three different age groups....Agatha (the Easter Egger) is 3 years old and there's an older chick in the photo (sorry, can't remember how old) along with the 5 week old Brahmas.


Kat out with a group of chicks.


Scout the rooster and Mathilda the Easter Egger hen with a group of chicks out in the yard.





Smaller chicks are not seen by the adults as a threat. They may give them a rap on the head to let them know who's boss, but sensible integration at an early age, multiple feed and watering stations, and a place for the chicks to hide most often results in a peaceful flock. Waiting until the chicks are the same size as the adults throws a wrench into the works...the adults see them as competition and will defend their turf fiercely.

 

[Merica33]

I have one month old chicks. I get another few chicks in about 20 days or so. How do I integrate the new babies with the older ones??