Intergration of Golden Comets?

[Kalebsmomma]

I hope this isn't gonna be a long post. Want to give back story. We had 12 1 year old Golden Comets hens. Well a couple months ago some raccoons killed 10 of 12 of our sweet girls. We loved them so much we decided to get more. We currently have 15 4-week chicks in my space bathroom lol. My husband is now finishing up on our new coop. So here is the question. How do I go about bring them together when the chicks are old enough? Thank you in advance!

 

[rosemarythyme]

See but no touch for a few weeks, out in the run, so the chicks and adults get a chance to get acclimated, then after a couple of weeks, you can start letting them have access with each other, with some combination of panic openings and clutter to allow the chicks to hide when needed.

Here's how I handle it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

Here are some useful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

 

[Mrs. K]

Personally, I train my chicks to sleep in a dog carrier under a wooly hen. I turn off the heat lamp, let them get cool, and put them in there. Within days they figure it out.

Then I put them in the run with the carrier. They are safe in a see don't touch mode for 2-3 days. They get in the carrier - I carry it to the coop. Out in the morning.

After three days - I have numerous hideouts that big birds can't fit in, a pallet just inches off the ground, one way gates, such as lifting the fencing off the ground a few inches. This allows the chicks to venture forth, and retreat when it gets too rough. I do turn the big birds out of the set up, and then give mock chases to the chicks as they venture forth - so they figure out the safety zones.

After that, I just put the carrier in the coop, un latched, in the morning, the chicks come out on their own, and after a couple of days, they will go in the coop on their own.

I do have multiple feed stations, some that the big birds cannot get too. I do have hide outs and clutter in a large 20 x 30 run, and ample space in the coop.

Mine are outside in the sunshine and fresh air at 3 weeks. Smaller chicks are less threatening to older birds. And having several chicks, makes it harder for one to take all of the attack.

Mrs K

 

[Kalebsmomma]

Thanks for answers all. Our chickies are getting so big for their bin lol. We're gonna figure to make coop in a coop