Intigrating chicks

[moms]

Hello, I have two 8 week old buff orpingtons or oppingtons hens, whatever they are really called. I need to add them to the coop housing my two 21 week old black sex links hens. I have been putting the buffs cage outside everyday so that when the older chickens run loose, they can see but not get to the young uns. The older chickens curiosity is waning, so hope to add them soon, but not sure how to do this. I figure I might just let them all out in the yard to forage, but I'm afraid the young uns will be confused as to where their home is. So, any suggestions. I love both sets (favoring the oppingtons) and don't want any castastrophies.

 

[Judy]

In the yard is good. You might also give everyone some treats, widely scattered, to distract them. If there are hiding places available, that is also good. More than one feeder and waterer may help.

There will be pecking and probably squabbles. Just let them sort it out unless it gets bloody.

It would be safest to wait til the Orpingtons are about the same size as the sex links. Orpingtons tend to be mild mannered and easily bullied.

 

[abharris54]

Here is how we did it. We started with 3 grown hens and have gotten a handful of chicks (now teens) and have integrated them all. We built a smaller pen and but it in the larger run and put the chicks in the small pen and the hens in the large run. This way, they could get used to being around each other, but not have actual access to one another. after a bit, we would prop the door to the small pen open enough for the chicks to come and go but the hens couldnt get in, and the chicks could run in there to get away from the hens is they wanted to. When the chicks started to roost with the grown hens, they didn't need the small pen anymore. It worked wonderfully for us.
I hope something similar would work for you too. I would definitely suggest supervised "play time" at first, and do that for a couple days, but keep them separated when you aren't able to be around.
I put out lots of scratch and lettuce when i started to let them mingle to kinda distract everyone, but the results were mixed. the hens kept chasing the chicks away from the lettuce when they noticed the chicks were eating some, but that only lasted a short period.
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Good luck![/FONT]