Introducing 4 week chicks to 9 week old chicks

[Merci BeauCoop]

We have 9 week old chicks in our new coop and just introduced our 4 week old chicks into their new home with them. We created a brooder under the roosting bars with 1/2” hardware cloth on the front so that they can see and not touch each other. Let’s just say there was a LOT of “talk” going on last night when the big kids came into the coop - all from the little ones. The big kids were reluctant to go inside but finally did. They seemed to quiet down when I went back out about an hour or two after introduction. My question is how long do we keep up the hardware cloth barrier before we put in the stage 2 barrier? This barrier has slats that are 4” apart so that the babies can come and if they need to get away from the big kids. Then, how long after stage 2 before they can be fully integrated?

 

[Hencraze24]

Around when your older girls are maybe a month and a half to a months and three quarters.

barier 2 can be taken down when the 9 month week olds are about 2 months.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would add the barrier 2 just after a couple of days. It may take them awhile to venture out, but the great thing about a gate like that is the chicks and chickens work things out on their time frame and their terms.

After a couple of days, you chicks are imprinted with this is a safe zone, and will return there when they are tired or threatened. Last two times I did this, when my chicks were 4 weeks old, they were eating at the bowl with the big girls, and I quit worrying about it, and removed the barrier. You will know.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

I would add the barrier 2 just after a couple of days. It may take them awhile to venture out, but the great thing about a gate like that is the chicks and chickens work things out on their time frame and their terms.

After a couple of days, you chicks are imprinted with this is a safe zone, and will return there when they are tired or threatened. Last two times I did this, when my chicks were 4 weeks old, they were eating at the bowl with the big girls, and I quit worrying about it, and removed the barrier. You will know.

Mrs K

Ditto Dat^^^

Not sure the 4" openings will keep the 9 weeks olds out tho.
Gonna be hard to find a size that will work.

 

[Merci BeauCoop]

I would add the barrier 2 just after a couple of days. It may take them awhile to venture out, but the great thing about a gate like that is the chicks and chickens work things out on their time frame and their terms.

After a couple of days, you chicks are imprinted with this is a safe zone, and will return there when they are tired or threatened. Last two times I did this, when my chicks were 4 weeks old, they were eating at the bowl with the big girls, and I quit worrying about it, and removed the barrier. You will know.

Mrs K

Thank you so much! That is the answer I was hoping for!!!

 

[Merci BeauCoop]

Ditto Dat^^^

Not sure the 4" openings will keep the 9 weeks olds out tho.
Gonna be hard to find a size that will work.

We were worried about that too but were not sure what the right size was. We ended up closer to 3 3/4”. Today is day 3 and after reading your and Mrs K’s input we will try stage 2 today! Thank you so much for your help!!!

 

[aart]

We were worried about that too but were not sure what the right size was. We ended up closer to 3 3/4”. Today is day 3 and after reading your and Mrs K’s input we will try stage 2 today! Thank you so much for your help!!!