Introducing chicks and new coop

[KrysMT]

I wasn’t sure where to post this question and couldn’t find where is has been asked before.

I have 6 chicks who are 6 weeks old and 6 hens who will be a year old in September.

I will be introducing the chicks into the flock after my new coop is built. My new coop will probably be able to hold 20 but I’ll only have 12.

My question is will introducing all of them into a new coop at the same time help with the flock introductions? I don’t know what the heck I’m doing! My girls are 2 barred rocks, 2 austrolorps, and 2 buff orpingtons. The chicks are 2 EE, 2 speckled Sussex, one lavendar orptington, and one blue Orpington who I suspect is a Roo.

My hens also free range. Any recommendations would help! I probably won’t be introducing them for another few weeks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I lived outside Prairie Grove near Fayetteville for many years. Your six week old should be able to handle the weather but it sounds like you are still building the new coop. At least you won't have to worry about supplemental heat.

Some people will tell you that yes, it would help if they were all new to the coop at the same time. But I think you probably have other issues to deal with. Those hens are laying. They will want to continue laying where they are now. I don't know what your set-up will be, but they won't automatically switch to laying in your new nests. Also, they are used to sleeping somewhere else, probably the old coop. They will not automatically switch to going into the new coop at night. They will want to return to their regular roosts.

Will you have a run at the new coop? What are you doing with the old coop? Will you be keeping it? Will it have access to the run if you have one? Knowing what that looks like would help me come up with specific suggestions. I really like having a second coop with access to the same run as the main coop, it just gives you a lot more flexibility to deal with different issues, not just integration.

Of course there are different ways to deal with these issues. One of the easiest would be to lock your hens in that new coop (or coop and run) for a week or more, until they get used to laying and sleeping in the new coop. The problem with that in your specific situation is that the hens and chicks would be locked together in limited space instead of the hens out free ranging, which enhances the risk from integration. And you will probably need to train the chicks to go to bed inside that new coop. So that is another issue.

I had my main coop on one end of my main run with what I called my grow-out coop on the other end of the main run. A portion of that run was fenced so I could isolate the chicks in the grow-out section from the adults if I wished. I also had a big area inside electric netting which isn't as nice as your free ranging but it sure made life easier. My brooder was in the main coop, the chicks went there straight from the incubator or post office, so they were raised with the flock. Sometimes I would just open the brooder door at five weeks and walk away, that's how tough my integration was. Sometimes if the main coop were too crowded I'd use the grow-out coop.

Your chicks were not raised with your hens, in my opinion that increases your risks of just throwing them together. If they are locked into a tight space together your risks go way up. If you can tell us enough about what your facilities will look like I might be able to offer specific suggestions for your situation. That may include using that old coop as an integration aide or it may involve building a pen inside the new coop for the chicks.

Many people integrate new chicks all the time, often without any real issues. But there are risks, glad you are asking early. Good luck!

 

[MountainWoman73]

I use a wire cage that is lifted up off the floor just 3-4 inches so that little chickens can come and go as they please, but the big chickens can't get in. This allows the littles to get away from the big chickens if they want to, but they can also come out and explore the coop. It also allows me to separate their food and water.

 

[MountainWoman73]

Picture for reference, with 4 week old chicks. Mine right now is a rabbit hutch with the bottom removed, but I've done this with a large milk crate up on 4x4s. Any bottomless cage up on blocks works.

 

[aart]

I will be introducing the chicks into the flock after my new coop is built.

How soon will that be?(oh just saw "a few weeks")
Where are chicks living now?

My new coop will probably be able to hold 20 but I’ll only have 12.

How big is that in feet by feet?

 

[KrysMT]

How soon will that be?(oh just saw "a few weeks")
Where are chicks living now?

How big is that in feet by feet?

They are living in my garage in a brooder box.

 

[KrysMT]

They are living in my garage in a brooder box.

Honestly I’m not sure feet wise but my 6 girls are in a coop and the roosting area is at least 3 times as big as their coop. I won’t be able to measure it u til it’s complete and delivered.

 

[KrysMT]

There is a small run that will be attached to the new coop but not much of one.
Old coop I will keep in case I have to quarantine or get the fever for more... probably the latter.

What I’m currently doing until I get my new coop is when my girls are free ranging I put them in a cage and let the girls come inspect them.
I think I may leave my old flock in their coop for now. At least until their egg production slows down. Maybe let them be around each other while free ranging.