Introducing chicks - sleeping together?

[Patoot]

Hi all. I have five 11 week old chicks and 2 older chickens. I have started introducing them. First I put the chicks in a pen inside the run so the older girls could check them out, but not get to them. When that went well, I let the chicks out and they had access to each other. They aren't the same size yet, but they aren't little and I figured I would give it a shot and abort the plan if needed. Anyway, there were a few pecks here and there and once one of the older girls tried to jump on one of the little ones. But that was it. I watched them for hours and nothing. So I've been doing that daily and then putting the little ones in back in their coop to sleep, but they are together ALL day long with no tormenting or blood. The little ones tend to stay together, and the big girls ignore them for the most part. They're even eating together. So how will I know if they can start sleeping together? I actually have little worry about them roosting together at night, but I wonder about the morning when they are awake, but I haven't gotten up to let them out yet. The little ones won't have the whole run to escape to if needed, though I have not seen tormenting or the older ones chasing the little ones either even in the run. Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Mattemma]

Sounds like it is going well so far. I always slipped them in at night when 16 weeks. Seems like you could do it now. Is there food or water in the coop to keep them busy till you release them? I always tried to let them out early the first few days, or put something in to keep them busy till I could get to them.

 

[azygous]

Move them into the coop. They're ready. The adults are ready. Nothing much goes on at night in a coop. If they're getting along during the day, they'll also be fine at night.

I like to install my chicks in the coop early in the day and leave them there to explore their new digs. That way, when dark comes, they're familiar with the coop.

I wait until the older girls have finished laying before moving the chicks in, and wait until the last minute before dark to let the older girls in to roost. Things usually go just fine doing it this way, but it's not the only way.