Introducing chicks to an existing flock.

[PNW_Peepers]

I currently have 8 five week old chicks in an upgraded brooder in my garage. They’ll be moved into a 30x7ft coop/run in a few weeks once the weather improves. On February 6th I’ll be getting 10 day old chicks.
How in the world do I integrate the two as they won’t be roughly the same size until maturity?
Everyone I’ve personally spoke with has said to put them quietly into the coop at six weeks old, a couple hours before first light! as the existing flock will be too tired/disoriented to care about the newcomers.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I see more pecking and bullying between groups of young chicks. You should pen them next to each other for a few weeks before trying to let them mingle. If done correctly they will each have territory in the coop to fall back to and should eventually integrate.

 

[Teila]

Hey PNW_Peepers

This previous discussion may be of assistance: Topic of the Week - Integrating Chicks into an Adult Flock

Good luck!

 

[aart]

as the existing flock will be too tired/disoriented to care about the newcomers.

Like bobbie-j sez: "chickens aren't the brightest animals on this planet, but they're not that stupid." Haha!!

Seriously, do you have an adult flock too?
This is how I brood and integrate chicks into the adult flock, might work for chicks too, tho size differential may not allow to tiny doors to fucntion. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/


Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Lauren Kim]

From my prior experience, I know not to combine chickens that have large age ranges. The little ones willget bullied often and when they start to lay eggs, there will often be bad mishaps, caused by stress.

If you decide to put them in a run, I recommend that you divide the run in half with fencing, so that they can see each other but not touch each other.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Like bobbie-j sez: "chickens aren't the brightest animals on this planet, but they're not that stupid." Haha!!

Seriously, do you have an adult flock too?
This is how I brood and integrate chicks into the adult flock, might work for chicks too, tho size differential may not allow to tiny doors to fucntion. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

No adult flock just the 8 five week olds right now. I don’t think they’ve even figured out their pecking order yet. Really wishing I had gotten all 18 to begin with instead of integrating. Thanks for the advice, I’m thinking I’ll set up a play pen in the run and bring the younger ones out during the day so they are visible to the older birds. Then once they’ve feathered out and they older birds learn to ignore them, I’ll try integrating with supervision.

 

[aart]

No adult flock just the 8 five week olds right now. I don’t think they’ve even figured out their pecking order yet. Really wishing I had gotten all 18 to begin with instead of integrating. Thanks for the advice, I’m thinking I’ll set up a play pen in the run and bring the younger ones out during the day so they are visible to the older birds. Then once they’ve feathered out and they older birds learn to ignore them, I’ll try integrating with supervision.

The 3 weeks age range with birds that young may be ok or may not, have had both bad and good luck with this. I had 2 day olds separated by wire from six 2 and 3 week olds. Both groups really wanted to get together, so I put them in and they were fine. Only thing you can do is try, follow the integration tips, and see what happens.

Best of cLuck(cheep)!