introducing Chicks to Flock

[dekel18042]

I always integrate my chick at around 6-8 weeks. Younger birds are a natural addition to a flock. Older birds are intruders.

I always start by penning the young group where everyone can see them but they can't touch them. After about a week the older birds are used to the chicks and I begin letting them mingle. My pens are in my chicken shed, so it's just a matter of opening the door and than watching and if necessary playing referee.

The chicks are usually ignored with an occasional peck from the older birds. After a bit I round them back up and do it again the next day. After about a week I usually leave the chicks out all day. I continue to lock them separately for another month or two until I feel comfortable leaving them out.

The bigger your set up, the easier it will go. Crowding birds makes it harder and will take much longer. Integration is all about patience and making decisions based on behaviors you observe.

X2. And if they can free range together during the day, that seems to make integration go faster. For a while they might want their own sleeping quarters but after a while a few might move across, especially if you give treats in the coop you want them to go in at night or once they are sharing feeders and free ranging for a while I sometimes just pick the resistant ones out of their coop some night after it is dark and put them where I want them and at that oint no one seems to mind.

 

[Flock Master64]

I've been trying to integrate my pullets in with my 4 hens and cockerel. They all sleep in the same coop and I've had them together in the garden since mid August. The pullets are still afraid of the hens and the hens don't chase the pullets as much as they used too but on an occasion they will.

 

[Suprise-Chicks]

I would like to share my experience, with introducing 6 babies to 2 x 12month old lavender Aruacana's.
Well this was hard, and due to the Australian weather getting hot I was running out of time.
The babies had been separated from Bindi and Lacey, but could see each other for a month.
Lacey was my problem as Bindi had a sore foot and wasn't moving fast.
I let them in together and Bindi was fine, but Lacey was very mean. I ended up letting her free range for two day and Bindi and the babies, were in together.
Lacey hated this, she wanted her sister Bindi!
Everyone including myself were upset and I just wanted them all to get along.
So Plan B happened. I sat with the garden hose and when Lacey was mean I shoot her. It was working, she was learning. I know some of you would say this was mean of me, but before commenting, put yourself in my shoes.
I watched Lacey with the babies for two days, and only had to shoot her with water, 3 to 4 times.
Now tonight I have put the babies up in the nesting boxes, with Bindi and Lacey to see what the morning brings.
I will sleep outside tonight to make sure I hear any fighting and I'll let you know tomorrow.
Please ask questions if you also have a mean chicken which you need to get along with your new additions to your flock.
Here is a photo of my camp site tonight

 

[Suprise-Chicks]

Ok, I need help now! What do I do? Lacey, is mean to Pippy? Has anyone got any ideas?

 

[azygous]

I take it Pipi is one of the chicks? Bindi should be protecting them from Lacey, but better would be a panic room where the chicks can go into where Lacey is too large to get through the entrances.

Just fence off a small area with openings just large enough for the chicks. Put food and water inside, and the chicks will be quick to discover they're safe inside it from Lacey.

This should solve your problem with the tyrant Lacey and keep the chicks safe.

 

[Suprise-Chicks]

Lacey and Bindi, are lavender Aruacanas. (12 months old) I have 3 x babies born start of Oct 2016 Pippy is a polish frizzle, Cloudy and Moody Blue are with Silkies. And 3 x Babies born end of Oct 2016, Ume is a Silkie, cutie pie is a Cochin and Strawberry is a Rhode Island Red all bantam sizes.
Lacey just seems to pick and pippy, maybe it's because she is the largest out of them?