Introducing chicks to hens

[Stcoeur2k17]

I have chicks of different ages (a few 4 weeks, 2 months and a three months old) who all have stayed together since we purchased them. However I had 2 hens around a year old that have had their own coop away from the chicks. With winter coming I'd like to build a bigger coop for the birds to stay together in from now on. I've tried playpen method for a week to introduce newbies but today when I let them out together my hens brutally attacked the chicks .... is this something that's bound to happen at the beginning and will settle over time. Or do I use playpen method longer ? Any other suggestions ?? I love my hens they are pets more than anything. I want them to all get along or I'll have to make two different winter coops.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

4 week old chicks are too young to be put in with adult birds that are not familiar with them.

Continue with the playpen method for the young chicks as they will need protection from the older hens but keeping visual helps (eventually) with integration when they are old enough.

You can integrate the 3 month old birds in with the older now to create more room in the play pen as I should think they would prefer more room.

You can then leave the 2 month old birds in with the 4 week old chicks and integrate them in together when the youngest are about 2 months old.

Anything younger than 8 to 10 weeks of age is simply (usually) brutalized by older birds. Often you need birds 12 weeks of age for best integration if you have any aggressive types.

Integrating with flock mates is best so that the older birds see them more as a sub flock rather than a singular object to harass.

When you integrate, have separate food and water stations so that the older dominate hens cannot force the younger birds away from eating and drinking. Also provide plenty of run room and hide spaces in case any older bird is on the chase.

Watch. If any older bird is overly aggressive (drawing blood, severely attacking), in my opinion, it is time for culling (your choice of how) as no bird should be that aggressive towards another. That simply shows bad temper rather than flock order settlement.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[aart]

I have chicks of different ages (a few 4 weeks, 2 months and a three months old) who all have stayed together since we purchased them.

So this chick group is all living together in harmony?
But living far away from the 2 older hens?

The 2 groups need to be next to each other for more than a week.
When you let them be together were they free ranging ....or in a run.... or...?

I've integrated 4 week olds into adult flock but they were living in adjacent housing 24/7 for a few weeks, plus I have lots of space and the chicks could get to a safe place that the adults could not.

Knowing more about your coops/runs/etc...size of areas in feet by feet and pics would be great...would help us help you with more specific suggestions.
Having a brand new coop and run could ameliorate territoriality issues if you put them all in there at the same time.....still need adequate space, multiple feed/water and hiding places tho.

Integration Basics notes:
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

 

[Stcoeur2k17]

So this chick group is all living together in harmony?
But living far away from the 2 older hens?

The 2 groups need to be next to each other for more than a week.
When you let them be together were they free ranging ....or in a run.... or...?

I've integrated 4 week olds into adult flock but they were living in adjacent housing 24/7 for a few weeks, plus I have lots of space and the chicks could get to a safe place that the adults could not.

Knowing more about your coops/runs/etc...size of areas in feet by feet and pics would be great...would help us help you with more specific suggestions.
Having a brand new coop and run could ameliorate territoriality issues if you put them all in there at the same time.....still need adequate space, multiple feed/water and hiding places tho.

Integration Basics notes:
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

Thank you so much