Introducing Chicks

[EmilyEnns]

hey everyone!
i’ve got a mixed flick that range from 19-12 weeks that all coexist together no problem. (took some time but it all worked out) now i brought home 15 littles just over 4 weeks old basically fully feathered! i have them in a large dog kennel in the coop to keep them separated and they have been like that for 2 weeks now. my older hens don’t mind them at all and i let them out in the run together without any issues. however i have 2 roosters that i would not trust.... i do let my birds free range when i’m home so they do have lots of space.
looking for advice to proceed with in the next couple of weeks as the babies are growing very fast and will soon be too big for the kennel.

thanks!

 

[AltonaAcres]

I would not advise to keep 2 roosters with your situation.............

 

[aart]

i have them in a large dog kennel in the coop to keep them separated and they have been like that for 2 weeks now. my older hens don’t mind them at all and i let them out in the run together without any issues. however i have 2 roosters that i would not trust

Not sure the cockerels will be a problem with the chicks.
How old are these boys?
Have they been after the older girls yet?
Might be best to keep the boys in a separate enclosure until the chicks are all integrated.

You're off to a good start with the littles living in the coop.
Prop open the kennel door just far enough that the littles can get out and in, but the older birds cannot enter the kennel.
It's better to have 2-3 'tiny doors' but you gotta work with waht you've got.

Still keep in mind the......
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/