Introducing different age and type chicks

[Newirishchickenmama]

Hi all, I’m new to posting here but have been regularly reading threads and posts from you wonderful chicken owners! I’m looking for your expert advice please. I currently have 3 Rhode Island reds, 10 weeks old, and 4 leghorns, 5 weeks old. The bigger chicks have been outside for a few weeks now and are doing great. They’re free range most of the day. Their run is about 10 square foot and coop about 6 sq ft. I’ve been letting the babies out to play the past few weeks locked in the run while big chicks are outside looking in. I wanted to have all chicks outside now, so I’ve put them all in together but there is a bit of bullying going on. Is it too soon for the babies or should I allow them to establish their places. I was gonna let them sleep there tonight but now I’m not sure what to do. Any advice would be great. Thanks so much!

 

[azygous]

Those dimensions, if correct, are very tiny for runs. You need a minimum of ten square feet per chicken in a run (multiply two adjacent sides to get square footage). You can combine these two age groups, but unless you provide more space for them, you may be seeing much more conflict than you're prepared for.

Smaller chicks and chickens are naturally going to be bullied. Having lots of space for them to run away from their tormentors is crucial. Having cover in the run for them to hide under, climb on, and run behind helps them overcome their size disadvantage. Even a detached tree branch will provide instant cover for the smalls.

 

[Newirishchickenmama]

Hi Azygous, thanks so much for your reply! The coop is actually 10ft long, not square I was having a slow brain day! So it’s about 30 sq foot they have. I know you’re saying that they need about 10 sq foot each, but the coop is actually kept open all day for the bigger chicks. They have their food and water in there and then have full access to the garden, which is big enough. I just locked them all in there yesterday together to see if they would get on ok. I was afraid to let baby chicks roam the garden in case a seagull or crow would get them. There’s shelter under the coop and some bushes at the back but bigger chicks just chased them in there. I’m gonna keep babies inside for another few weeks until they are big enough for the garden. Do you think coop size is ok if they’re free ranging in the garden all day or does it still need to be bigger? The only time bigger chicks are locked in is when I’m cutting the grass or hosing the paving. Thanks so much for your time and expertise

 

[Newirishchickenmama]

*their run is 30ft, not the coop. I’m new

 

[azygous]

I'm old and still I have brain farts like that. I figured the math was suspect.

The coop is where chickens do their sleeping and laying and the run is for hanging out during the day. But the coop still needs to be adequate so the chickens can have room enough to access the perches and more important, room to dismount without braining themselves on the opposite wall.

Perches need to be long enough to accommodate wing action as they fly up. The recommendations are for one foot of perch space per chicken but it really needs to be a foot and a half so chickens already roosting don't get knocked off by a chicken flying up.

Consider all that when judging coop size.