Introducing new chicks to a small flock?

[minou33]

I have 2 birds left from my original flock of 5 and decided to add 6 chicks this season. I haven't added new birds before so am a little nervous about how this will go. I understand it will a separation process for several weeks until the birds are mature enough to join the flock. However, because I'm adding a larger flock to a smaller one....is there anything different about the integration process?

 

[NatJ]

However, because I'm adding a larger flock to a smaller one....is there anything different about the integration process?

It might be a little easier, since the new young birds outnumber the older ones. But there should not be any major differences.

The older birds will still tend to be dominant over the new young ones, and may pick on them or may not (depending on the individual temperaments of the adults.)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I generally intergrate chicks between 5-8 weeks. Older ones will be seen as intruders and you will have more problems. Chicks suddenly appearing in a flock is normal.

As long as your birds have enough room it usually easy to set up a separate area for the chicks. After about a week I start supervised mingling. Rounding them up if it gets rough or I have to leave. Most times there's no issues. Make sure chicks can get back in their pen, and you have places for them to slip under to get away. I generally pen chicks separately for a few months at night for peace of mind.

 

[minou33]

I generally intergrate chicks between 5-8 weeks. Older ones will be seen as intruders and you will have more problems. Chicks suddenly appearing in a flock is normal.

As long as your birds have enough room it usually easy to set up a separate area for the chicks. After about a week I start supervised mingling. Rounding them up if it gets rough or I have to leave. Most times there's no issues. Make sure chicks can get back in their pen, and you have places for them to slip under to get away. I generally pen chicks separately for a few months at night for peace of mind.

Thank you!! So it takes you about a week to integrate birds at 5-8 weeks old? I like the idea of them being younger when introduced so that the old girls aren't stressed about mature birds showing up.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you!! So it takes you about a week to integrate birds at 5-8 weeks old? I like the idea of them being younger when introduced so that the old girls aren't stressed about mature birds showing up.

My birds are free range and I keep them in a large shed, so they get enough exercise and stimulation that they aren't concerned about bothering the chicks. Some occasionally peck at them, but the older ones are mostly concerned with eating the chick starter.

The smaller and tighter your set up the more you may have problems. Birds seem to know when there's no more room for more.

I believe @aart has a nice set up with a chick sized door. Hopefully she will share.

 

[rosemarythyme]

A lot of us introduce even younger. Like I raise my chicks in the run, and start letting them out around 2 weeks with the intention of having them move in with the flock at around 4 weeks.

The beginning phase of introduction, I'd slate 1-2 weeks for that period, where the birds can see each other but have no physical contact. Ideally you want the older birds to kind of lose interest in the chicks, so they're not reacting to them as a threat or intruder, so that's what you're looking for before you progress to actually letting them meet.

 

[Anime2lover]

I have 2 birds left from my original flock of 5 and decided to add 6 chicks this season. I haven't added new birds before so am a little nervous about how this will go. I understand it will a separation process for several weeks until the birds are mature enough to join the flock. However, because I'm adding a larger flock to a smaller one....is there anything different about the integration process?

No, there shouldn't be anything different. Your older birds may even relish having a larger flock now, seeing as though it's just those two.

 

[aart]

I believe @aart has a nice set up with a chick sized door. Hopefully she will share.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Younger is definitely better than older, but still follow most 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/