Introducing new chicks

[RR88]

So I got 6 straight run 9 weeks ago, 4 weeks ago I knew 3 were going to turn out to be roosters based on many factors including bright red combs at 5 weeks old so on the day I moved them out of the brooder and into the coop I sanitized the brooder and went to TSC and bought 4 “pullets” because my goal is to have 6-7 pullets no roosters. The younger ones have been in the house in a brooder I have been taking them outside daily the past week in a portable chicken tractor while my others free ranged the yard so they could get to know each other a bit but safely, well yesterday I rehomed all 3 roosters I figured doing it sooner than later was my best bet with introducing the newer ones since 3 against 4 is better than 6 against 4 especially since 3 were roos.... so now I just have the 3 9 week old pullets and the 4 4 week old Pullets today I put the babies in a securely sectioned off part of the run and plan to section off a part of the coop for them to start sleeping in the coop (they’re fully feathered and temps are staying around 75 at night) I plan to use this setup over the course of the next few weeks but wondering if my older girls will have established a new pecking order between now and then since the roos are gone and how the babies will play a role in this if any since they’re sectioned off or will I be completely messing the pecking order up again when I finally let them fully integrate with them. The size difference between them is too great to let them mingle together fully right now at about what age will the littles be big enough to defend themselves against the older ones since they’re all still growing?? I was thinking by 7-8 weeks the littles would be a good size to try, the older ones will be 12-13 weeks then.. any tips or tricks are welcomed and greatly appreciated these are my first chickens

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there. You have a solid plan. I usually put my chicks outside around 3 days old abd by 4 weeks the chicks are out and starting to mingle with the bigs. There's a bit of pecking if the chicks get too close but nothing serious. I would say 2 or 3 more weeks of separation and then let them mingle. There's not a huge age difference right now and that has been an easier introduction for me than chicks integrating with adults.

 

[RR88]

Hi there. You have a solid plan. I usually put my chicks outside around 3 days old abd by 4 weeks the chicks are out and starting to mingle with the bigs. There's a bit of pecking if the chicks get too close but nothing serious. I would say 2 or 3 more weeks of separation and then let them mingle. There's not a huge age difference right now and that has been an easier introduction for me than chicks integrating with adults.

Thank you for the reply I will try and let them mingle in 2 weeks supervised and see how it goes. This is the size difference between them right now. I fenced off 1/3 of the run from top to bottom using some yard stakes, heavy duty zip ties and thick plastic fencing with 2x4’s running along the bottom to keeping anyone from going under into the other side the big girls have tried to peck them a couple times if the littles come to the fencing but they’re quickly learning to just stay back away from the fence.

 

[igorsMistress]

It's amazing to see the big size difference isn't it? The littles are fast and can get away pretty easily though. I hope all goes well with the integration.

 

[jreardon1918]

our little ones are now close to 6 weeks old. They are getting pretty daring. They at times still get scared back into the brooder panic doors. But generally, they are out in the run. Last night after the hens went to bed, the little ones checked out the coop. I don't think they slept in the coop. They have been mingling for about two weeks.