Introducing new kids to the flock

[sarahconnor]

We have raised 10 lovely new babies, when is the ideal time to introduce them to our 21 adults? We have two adult roosters in the 21 flock adult crowd who do ok together, and two young roosters( not intentional, friends gave us photo op chicks and they turned out to be boys) in our young group of ten newbies. How old should the young ones be and do you just throw them all in together? Normally that’s what we do but last year a young rooster was dead in the morning and half eaten. We still don’t know if the adults did that or a predator managed to get in.

 

[Mrs. K]

So you are looking at 31 birds, and while the chicks are little, you can cheat a bit on your numbers. Some people have the misconception that if birds are raised together, they will always get along. They won't. They need space or you get very ugly behavior. For 31 birds you need a coop of about 12 x 10 feet. Even if they free range all day. The long nights of winter, most birds are roosted up about 14-16 hours a day.

4 roosters is bound to also cause very ugly behavior. Personally, I believe the least number of roosters is best for the peace of your flock. There will be a lot of tension in your flock as the cockerels come into their oats, so to speak. Again, space will help, but I would still expect a lot of tension, which tends to lower egg production. They very seldom will all just be nice.

Both statements above don't have anything to do with your question, but I think are valid problems. Chicken math has to work both ways - adding and subtracting.

As to your question, I like to get them in there early. 3-4 weeks. I create a shelter with a wooly hen, and a small pen in the run. If you use chicken wire, just section out a corner. I close up the shelter, and put it with the chicks in the coop at night.

After a week, of see no touch, I lift the fence about 4-6 inches off the ground. This allows the chicks to explore the bigger run on their terms. They can escape to the safety zone whenever the big world of big hens gets too much. The first day, I lock the hens OUTSIDE the run, and sit there with my coffee. Eventually the chicks will get brave and wander out. After a couple of them wander out, I chase them back in. They quickly realize that the safety zone is where to go when chased.

Then I let the big girls back in, and in a week, the littles are eating right next to the bigs, and it is over.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

I like to integrate early, brood in the coop from 1 week after hatch and integrate at 4-6 weeks. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Still following 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.

 

[sarahconnor]

So you are looking at 31 birds, and while the chicks are little, you can cheat a bit on your numbers. Some people have the misconception that if birds are raised together, they will always get along. They won't. They need space or you get very ugly behavior. For 31 birds you need a coop of about 12 x 10 feet. Even if they free range all day. The long nights of winter, most birds are roosted up about 14-16 hours a day.

4 roosters is bound to also cause very ugly behavior. Personally, I believe the least number of roosters is best for the peace of your flock. There will be a lot of tension in your flock as the cockerels come into their oats, so to speak. Again, space will help, but I would still expect a lot of tension, which tends to lower egg production. They very seldom will all just be nice.

Both statements above don't have anything to do with your question, but I think are valid problems. Chicken math has to work both ways - adding and subtracting.

As to your question, I like to get them in there early. 3-4 weeks. I create a shelter with a wooly hen, and a small pen in the run. If you use chicken wire, just section out a corner. I close up the shelter, and put it with the chicks in the coop at night.

After a week, of see no touch, I lift the fence about 4-6 inches off the ground. This allows the chicks to explore the bigger run on their terms. They can escape to the safety zone whenever the big world of big hens gets too much. The first day, I lock the hens OUTSIDE the run, and sit there with my coffee. Eventually the chicks will get brave and wander out. After a couple of them wander out, I chase them back in. They quickly realize that the safety zone is where to go when chased.

Then I let the big girls back in, and in a week, the littles are eating right next to the bigs, and it is over.

Mrs K

Great points. I’m also concerned about all the roosters. We have a good sized henhouse and a good sized pen/paddock connected via a ramp.

Very cool way to introduce. What we could do is move their brooding pen/hutch into the side yard from the garage with the hatch to their pen closed. Then open the small door and let them wander out after a week inside the enclosed pen. They could run into their pen if frightened by big kids, Like how you describe. We then can let them out to range after several days.

That’s quite young, we have usually waited till their at least 12-16 weeks old them throw them all together, but always keeping them ALL enclosed for a few days. It hasn’t normally been a problem but with the new roosters I’m worried as stated.

Ok, thanks for all if your help. I’ll let you know how it goes.

 

[Mrs. K]

I do think you need a plan B for the roosters. What to do immediately if they start fighting, or if they start attacking a single hen. And what to do if they are not going to work out in your flock. Some do, some don't. Having it planned out in advance will really help.

 

[Cyprus]

I agree with the above, that the chicks should be integrated early. Around 3-4 weeks.

 

[sarahconnor]

That sounds like a plan. We live in a rural community and people often advertise COME GET MY ROOSTER. But I don’t want them to get eaten.

The two we have now work out well. Our big one is so attentive. He always breaks fights up and watches everyone. Also he never attacked us. The smaller crippled one attacks us at times lol. . He’s feisty but when he got lame his spurs fell off so he has to fall into line under the good Alpha. I put a pic up of our Alpha. He was in with our baby chicks last year where we were expecting all girls. He turned out really terrific, he has a pretty good temperament.

 

[SueT]

Set up a see-no-touch pen. Monitor reactions.

 

[sarahconnor]

I agree with the above, that the chicks should be integrated early. Around 3-4 weeks.

Sadly, we passed that point. We usually wait and throw them all together and that has worked in the past. Just worried about the extra roosters. Thanks!!

 

[sarahconnor]

Set up a see-no-touch pen. Monitor reactions.
View attachment 1836720

Wow. That is so cool and your hen is beautiful. Thanks.