introducing young flock to new flock?

[eagle97]

I am going to be ordering chicks in a few weeks, and I am concerned about how my old flock will get along with the younger birds when they are old enough to go outside with the other flock. Is there any tips or techniques you guys know to prevent fighting? No roosters. thanks!

 

[missnu01]

Once the chicks are old enough to be in the coop use chicken wire to make then a separate mini coop inside the standing coop so everyone can see everyone else, ten after about a week of them existing together within the same coop let them all put to range together And when they all come in everything should be right as rain... Just watch them and make sure nobody is upset

 

[tcmstalcup]

You are going to get soooo many different opinions on this. This is how we do it on our mini farm. I have an enclosed large cage outside we call the grow out pen. They go there first so all the big chickens get a good look at babies and vise versa. This is when they are about 4 weeks old. Im in Texas so its never THAT cold. When they are fully feathered and ready for General Population we put them in the coop at night while every one is asleep. We also have a panel with 4x4 openings across the corner of the run so little chickens can eat and drink separate from big chickens til they are all the same size. We have done well with minimal losses with this program.

 

[DawnB]

I have the same situation...and I have a question about making a pen inside the coop for the little ones...If you put them in a pen with a top (say a mesh or dog-type cage), how do you prevent the older ones from perching on it and pooping on the little ones (or do you)?

Also, when you put them in and they have their own food/water (which I like), what will happen if they start picking at the big chicken feed? I feed grower...so long as the babies have grit, should it be a big deal?


Thanks
Dawn

 

[missnu01]

It should be just fine, you could just put A board over the dog crate if you wished, and the chicks sound like they aren't too young to eat the grower food