Introducting pullets to same age chicks

[Thelocalladies]

So this is my first go at introducing chickens that haven't been raised together. My current chicks are 6-7 weeks old, and we're getting 3 additional pullets tomorrow. We have a box we constructed with wood and chicken wire which should be big enough for the 3 pullets temporarily. Our coop is currently undergoing some renovations, so there isn't enough space to create a chicken wire wall to separate them within the coop. Do you have any recommendations on how to go about introducing them? I will post a photo of the coop (pre-reno) and a brooder box similar to ours, see what you guys think.

 

[NatJ]

I would put them all in together and watch what happens.
Add some kind of distracting goody-- a dish of wet food, or a clump of sod to scratch apart, or something like that.

I think there is a good chance they will be fine, and you won't have to do any more integration than that.

But if the current ones chase the new ones around and pester them too much, pull out the new ones and find a way for them to live next to the current ones for a while. You might be able to put your wood-and-wire box next to the run with the others.

When the coop renovations are done would also be a good time to introduce the new ones, because unfamiliar spaces make chickens less likely to pick on each other. And a newly-renovated space is usually "unfamiliar" at first.

 

[Thelocalladies]

I would put them all in together and watch what happens.
Add some kind of distracting goody-- a dish of wet food, or a clump of sod to scratch apart, or something like that.

I think there is a good chance they will be fine, and you won't have to do any more integration than that.

But if the current ones chase the new ones around and pester them too much, pull out the new ones and find a way for them to live next to the current ones for a while. You might be able to put your wood-and-wire box next to the run with the others.

When the coop renovations are done would also be a good time to introduce the new ones, because unfamiliar spaces make chickens less likely to pick on each other. And a newly-renovated space is usually "unfamiliar" at first.

Ouuuu very good point! I will definitely do that!

 

[Liz Birdlover]

I had 2 broody mamas hatch youngsters out last year, 30 days apart. I moved them all to a coop but built a temporary division wire wall so each mama had coop & private predator proof pens also right next to eachother. When chicks were about 8 wks & 12 wks old, I opened the dividing door & they explored areas & pecked at 2 things I hung up, a mealworm cake in a suet feeder & a cabbage head. They were fine & that night huddled together on the same low perch. The mama hen that had the older chicks was getting grumpy with them so I did move her back to her group. The 1 mama stayed a few weeks longer & was a sweetie to all chicks.

 

[aart]

My current chicks are 6-7 weeks old, and we're getting 3 additional pullets tomorrow.

How many current chicks and how old are the new pullets?

 

[Mrs. K]

I too think that there might be only minor skirmishes if you just put the together. However, if there is a bit of aggression, I would divide your original birds. Generally in an aggressive integration, there are 3-4 birds that initial the attack, and the others follow. Put those three birds in the smaller space leaving the new birds with a smaller number of original birds.

Mrs K

 

[Thelocalladies]

How many current chicks and how old are the new pullets?

I have 8 current chick (however I will be losing 4 soon as they're cockerels and we're not allowed them in our district). The new pullets will be between 8 and 10 weeks old

 

[Thelocalladies]

I too think that there might be only minor skirmishes if you just put the together. However, if there is a bit of aggression, I would divide your original birds. Generally in an aggressive integration, there are 3-4 birds that initial the attack, and the others follow. Put those three birds in the smaller space leaving the new birds with a smaller number of original birds.

Mrs K

I will give that a try! Thank you