Introduction coop

[Padorna23]

So I have 3 hens is a fairly large coop and am looking at getting some more chicks. Once the chicks are ready to go outside, what can I use to introduce the new girls to the new coop? Would keeping a rabbit hutch next to the existing coop be okay to use for introduction? The larger coop has a run where I was planning on putting the hutch next to so they can visually see each other. After a few days I was planning on doing a supervised introduction in my yard. How long before introducing them to my existing coop together?

 

[rosemarythyme]

A rabbit hutch should work fine as long as you don't have too many chicks.

As far as timeline, maybe 1-2 weeks? Need to play it by ear depending on how well the birds are getting along.

 

[kurby22]

I would say yes to the rabbit hutch in the run, and it depends as to how long it takes. I had 4 older by 4 months, original flock and got about 12 more that were babies. I waited until they were 8 weeks old and then would allow them into the run for about an hour before I let my older 4 out for the day…so they could see and not touch the babies. It took until the babies were about 13 weeks before I felt comfortable leaving them all together unsupervised. But I had a large “just coming into his hormones” Orpington rooster and I worried he would hurt or scare/stress out the young ones. So it was a long process. However, this larger flock is now about 7 months old and I have brought in about 9 new bantams including a rooster…and it only took a few days before they could be together unsupervised. This flock is just really chill and they don’t bully much at all, even the roosters. Watching how they interact will give you a good feel for how long you need to give them

 

[Padorna23]

A rabbit hutch should work fine as long as you don't have too many chicks.

As far as timeline, maybe 1-2 weeks? Need to play it by ear depending on how well the birds are getting along.

It’s only 4 chicks… I was planning on putting them out around week 7

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

Welcome!!

 

[3KillerBs]

It’s only 4 chicks… I was planning on putting them out around week 7

You don't need to wait that long. They can start integration as soon as they're off heat.

Here are some useful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

How big is the coop, in square feet, please?

How big is the rabbit hutch?

 

[rosemarythyme]

You don't need to wait that long.

x2.

And since you mentioned a rabbit hutch, my brooder is rather similar in style to a rabbit hutch, so that should give you an idea how this can work if you plan for it. I brood outdoors and begin introducing the chicks to the adults around 10-14 days, and they fully move in with adults at 4-5 weeks: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

 

[Padorna23]

You don't need to wait that long. They can start integration as soon as they're off heat.

Here are some useful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

How big is the coop, in square feet, please?

How big is the rabbit hutch?

The coop is approximately 35 sq ft and the hutch I was just going to build something small… maybe something like 2ft by 4 ft… not exactly sure how big I should make the hutch exactly and also enclosing the bottom for a small run next to the other run

 

[Padorna23]

You don't need to wait that long. They can start integration as soon as they're off heat.

Here are some useful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

How big is the coop, in square feet, please?

How big is the rabbit hutch?

Ideally I want to put the entire hutch into the run for a bit

 

[3KillerBs]

The coop is approximately 35 sq ft and the hutch I was just going to build something small… maybe something like 2ft by 4 ft… not exactly sure how big I should make the hutch exactly and also enclosing the bottom for a small run next to the other run

Chicks need 1/2 square feet each for the first 2-3 weeks, 1 square foot each for the next several weeks and 2 square feet each by 4-6 weeks -- recommendations vary.

The more space you can conveniently give them the better. They'll use it all.

This is my integration pen last year: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mini-coop-or-integration-pen-from-a-large-dog-crate.76593/