Introduction of new members to the flock

[aart]

In the winter, we get well below freezing, so I wanted them to be able to stay warm,

They have feathers to keep them warm. Fresh air is much more important.
You wouldn't sit next to your wood stove with your down coat and leggings on would you?
Think of being a closed not running car in winter, windows fog up pretty quick right?
Here's some insight....it's a hard one to get used to.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts.1048597/

The soffits are blocked off but definitely not "sealed" So there is air in and out of them.

I like wide open soffits, best protected ventilation for winter.
See my Coop page.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As for the run, I will be increasing its size soon but it will be getting longer, not much wider. I'm thinking it will be roughly 6-7 ft wide but 18-20ft long.

Aart, I live in Caldwell, Idaho. I am about 30 minutes outside of Boise. We are having warm days and cold nights right now. 65-75 in the day but getting down in the mid-30s at night. The coop is well built so it stays warm inside, as well as, I run a heat lamp throughout the night.

Since the coop can't get bigger, definitely make the run bigger. 7' wide should at least "acceptable" as far as chicken pecking order is concerned, as dominant birds can chase lower ranked birds that get too close to their personal space ("too close" being around 5').

You really don't need the heat lamp, especially right now. Really. I would have no problem allowing 5 week old chicks to live out in those temperatures without any added heat, and you're dealing with 10 week olds. Chickens deal with cold far better than heat.

 

[dustinheft]

I'm sorry.
You are not the first to be misinformed, there's a lot of inaccurate info out there.


At 8 weeks they don't need heat.
Now I'll break you heart a little more.
You don't want a coop to 'hold heat', you want lots of ventilation to allow ammonia laden moist air to escape the coop.
Is the soffit area under the eaves open?
Might want to add some top hinged windows for winter light and summer ventilation.

Is that it's final resting place?
Does the patio roof run off onto the coop?

Hello,

I am happy to let you know that I have taken all of your advice and made the modifications you had suggested. I have significantly enlarged the run as it is now 25ft x 8.5ft, I was limited to how wide I could go due to the fence but while the little ones are outside everyone seems to get along.

As for light and airflow, I have cut in 2 windows that are allowing that natural light to flow in as well as added in a timed (2hours) low-watt light bulb. I had to add something to help them go inside in the evenings (worked in about 2 nights actually). I have also cut out multiple soffits to get that high-level ventilation going, As we heat up I may look into a small gable but I want to check that out later in the summer.

The little chicks have been in the coop for a little over a week now. I gave them "hiding spots" within the coop that the larger chickens cannot access. Also added food and water that they can access separate from the larger ones. Things are starting to get better in there but I still notice a lot of hiding from the little ones. I am hoping things calm down soon. On the brighter note, we have never had any blood or injuries from this transition and pecking. 2 of the 3 older chickens couldn't care less about the little ones but 1 of them (Barred Plymouth) is just downright mean to them.

I guess I was writing this to say thank you for your advice and I really did take it and run with it. You have been huge in creating a happy coop. I am hoping in the coming weeks we will have a happy cohesive coop as the "pecking order" is established.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I'm so glad everything is working out!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Pics are always nice these are my littles mingling with my bigs

 

[dustinheft]

Pics are always nice these are my littles mingling with my bigs

I will grab some photos in a few hours after they are out wondering. However, when you "free-range" them like that, how do you make sure they don't fly away or wander off? I am in an urban setting with a decent grassy backyard, however, I have a 6ft wooden fence around it with neighbors w/ dogs on all sides. I fear that if they take a good running start they could get over the fence? Not to change the subject of this trend, just curious.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I will grab some photos in a few hours after they are out wondering. However, when you "free-range" them like that, how do you make sure they don't fly away or wander off? I am in an urban setting with a decent grassy backyard, however, I have a 6ft wooden fence around it with neighbors w/ dogs on all sides. I fear that if they take a good running start they could get over the fence? Not to change the subject of this trend, just curious.

The littles were confined to just the run and coop for a couple weeks, that way they know where they are supposed to be. After that I just opened the gate and let them do their thing. All my ladies will come when called so if I need them to go in before dusk it's no problem. They also have learned a lot from my big girls which makes things a bit easier All chickens are different, so I can't say for sure if yours would "fly the coop" or not. Mine do not leave my property really and if they start toi try and wander I don't let them out for a couple days to "free range" and that seems to do the trick

 

[Ridgerunner]

Things are starting to get better in there but I still notice a lot of hiding from the little ones. I am hoping things calm down soon. On the brighter note, we have never had any blood or injuries from this transition and pecking

This really sounds good. My definition of a successful integration is that no one gets hurt. All that one big happy cuddly flock can and will come later. My chicks tend to form a sub-flock, coexisting with the bigs but avoiding them as much as possible, day and night. If they invade the personal space of an older chicken they are likely to get pecked. It doesn't take them log to learn to not invade that personal space.

About the time my pullets start laying they seem to graduate from that immature aggravating brat stage to an acceptable adult stage. That's when they start roosting on the main roosts with the adults and maybe hang with them during the day. They may still occasionally form a clique that sort of hang together but that is by choice, not because of self-preservation.

Each time I do this it is different. Sometimes I get a group of hens and chicks that can hang together even at a young age. Each chicken has its own personality. With mine separate is a lot more common than together.

Good luck. Sounds like you are on the right path.

 

[Boppo]

Welcome to Back Yard Chickens! We are so glad you came. And you will find that so many people here have great knowledge and are generous about sharing if asked! It's a fun bunch, too! Hello from eastern Massachusetts!

 

[Boppo]

Great pictures, by the way!