Little ones are pushing it!

[Jeffross1968]

So we have 10 chickens in our big coop/run, free ranging during the day. We also have 4 youngin's, maybe 10 or 12 weeks old, in our small coop/run. They also have been free ranging for a week or so now. Over the last couple days, they've been seen intruding on the big run. Today, I saw them poking their head into the big coop. They've been chased out a bunch, but always come back in. Over the last few hours, they've been in the run sharing it most of the time with our older chickens.

My question, is should I allow nature to take it's course, or force them to leave the big coop and continue in the smaller coop until I feel they are large enough to stand up for themselves if there is trouble? They have been free ranging together for nearly 2 weeks, all day. There has been some chasing and a little pecking, but nothing abnormal and no blood. My only worry is that they are on a different feed than the older ones. In fact, because the older ones have been going in the little coop during the day, I remove the medicated starter during the day, so that the older ones aren't eating it. If I was to allow free choice to all, they would certainly all be sharing each others food. Not sure how safe layer is for 10-12 week olds, and medicated starter is for layers?

 

[chi-rn]

At 10-12 weeks, I'm pretty sure your juveniles can be removed from medicated starter (I'm thinking somewhere around 6 weeks is right, but check package). You can offer all starter/grower feed, unmedicated, with oyster shell on the side for adults. Let nature take it's course. I did same as you. They were fine & by 13 weeks fully integrated into same coop... still establishing pecking order, but no big issues.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

I've been told to switch them all to grower feed and then supplement some oyster shells for the big girls. We have to integrate soon as well.