Look don’t touch question

[CrockChickens9]

Sounds pretty successful to me! Congrats!

 

[The Good Grumble]

So we built a frame and blocked the coop off so the chicks are in the older pullets presence 24/7 instead of being in the brooder in the garage at night. We still move them to the enclosure in the run in the morning right at the same time as the pop door opens for the big girls. It’s only been two nights and they are already better during the day! They free ranged together and the Australorp only chased one once. She is much less concerned with them and no pecking. No time together in the run yet but I’m going to go nice and slow. I’ll continue to update for anyone interested.

This is what I do when I integrate the flock, there’s a cage in the run and the coop. The babies I wait until they are almost the same size before they get run free range. In the morning I let the big girls out, closet the coop door and transfer the babies to their in-run sanctuary.

The big girls ticked me off one day and I made them swap places. The babies got free range of the run while the big girls sulked in the baby cage.

 

[CrockChickens9]

So they have been free ranging “together” for about a week with no issues. I say “together” because they are in two separate groups but they do cross paths on occasion without issue. They will at times end up in the run together since I leave the door open so today when they came in we let them mingle for a bit in the run and closed them up together. It was ok. Nothing too aggressive just some pecking and chasing at times. After about 30 minutes the Australorp’s chasing intensified a bit, still no blood or anything terrible but we put them back in their respective areas because we couldn’t continue to monitor them at that time. They are still in the coop together at night with the barrier. So I’m wondering is that the best it’s going to get until I just put them together and let them work it out or is it still worth going slowly? I don’t want to just delay for no benefit but I also don’t want to force it when they are not read. Anyone with a similar experience have advice? Thanks!

 

[rosemarythyme]

So they have been free ranging “together” for about a week with no issues. I say “together” because they are in two separate groups but they do cross paths on occasion without issue.

Normal and expected even with a well integrated flock of pullets to hens.

They will at times end up in the run together since I leave the door open so today when they came in we let them mingle for a bit in the run and closed them up together. It was ok. Nothing too aggressive just some pecking and chasing at times. After about 30 minutes the Australorp’s chasing intensified a bit, still no blood or anything terrible but we put them back in their respective areas because we couldn’t continue to monitor them at that time. They are still in the coop together at night with the barrier. So I’m wondering is that the best it’s going to get until I just put them together and let them work it out or is it still worth going slowly? I don’t want to just delay for no benefit but I also don’t want to force it when they are not read. Anyone with a similar experience have advice? Thanks!

I'd let them work it out. You actually do want to give birds a chance to handle things themselves if they get pecked or chased - the new additions need to learn 1) who to avoid and 2) how to best minimize the attack and if you keep stepping in they'll never learn. Unless injury is imminent or a bird is being bullied to the point where it can't eat, drink, escape harassment, etc., I would do nothing.

 

[CrockChickens9]

Yes, that’s what I have figured and the little ones do seem to know to try to stay away from them and can usually escape pretty easily. Their cage/enclosure in the run is really in the way and makes moving about the run a little more difficult for them. I’m hesitant though to remove it in case it goes horribly. I guess I could always set it back up. Will the chasing and pecking stop eventually? It would be helpful to know what a normal time frame is if there is one. I’ve heard once they are laying things settle but that’s pretty far away for them. I just worry about the chicks never having any down time to not be looking out for the older two. It seems stressful for them. I also am not sure what is harmless pecking and what could turn into real injury for the chicks. I guess I’m just struggling with how much is too much for the chicks. I don’t want anyone to get injured because of my inexperience. Thanks!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes, that’s what I have figured and the little ones do seem to know to try to stay away from them and can usually escape pretty easily. Their cage/enclosure in the run is really in the way and makes moving about the run a little more difficult for them. I’m hesitant though to remove it in case it goes horribly.

I'd replace it with other clutter that's more solid and less "in the way." Can be stuff like plant pots, patio chairs, pallets, a sawhorse, etc.

Will the chasing and pecking stop eventually? It would be helpful to know what a normal time frame is if there is one. I’ve heard once they are laying things settle

Yes, things settle when the young birds come into lay due to hormones. As far as what's a normal time frame, it probably depends on the personalities in the flock. Most of my hens ignore the chicks but even the more aggressive ones kind of run out of energy to harass after a couple of weeks - chicks simply have more get up and go than older birds.

but that’s pretty far away for them. I just worry about the chicks never having any down time to not be looking out for the older two. It seems stressful for them. I also am not sure what is harmless pecking and what could turn into real injury for the chicks.

If chicks can escape from the attacker, they're generally going to be ok. Blood drawn or large patches of feathers being yanked out would be concerning, but things usually only get bad if chicks get cornered and have no escape, so any clutter added needs to have both an entrance and escape (i.e. a clutter item against the run wall would work far better pulled away from the wall maybe 8-12", so that provides an alley of escape).

 

[aart]

Can be stuff like plant pots, patio chairs, pallets, a sawhorse, etc.

Yes!
Like these:
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[CrockChickens9]

I'd replace it with other clutter that's more solid and less "in the way." Can be stuff like plant pots, patio chairs, pallets, a sawhorse, etc.

Yes, things settle when the young birds come into lay due to hormones. As far as what's a normal time frame, it probably depends on the personalities in the flock. Most of my hens ignore the chicks but even the more aggressive ones kind of run out of energy to harass after a couple of weeks - chicks simply have more get up and go than older birds.

If chicks can escape from the attacker, they're generally going to be ok. Blood drawn or large patches of feathers being yanked out would be concerning, but things usually only get bad if chicks get cornered and have no escape, so any clutter added needs to have both an entrance and escape (i.e. a clutter item against the run wall would work far better pulled away from the wall maybe 8-12", so that provides an alley of escape).

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I appreciate all the information you shared. I will remove the cage and get some appropriate clutter in there. I think I just have to get myself comfortable with the fact that the chicks are going to have a difficult time for a bit. Hopefully it will pass soon. I do think one of my girls is a bit more aggressive but as you said hopefully tires out eventually. We work from home and have cameras so we can keep an eye on the situation. Should this apply to the coop at night as well? Should I take down the barrier in there at the same time? Thank you again!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Should this apply to the coop at night as well? Should I take down the barrier in there at the same time? Thank you again!

I consider the coop the last frontier, mainly because I'm not ever going to be up when the chickens start their day. So I wait until I'm fairly confident that both sides can tolerate each other outside, before expecting them to share a smaller, confined space inside.

 

[CrockChickens9]

Wanted to update the thread for anyone who needs it. Everyone is fully integrated! It’s been a week of all day and night together in the run and coop. They had been in the run together all day and a barrier at night for a few days but a week ago when we got home a little later than we usually put them to bed they had all gone to bed together by the time we got home. We have a camera so we watched. They were not letting them in to roost. They would peck them out the door whenever they came in. We really owe it to our brave little Sapphire Sky “Eleanor” who went in alone confidently hopped on the roost took the pecks and then huddled into my big girls to sleep right next to them. I was shocked. The second she leaned in to huddle next to them they settled down with her and the other three scrambled in and up on the roost down at the other end. Over the next few nights it was easier and easier and Eleanor did rejoin roosting with her crew down the bar a bit but aside from a few pecks now and then the coexist quite nicely! We had to let them out early than usual the first few days but now they wait together for the door to open on the daylight timer. Thank you all for your support! I know there will likely be bumps but I’m so pleased with how it’s gone. The second I trusted that they would work it out themselves it went much smoother and faster!