Love my chicks

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Emerald64

Emerald64

Hatching
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Apr 15, 2015
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So excited to start a new adventure. I currently have two Barred Rocks (6 wks. old), a Rhode Island Red (6wks.), and two Golden Comets (3 wks.). I obviously have two brooding boxes in my house due to the differences in age and heat requirements for the peepers. Hope it is okay to ask a question up front. The older chicks will go into the coop in about a week. I have a pressing concern, how do I introduce the younger chicks to the older chicks once they are old enough for the coop?
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
frow.gif


So glad you could join our community!

Great that you are concerned about mixing. It is not wise to just throw two flocks together without an introduction. All chaos can break out and can turn bloody. There is a strict pecking order that each flock follows.

The easiest way to do this is to keep the newer younger birds in an enclosure or cage in the coop and run within the flock at all times. I like to use those peck n play enclosures or even a large wire dog crage. Leave them this way for about 3 weeks. Everybody sees, nobody touches. After about 3 weeks you can mix them together. Watch them closely that first week and always intervene if it turns bloody. You may also need to go up at roosting time to make sure the younger ones find a spot on the roost bar. I normally get the younger ones at one end and the older group at the other. I also like to put out extra feed and watering stations for the new birds. The older birds can guard these areas and starve them out. It takes a while for new birds to be accepted by the older flock. But there isn't too many weeks between your flocks, so the mixing may go better than you expect.

Enjoy all these babies you have and welcome to our flock!
 
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TwoCrows gave the recommended method. Sometimes I'll take one chicken out there, put them in the run, and stay out there to supervise. It will take a while to get them adjusted, but it can happen.

Good luck with your chicks!
 
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Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your flock!
 

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