Merging Flock Questions

[Sunshine Coop]

I don’t plan on getting any more chicks until next year but I have a few questions on combining flocks. When is the proper age to merge them? Should I wait to merge them until they are all on the same feed? If not how to do make sure the chicks are on grower feed and my ladies are on layer feed? Will my rooster bother the new chicks? I know this is a lot and I’m sorry . Thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

How old and how big are your respective groups?

The food is the easy part - everyone eats what the chicks are eating. But whether you should try integrating early or later depends on a number of factors, such as your space and set up, size/age of birds involved, etc.

 

[Mrs. K]

I vote earlier the better, I get mine into the flock between 3 and 4 weeks. I set up a safety zone for about a week, and it works perfectly well for me.

A LOT depends on your set up size, and the number of birds in the older flock, and the number of chicks.

Mrs K

 

[NNYchick]

I do the same as Mrs K, I put them out in the coop in a safe area the chicks can get in and out of but the older flock can’t get in at 2 weeks after a few days they start inspecting out of the brooder area and between 3-4 weeks they are out most of the time hanging out with the flock, but always have their heat and own food and water. I feed everyone chick starter grower. I find intragration harder the older they get. The young chicks aren’t even really noticed. This works well with my silkies and bantam Ameraucanas. I also hatch a lot with broody in the coop so the flock is used to chicks being around.

 

[Sunshine Coop]

How old and how big are your respective groups?

The food is the easy part - everyone eats what the chicks are eating. But whether you should try integrating early or later depends on a number of factors, such as your space and set up, size/age of birds involved, etc.

By the time I get the new chicks (probably 4-6) my older chickens will be about a year old. I have 3 hens and 1 rooster. My coop is set up to easily support 8 chickens and 12 at the max.

 

[Sunshine Coop]

I do the same as Mrs K, I put them out in the coop in a safe area the chicks can get in and out of but the older flock can’t get in at 2 weeks after a few days they start inspecting out of the brooder area and between 3-4 weeks they are out most of the time hanging out with the flock, but always have their heat and own food and water. I feed everyone chick starter grower. I find intragration harder the older they get. The young chicks aren’t even really noticed. This works well with my silkies and bantam Ameraucanas. I also hatch a lot with broody in the coop so the flock is used to chicks being around.
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One of my hens I know would be a great mother, but my rooster scares me. He would definitely not be a good father. He‘s only been in contact with one chick. It was a wild bird trying to fly for the first time that landed in the coop. He tried to kill it and feed it to his ladies. I had to save it. He was younger then, but I still would not trust him.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I keep my chicks in brooder with a heat lamp until they don't need the heat lamp anymore. Then they get integrated into the flock. I have the space and room to do a 2-3 week see but no touch integration. Everyone gets fed what the chicks eat until the youngest starts laying eggs. Just keep providing oyster shells and grit separately and as a free choice.

 

[CluckerFamily]

One of my hens I know would be a great mother, but my rooster scares me. He would definitely not be a good father. He‘s only been in contact with one chick. It was a wild bird trying to fly for the first time that landed in the coop. He tried to kill it and feed it to his ladies. I had to save it. He was younger then, but I still would not trust him.

Doing an integration would help.

 

[Sunshine Coop]

Doing an integration would help.

Ok thank you!

 

[Joe Wooten]

" Doing an integration would help. "

How about a derivation?