Merging my flock

[Cpb1974]

hello everyone, I have a 10x10 coop with a 60x13 ft attached chicken yard. Inside the coop I have a portable chicken cage where I keep my 12..8 week old chicks separated from my 3 adult hens and 1 rooster but still visible. 1/4 of my chicken yard is for my 8 week olds divided off from my adult chickens. When can I completely merge my chickens together????

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Well, you can't just throw them together...There's a whole process. You decide when they're old enough, but it's usually when they're big enough to take a few pecks and live outside.

 

[Cpb1974]

I be had it this way for about 1 week. Today I noticed my adult chicks , about 1.5 years old....dust bathing and soaking up the sun along next to my 8 week old chicks. I’m taking this as a good sign.

 

[aart]

8 weeks is pretty big but maybe make doors in cage that they will fit thru but not the older birds. This is how I merge chicks.

@blackdog043 has an even easier way using cardboard over front of crate with holes cut for doors. Shown in this post

That they are laying 'together' is a good sign, but all bets might be off once they can touch each other.


Here's some tips that might help.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[Cpb1974]

8 weeks is pretty big but maybe make doors in cage that they will fit thru but not the older birds. This is how I merge chicks.

@blackdog043 has an even easier way using cardboard over front of crate with holes cut for doors. Shown in this post

That they are laying 'together' is a good sign, but all bets might be off once they can touch each other.


Here's some tips that might help.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

THANK YOU!!! great advice

 

[Cpb1974]

THANK YOU!!! great advice

I just noticed you are from s/w Michigan, where about are you from? I’m in N/W Ohio .... literally right on the Michigan Ohio border next to 23

 

[aart]

I just noticed you are from s/w Michigan, where about are you from? I’m in N/W Ohio .... literally right on the Michigan Ohio border next to 23

Am due west of Kazoo, just shy of the Lake.