Mixed ages and Integration

[AlanaIRL]

I have 6 pulleys that are 11 weeks, 2 that are 9 weeks in the coop. They do well together. Now I have 2 that are 6 weeks still inside. I took them out and left them in a cage next to the coop for a couple days when the weather was mild. Now there is a cold snap and they aren’t quite fully feathered, so I have them inside. I did take them for supervised visits inside the coop but the others were so mean that I only stayed about 10 min each time before I had to leave with them because they were getting pecked a lot. So, now what? Do I wait until the are bigger and can hold their own? Do I force it by taking them back into the coop with me? They can’t be full time yet because of the cold but also they might get pecked to death. Help!

 

[rosemarythyme]

How big is this cage? If it's small can you separate out a portion of the run or coop for the younger birds to use for 1-2 weeks to begin integrating them with the others?

What types of chicks are these? At 6 weeks old they should be mostly feathered in and able to handle freezing temps as long as you've weaned them off heat and have been introducing them to outside temps, and can provide them with access to a good spot for shelter from the elements (i.e. the coop).

 

[Mrs. K]

In this situation a lot depends on your set up. How much space do you have and how you have that space set up.

What you need is a lot of clutter in the run. You don’t need them to be used to each other and friends, rather you need them to be able to escape each other and get out of sight.

So look up clutter in the run. Often times the run space is a wide open rectangle where birds can see every other bird 100% of the time. What one needs is platforms, roosts, and mini walls so that birds can get under, behind, or on top of something and disappear.

A safety zone is also priceless. It is an area where the chicks can get out of and into, but the bigger girls can’t follow them. I feed and water in there too. It can be a fence a couple inches off the ground, or woven wire that is big enough for chicks but not for bigger birds.

I may be wrong but this sounds like chicken math, where more is better. But I am a bit worried that you have enough space for chicks, but might not for full size birds.

Post a picture of your set up, and we can give better advice.

Mrs K