Mixing chicks with chickens/chicks? confusion

[Tannubyky]

I know there are tons of posts on this and I've read through many of them and searched on the internet generally to read blogs etc. I'm still very confused. I have 2 RIR's that haven't started laying eggs yet but have full feathers and are getting quite large. I'm guesstimating about 2-3 months old. We also got 4 Leghorn chicks today. If the RIR's were laying eggs and broody I know we could probably get one of them to adopt the babies but I'm trying to figure out if we can at least get them to accept each other as roomies. I think I'm confused because the posts all seem to say 'the older ones pick on the younger ones' but then I read personal accounts of people who have had successful integrations and I don't really think of our 2 RIR's as chicks and I didn't see many posts on mixing with chickens (except with broody hens). So anyone have any ideas on whether it's possible to mix these guys? I was thinking of putting a mesh cage with the chicks in the coop so they can get used to each other without danger to the chicks... think this will work? Anyhow I'd really appreciate some thoughts/ideas/insights even though this is a pretty popular question!!! Thanks!


(Oh and I'm not too worried about the temp issue, the lady we bought the chicks from had recently moved them outside, and the temps here are already hitting in the 90's (73-96*F) and the lows are pretty steady around 60.

 

[bock]

I am almost 100% sure the rirs will rip them apart just like a mouse or a lizard. If they would have been broody for at least 21 days you would have a chance at them accepting them.

 

[patnjess]

my RIR just scalped my 2 1/2 month old EE I could give you pictures this was last night its not pretty he will live I think but I would wait.

 

[Tannubyky]

If we keep them close to each other but separated (as in the cage idea within the coop) will we have to keep them this way until the little guys are a couple of months old as well then?

 

[Tannubyky]

Quote:
That is pretty gruesome, I think I'd rather not see it! I'm not trying to mix the 2 1/2 month olds with older birds though (We've always been pretty successful with mixing the teenagers with the adults, but it's always hard to figure how they'll react at first so I'm really sorry to hear about what happened to your EE!!!) I've just never tried mixing the babies with the few month old hens.

 

[Iheartmyhens]

Cuurrently I have three young chicks old enough to be ouside in a large parrot cage in the sideyard with my pullets-it's more to keep them safe from cats as they are small enough to be catbait! I only let them out when I am with them. The hen lowest in the pecking order, Mabel, LOVES to bully them! I have to discourage her from that. We have lots of room so the chicks can run away-otherwise, I'm convinced Mabel would beat them up pretty badly & I wouldn't put it past her to kill one if she were able to trap it.

I haven't had chickens long, but from what I have seen and read so far, I would keep the chicks secure in a different area but within sight of your hens, & not let them out unsupervised until they are much larger, ESPECIALLY if your chicken yard is small and they don't have enough room to run away from any bullying.(They are gonna get pecked at a little, but I don't think a hen should be chasing them around so she can beat the tar outta them-it's the difference of telling a nosey chick to get outta your way & administrating a beat-down-you know it when you see it.) Be ready to step in if needed. Even my dominant hen, Isabella, who crows, now recognizes me as top bird and will crouch down if I stand up or walk very close to her. While you're there, they will leave the chicks be for the most part if you put yourself between the chicks & any mean hens, but I wouldn't let them out unattended.

Besides, if you don't hang out with them, you don't get to enjoy watching them explore their new world!

 

[Tannubyky]

Thanks I <3, I completely forgot about cats! I was so concerned about the older girls... I'm going to just partition off part of the coop & smaller run (so it's totally secure, but completely visible to the others) till they're a few months themselves. By then our cat will ignore them (She's a hunter but stays away from the other pets once she knows that's what they are) and all of the chickens should be completely used to each other so the mixing of 2 month with 5 month olds shouldn't be an issue. I think that'll work out best for all involved!!! Thanks everyone!