My experience joining 6 week olds with 3 year olds.

[PhantomSlayer]

I hatched out 6 out of 12 chicks using dry hatch method with my 36 egg incubator. It drove people insane because it has a low water alarm. I was gone for 2 out of 3 weeks and it was in my room and my mom said the alarm was annoying. Somehow I slept through the alarm at night.

Anyways I started trying to introduce them during the day at 4 weeks. I wanted to see what the adults would do. 8 out of 9 did fantastic. The problem child was the least expected to cause an issue. Shes a runt. But she had taken up being mom to a single chick that was raised by a broody (That wasnt her) And she pretty much had to be labeled as a predator. Her and the single chick (Pretty sure its a cockerel) were attacking the 6 week olds.

At 6 weeks I'm just tired of seeing them in the brooder. The temps outside are looking like their gonna start dropping. So I take the runt and her chick (Its a couple weeks older) out and stick them in the brooder. So far after 2 nights and on day 3. The 6 chicks are out of the corners but keeping distance from the adults. I've had to put them in each night and shut the door. But its a improvement. Once in a while there will be a peck but their not in a predator mode like the runt was.

I am wondering next time should I introduce chicks at night instead? I did it during the day as temps were closer to the house temp and the adults aside from the runt weren't being an issue. Our coop door usually stays open 24/7 unless severe winter temps. I'm not a morning person. Right now my mother is waking me up at 8am to open the door. Would it make it easier for them to understand that the coop is where their supposed to go at night? I don't have the heart to lock the birds up in the coop for a couple days. So just wondering if it would possibly make it easier than having to toss the chicks in every night next time lol. Cause I plan to add more chicks next year. This hatch was a test to see what colorations I get from our flock mix.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

Six weeks old with adults is always going to have issues until they grow to be the same size. In the meantime, having dual feed/water places and lots of clutter around for the little ones to hide under/behind will help them save themselves. By clutter, I mean pallets leaning against the side, logs and sticks set up so they can run underneath, overturned chairs, wooden box on it's side, etc.

They're going to be too scared to go in the same coop with those who terrorized them all day. You can try putting them in there every night, but by day, they're on the run to get away from the adults, so you'll probably see this same thing day after day. Eventually, they'll all get used to each other but that could take a couple of weeks because of the disparity in ages.

Turning a light on in the coop might help. If you don't have power, use a battery lantern or another type of light, then shut it off once they're in.

If you find out you have one or two main bullys to these little ones, and the others would all be okay with them, pull the bullys out for a week or so.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Did you do a "see-no-touch" setup for a couple of weeks before mixing them?

 

[rosemarythyme]

The problem child was the least expected to cause an issue. Shes a runt.

Being a runt is irrelevant as she's still bigger and older than the chicks, and it sounds like she's also being protective of the one chick she adopted on her own.

I am wondering next time should I introduce chicks at night instead?

How would that work? I see it as having chicks locked in an even smaller space (coop) and unable to escape or hide once the adults are up in the morning, as you mentioned you're not the type to be up at the crack of dawn.

What I would suggest "next time" is brooding out in the coop or run if possible, so the see-but-no-touch period is part of the brooding process, and to set up the brooder as a safe space for chicks to retreat once they begin meeting face to face with the rest of the flock. And to clutter up the run as much as possible, spreading feeding stations around behind said clutter.

By the time the chicks are ready to move into the coop they've already had a few weeks interacting with the adults, and I simply close up or remove the brooder so they can no longer use it. I manually put the chicks in the coop if they attempt to return to the brooder location and usually by the next night they'll automatically follow the adults to the coop instead.

More details and 3 batches of chick integration here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

 

[PhantomSlayer]

The timing is actually pretty good because I've been considering pulling the runt out to spoil her with higher protein feed. Before the single chick came along she for some odd reason was sleeping under the roosts on the poop board and I found she was getting her feathers pulled out. Once the single chick got ditched by the original mom she went back to nest box sleeping with it so the damage was no longer increasing. She was originally a nest box sleeper with 2 brahmas but the brahmas got taken by predators during our free range period.

I don't have power out there and I see no reason to change my brooding ways if she was the only problem. The others only give a peck when they try running up on them. Their mingling today so hoping their learning from the adults on where is safe.

I'm clearly not keeping the single cockerel chick the runt has as its a jerk and our rooster is so far proving to be a good rooster so why replace him. I'm honestly considering rehoming her as well. I'm thinking she'd work better with a flock mainly of bantams or smaller chickens or maybe a house chicken. Even though shes one out of 4 black australorps shes the smallest she gets picked on to the point shes become a frequent resident in the brooder. Anytime I come in the house with a chicken my parents take a single glance and end up saying "The runt again". Because its litterally always her for something. Whether a bath or injury. Shes a special little chicken that needs someone who can give her what she needs because clearly 8 other standard size chickens are to much for her.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think you are making excellent decision. And do move on birds that are not working in your flock in your set up. Let that pair go.

As to the chicks - I put mine in the flock between 3-4 weeks. I set up a one way gate, say in the corner of the pen. This is just fencing that is up off the ground high enough that the chicks can get out...and get back in, but keeps the bullies out. I call it a safety zone. And I feed in the safety zone food and water for the chicks.

The first time I put them out, I sit down there till one gets brave enough to come out of the pen, and I give a mock chase to that bird, and stop when they go in the safety zone.

I also, place about 5 feet away, a pallet laid flat up on stones or bricks, this is more in the center of the run, but it can be approached from all 4 sides, and chicks can scurry under it, and are out of sight.

I generally have chicks and layers eating side by side in a week. It works for me.

While in the brooder, at night, I put the chicks to sleep in a dog crate. I have the floor insulated, and a 2. 5 inches above the floor, another piece of insulation. I don't provide heat at night. At first I was afraid to do this, but my chicks were silent, and I stuck a thermometer in there and it was 98 degrees. They make a lot of heat. People think the broody hen makes a lot of heat, but mostly she just traps their heat around them.

So, when I take them to the safety zone, I put the small crate in there. At dark, they get into it. I pick it up and close it, and put it in the coop. Day three, I just unlock the dog crate in the coop. The first time I did this, it was an accident, and I got home late. I was down in the run, wondering where in the heck the chicks were...and they were in the crate in the coop! Works for me. I do have a coop that is at ground level.

Hope maybe some of these ideas will help. Chicks are much sturdier than people think, and I agree with you, fresh air and space to exercise makes for much stronger and healthier birds. Too many people keep them in too small of area, trying to keep them safe. When they really need exercise and space.

Mrs K