My experience joining 6 week olds with 3 year olds.

[PhantomSlayer]

The smaller space is my issue right now, since I am attempting to predator proof their regular large run. The run attached to the coop is too small to give the littles an area to escape to. I free range mine during the day and house them in a small coop off the side overnight. They don't seem to have issues if they are locked in the larger run for a period of time and they do fine free ranging the yard.

I went based off of how the flock acts. Their usually fairly tolerant of me doing anything around them. I've even taken our housecat out with a leash and harness and set her in the run while I did morning bird chores. They weren't to alarmed despite never seeing her before. I think part of it is thanks to our current rooster. He's fairly chill and observant.

He was one of the first ones to come over to the chicks when I first put them in. I stood off to the side watching ready to snatch him or a chick up but he just stared at them lowered his head a bit and turned it and then walked away like he was saying "Not a threat to worry about" And occasionally when one of the chicks would scream because an adult didn't like it running up under them and pecked it he would run over to them look at them and then walk away. I found it interesting to watch.

I don't know if its far fetched to say the easy introduction might be because of him. But I have a feeling it was easier than it should have been. I've heard so many horror stories about chicks getting killed thus why I did it on days when I could be around to supervise and the weather was good. Extending the times from only an hour at about 4 weeks to half the day and then the full day. And after a few days the weather started to dip I was like it's gone well their not huddling into the corner to much but their not exactly interacting so I decided what the heck and tossed them in to stay.

I had hoped they would learn from the adults to go in but because they weren't interacting the first few days it was a task to toss them in the coop. And then afterward it was another task to teach them to roost rather than try sleeping in the nest boxes because their on the ground.. Which I had a roost in the brooder but I think because the secondary roost in the coop is to close to the adults they were scared to go over there. Still have all 6.

 

[PhantomSlayer]

Update: Still a few days short until official count of fertile eggs in the incubator, broody hen still on 12. Haven't candled as I want to only do it once or twice if possible. Only had to remove a fresh egg a few days ago. I'm checking under her roughly every other day as thats when she comes out to eat during feeding time.

Today added the runt back in with her chick into the flock. It was really interesting seeing how they handled it. Is it weird to say I'm proud of our flock? Their so chill until the other bird deserves it lol. The runt went after one of the chicks and the chick fought back (It was a cockerel). Casanova (Our rooster) ran over got into the middle of the fight and she and him went at it for a moment. She stopped and tried again after he was back to eating he went right back at her and even one of our buff orpingtons joined in stopping her from hurting them. And then when I added her chick which the jerk bit me and starting screaming up a storm when I grabbed him from the brooder. He went after one of the chicks twice as well (another cockerel) who fought him back their pretty decent sized so he was holding his own against the jerk. First time Casanova stopped him and the second time our Gold Lace wyandotte got involved. She stayed on him chasing him around the pen. I actually witnessed her when she cornered him put her weight on him until he stopped moving. Like pinning him down. He stayed down for probably atleast 30 seconds like he was stunned. They've been fine unless they try chasing the chicks.

I'm assuming the rest of the flock accepted the chicks into their flock which means their under their protection. Either way their dealing with the trouble makers so I think their gonna do okay for now.