OK, so I have 4 now 5 week olds (2 BA's, 2 BR's), along with 2 now two week olds (Wellies) who were integrated 2 weeks ago. They are loose in the coop (they are the only ones in there. I had no trouble integrating them. I have just brought home 2 day old GL Wyandottes. I built a brooder (chickenwire sided) and put it in the coop with the big girls, thinking that the proximity with the big girls would ease the integration. The brooder has an ecoglow in it for warmth. I have been putting the 2 week olds into the brooder with the babies at night, thinking at least the babies will have 2 'friendly' coopmates from day one. They seem to be getting along well, sleep together and all that.
During the day I let the 2 week olds loose in the coop to maintain their relationship with the 5 week olds. I also am going into the coop a coupla times a day and letting the babies out in the group in hopes that they all will get used to each other. I stay in there with them for about an hour or so, making sure they don't get picked on. It is obvious that the Wellies and the babies are getting along fine. One of my BA's (this pullet is the one that has sort of mothered my 2 Week old Wellies since I got them) doesn't HATE the new babies, as she allows them to get close and doesn't peck at them.
But, the only thing that keeps the BR's from pecking the babies is obviously my presence and the fact that I shoo them away. I'm hoping that what I'm doing, however, will make the integration easier than if I waited til the babies are sufficiently large. I have all the time in the world, so it's no big deal for me to spend time in the coop with them. I never leave the babies out with them when I'm not around to referee.
Any ideas whether I'm wasting my time or not?
During the day I let the 2 week olds loose in the coop to maintain their relationship with the 5 week olds. I also am going into the coop a coupla times a day and letting the babies out in the group in hopes that they all will get used to each other. I stay in there with them for about an hour or so, making sure they don't get picked on. It is obvious that the Wellies and the babies are getting along fine. One of my BA's (this pullet is the one that has sort of mothered my 2 Week old Wellies since I got them) doesn't HATE the new babies, as she allows them to get close and doesn't peck at them.
But, the only thing that keeps the BR's from pecking the babies is obviously my presence and the fact that I shoo them away. I'm hoping that what I'm doing, however, will make the integration easier than if I waited til the babies are sufficiently large. I have all the time in the world, so it's no big deal for me to spend time in the coop with them. I never leave the babies out with them when I'm not around to referee.
Any ideas whether I'm wasting my time or not?