My run inside of the run!

[Parkerscoop]

I've been trying over the last 3to 4 weeks to introduce my littles to my 4 month olds....they have spent the last few weeks in a dog crate inside the chicken coop. The big girls haven't really bothered them until I started to let the littles out to mingle...welllllll needless to say it doesn't take long for the big girls to start beating up on the littles. They peck(which I know is normal), chase and started to rip feathers out of the littles when they catch up with them.
So today I put together a small 8 foot run for the littles to put inside the big girls run.
Do you think this will help with them accepting the chicks into the flock?

 

[Streetview]

What a great Idea! I hope it helps!

 

[sunflour]

Nice idea. I have no experience in new additions to a flock, but have read it is best to let them see each other before moving in. I think this is exactly what the experts would recommend.

 

[Parkerscoop]

Thanks! I hope it helps as well!
It's been a frustrating few weeks not being able to let them out. And then when I did having to catch 6 chicks to put back in a safe cage wasn't fun!

 

[callgood]

That is a good idea and I think it will help alot. I have a small run next to the main run that I leave them in until they get some size to them. When I introduce them the transistion is pretty smooth. I still have some pecking and chasing that happens which is normal. Just so the new ones are big enough to run away it is not a problem.

 

[Parkerscoop]

I think it may be helping actually. I just looked out a bit ago and it's almost like they are "grazing" together ! ( of course with a fence between them though. Lol)
This is what I saw...

 

[Parkerscoop]

How long do you generally keep them separated before introducing them to the flock?

 

[Parkerscoop]

Well, the last 2 evenings I let the little girls out in the run with the big girls. Last evening there were a couple of the bigs that chased , pecked and ripped out feathers!
Tonight they did still chase and peck but it was a much easier time. They seemed to mingle a bit easier ! I know they have to establish pecking order so as long as they aren't tearing out their feathers and drawing blood I'm ok with it. Lol
Maybe the run inside the run actually works??