Need Expert Integration Adivce - PLEASE

[dbounds10]

I have new spring chickens that I need some help with. I have 5 hens that are 3 years old. I just integrated them with 2 chicks I ended up with that are about 4-5 months old and they are doing well.

BUT - I have 4 chicks in a separate pen that are about 2 months old and another set of 5 chicks that are about 1 month old. Some how I need to get all 16 of there chickens integrated.

Do you think I could get the 1 month olds and 2 month olds together or is there to much of a size difference? I don't have room for the 1 month olds once they outgrow the brooder (a large dog crate in garage) in a couple weeks.. I am in a pinch here!!

Here is my set up and some pics of the girls I need to put together.

2 month olds



1 Month Olds


My 2 connected coops and the outside pen

 

[Mehjr10]

Can you get the younger ones pen in the same run as the older guys, and let them socialize for a day or two?

 

[dbounds10]

I am thinking about that. It is right next to it now but I could move it inside. I don't want to leave them out there permanent cause I hate for them to sleep outside the coop. Its a huge ordeal to move them in and out of the garage.

What I am asking is if I do move the pen out into the run for a few days, and then let them be together, are the young ones 2 small to defend against an attack from the 2 month olds.

 

[Mehjr10]

If the run is secure from predators, i would put the cage and maybe the small carrier in the run and let them stay for a couple of days then mix them in and watch to see how they do. You can also put the cage where the bigger ones can not get in but the smaller ones can so if they get chased they have somewhere to go for shelter. The ages being that close should not be as bad as adding to an adult flock.

 

[Mrs. K]

there is still quite a size difference though, but the younger ones should be closer to size in another month. That is your best safest bet, time.

The barrier, where the little ones can get to, and the bigger ones can't follow is the next best idea. The little ones are probably still huddling on the ground, so put the large dog crate in the run, put up the one way barrier and the chicks will still sleep in the carrier, then later put the carrier in the coup, and they will go into the coup to get into the carrier. Not a huge transition.

I think you have a good idea, putting the younger ones together, and then later adding the that group to the older birds, but it might be a rough couple of weeks.

Mrs K

 

[dbounds10]

Thanks Mrs K. I sent you a PM with some more question but will ask here as well. One of my smallest group is a BO Roo. I have heard it gets ugly when you put a young Roo in with adult hens. I think he will be OK with the small group (1 and 2 months old) but when I put them all together with the 5 adults will he just get mugged? Should I keep the young group separate until they are like 6 months old?

I have a very large yard (1/2 acre) so when I integrated 2 pullets in with those 5 I did it by letting them all free range together during the day and had them sleep in separate coops for a couple weeks then I let them sleep together. It still gets pretty loud and brutal in there come sun down but it is getting better now.

Oh and I plan on "shutting down" the smaller coop (the one on the left in the photo) by just taking out the ramp and closing the door once all 16 are integrated and housing them all in the larger coop. I will use the small coop for sick or injured birds that need to be quarantined.

 

[centrarchid]

I always try to add older to younger rather than younger to older making so older birds to not have home court advantage. Additionally, when practical the older birds are added singly at one day intervals. The dominant older bird is moved first. This sets up so subsequent older birds must deal with preceding additions and thus do not have the group mentality associated with one group picking on another.