need help joining chicks with adult chickens

[Kulyks]

I have 21 three-month-old chicks (20 pullets, one roo) that I have so far been keeping in a roomy cage in our garage, straw for bedding, and letting them out to roam for about an hour or so every evening. However, for the past two weeks or so, they've been getting very crowded, but I've been apprehensive about moving them in with my adult chickens. Today I finally plucked up the nerve. I carried them to the run and let them out there - the 9 adult hens were still locked in their coop. After about an hour or so, I let the hens out, and utter chaos erupted. They flew everywhere, pecking all the little ones, chasing them away from all the food, etc. I know that this is normal - pecking order and all needs to be established - but I couldn't bear it, I had to catch the adults and lock them back in the coop. Is there any way I can make the change less traumatizing for everyone, especially myself?

(I also have the feeling I may have posted this in the wrong place. Is there already a thread for something like this? If so, please excuse me, I'm rather new here, and redirect me to it. Thanks a bunch.

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[chicmom]

Well, your younger chickens are probably alot smaller than the adults. I never integrate until the chicks and adults are nearly the same size, because the bigger adults can really hurt or even kill the younger ones.

I do understand your problem with the garage brooder not being big enough though! That makes things rough indeed! (And a stinky garage)

Do you have enough space for free ranging, where you could have the adults use a different door in your coop and just free range, while the babies are in the run? That's what I've had to do. After about two weeks, then I let the babies free range with the adults. That way, the babies can run and hide if the adults pick on them.

Eventually, everybody gets used to eachother and all is well.

 

[Kulyks]

Yep, that sounds like what I'm going to have to do. I don't have another place where the younger ones can be right now, so I guess they'll have to stay in the run while adults free range, like you said. I don't have a second door to the coop, but I could have my sister come with me and herd the little ones away from the door, then let the older ones out. They'll run straight out to free range, and then I'll close the door again...

Sounds good, but I hope it doesn't carry on too long. I just feel sorry for the chicks, like you said, they're still really small. It's probably a bad idea to have them mingle until they're much older, but, you know, I had this ridiculous dream of having all my chicks getting along wonderfully... *sigh* of course that'll never happen.

Anyway, thanks, that's a good idea.

 

[chicmom]

Not ridiculous at all! They will work things out and get along just fine. Just give them time.

 

[bucky52]

it's been 11 days since i merged my chicks in with the hens.the chicks are 14 weeks old.i have two chicken coops on each end of their run.at first the hens would charge and peck the young ones until they would run and hide.this morning i was giving them some scratch all in one run.and the hens would take two or three steps,toward the young ones.than stop.so hoping before long all will be peaceful.in a few short weeks i'am going to have to find homes for some young roos.