Nursery in the Run

[Flip-N-Flogging]

It’s another beautiful day here, all the chickens and, well smaller chickens are all out and about. I was noticing all the chickens out by their devidong fence, all next to each other. While yes, there is still a size difference, I was thinking how the little birds aren’t too far off from looking the part. So, I’m wondering, at what point should I begin to really let them meet each other? Without a partition between them? I feel ready, I’m wondering if they all do?...

 

[aart]

Are the big birds in the new shed coop?

 

[Flip-N-Flogging]

Yeah, so the big girls have been out there for about four or five days now. We had to heard them in the first night, and there’s been a couple little learning curves, but all in all it was an easy transition.

 

[aart]

Are the chicks living in the big birds old tiny coop or still inside at night?

 

[Flip-N-Flogging]

The little birds have been in the coop a week now. I have a fence partion separating the bigs and littles, they each have separate doors the yard. The chicks just have a little yard tied to the side of the coop within the yard. That way the big birds see them from the inside and can also see them on all sides of their little run

 

[aart]

I'd join open the run separation and see what happens.

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[Flip-N-Flogging]

So, today, when I got home from work...I decided to let the little chicks out for a little while. I figure I’ll begin to let mingle here and there a little before the big shebang.

I let them out maybe a half hour, tops. I would say it went pretty good.

My big girls are Wyandottes. Majority of the little girls(and one little cockerel) are Wyandottes, and I was talked into two cuckoo marans when I was buying chicks. Now I’ve never had marans, but these little pullets have got to be the sweetest things I have ever owned next to my Cochin I had once upon a time. That said, and this was even the case amongst the little chicks, but we learned real fast who’s gonna be at the bottom of the pecking order. Other then at least one of those little girls getting singled out here and there, all went well.

Ill need to get a good update with a picture once the nursery in the run, has turned into a coop and a new flock.

 

[Flip-N-Flogging]

Tomorrow is a big day for the little birds. I closed them up for the evening and broke down their outside pen...when everyone gets up and out tomorrow morning, they will all be sharing a run. Once they’re all out, I’ll take down the inside partition as well. They’ll all have to work it out. The biggest thing I’ll be worried about is who is eating what, but that’s probably not even that big of a deal.

 

[Flip-N-Flogging]

Well it’s not quite been two weeks, but things are at a surprisingly good place since everyone is without barrier and all the birds, old and new are all together. I will say though, there is definitely an obvious, “two flock” separation between the older girls and the new birds.

The younger birds, all in all hang together pretty tightly together, but are quickly learning to branch out and explore individually or in pairs and are getting very familiar with their new space. I’ve even caught some overlap here and there with intermingling amongst the crews. Really, as long as the younger birds don’t have something totally awesome, or I’m not throwing snacks out in the run, there’s a pretty decent overall peace.

They seem to take rotation on daytime use of the coop. Which means they are in a rotation for feeding as well. But, when the bigs girls are ready, they take it over in a hurry.

Bedtime has been good. The big girls take roost high and mighty and generally seem to be letting two of the little girls on the low roost, while our new little cockerel and his crew still take the chick perch that was set up early on.

But again, overall, I can already see light at the end of the tunnel. Once our new roo takes a stance though, I’m really curious to see how things may change up yet again.

 

[aart]

It's pretty fascinating to watch, isn't it?