What are the other kinds of chickens that you have? Sometimes standard full size birds do not mix well with polish, no matter what you do.
I have had very good luck with a one way fence inside the run. This allows the chicks themselves to make the decision when they want to try integration and for how long. If it gets too tough, they can escape to an safe zone through the one way fence. Much better than people deciding when and how to do things.
I would not do a heat lamp unless you are talking less than 2 weeks old. They will need wind protection. A wooly hen or a heating pad cave works better than a heat lamp.
Mrs K
Yes I am talking about less than 2 weeks old, so they will know eachother practically their whole life. I have 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Buff orpington, 2 EE. My first integration went well, not a single drop of blood drawn. I am going to try the one way door method, but with my coop setup it’s a little hard. I can’t cut the run wire because then I’d have to replace it and it’s just a ton of work. The only thing I can think of is leaving the run door open, and making the chick-zone come out of that. Then I wouldn’t have to cut anything from the coop, and the chicks could intervene.
When the temperatures outside and the chicks’ age add up, I’ll take away the heat lamp, but the weather has been so unpredictable and cold, and I don’t want to kill the chicks. For the first 2-3 days I have them they will be indoors to figure out what the heat lamp is and to relax from the move of my local mill (where I’m getting them from) and to my house. It’s not long but I know any transportation is stressful for a 1-3 day old chick.
Would the chick-zone be a good idea? (I can’t make something inside because the door to the run is on one end and the nesting box is on the other, and both are essentials.
Edit to add: If we don't move the coop before we get the chicks (it's a tractor coop), then it will be against the house, where the sun barely touches them, so sunlight isn't a huge problem, and for wind I might put some towels over the sides or cardboard and attach it so it blocks the wind. But if I do the chick zone (is it a good idea?) then they will have access to part of the run that would be wind-free because of their height.