Problems with chicks of different ages

[chickensducks&agoose]

Sometimes they never really integrate. I've got a flock, mostly a year old, one 2 yr old, and 3 6 month olds. The older hen has managed to integrate, well. The younger 3 stick together, and don't get along with the rest during the day very well... so they just go their own way. At night, in the coop, those 3 get the lower roost, but no overt fighting.

 

[abanjaf]

Thanks for the thoughts, guess I'll just have to play it by ear and see what happens

 

[sattoritx]

I have 4 sex links that are much smaller and I suspect my other 4 (Americana and GL Wyandotte) are maybe a week or 2 older (their flight feathers are longer) they seem to be fine together. The older ones have taken to their 1" high practice roost and the younger ones just stay out of their way and sometimes try imitating them.
Ignorance is bliss. Sounds like your doing everything i would try. introducing 1 at a time, the older ones probably feel a little bolder with her girlfriends around for back up.

 

[math ace]

I have a post going now detailing the troubles I am having integrating my two new / older pullets into my existing / younger flock.
It has not been a good experience. It can be best described by the previous posting :

chickensducks&agoose :

Sometimes they never really integrate. I've got a flock, mostly a year old, one 2 yr old, and 3 6 month olds. The older hen has managed to integrate, well. The younger 3 stick together, and don't get along with the rest during the day very well... so they just go their own way. At night, in the coop, those 3 get the lower roost, but no overt fighting.

I tried to integrate the two groups two months ago. The two older / new pullets cornered and terriozed all the younger pullets. I pulled the two out and placed them in a cage beside the younger ones. They were there for 2 months while the younger ones grew to a closer size.

It surely is not the HAPPY family I was picturing.

THIS HAS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM - - - -​

 

[fours2many]

Quote:
My chicks are about the same age apart as yours.

I look at it this way, if they aren't chasing down the babies and hurting them, leave them together. Mine have integrated well, but there are still times a smaller one thinks he is a big guy and steps on some toes... gets a quick peck and runs off. The bigger ones still hang out with their own age, but once in a while, a little guy will be found snuggled up right next to the older ones. They have been together since were 2 days old and almost 3 weeks. I did not separate them. Well all but one, he was getting picked on. A little bantam. Now it thinks its a duck. It stays right next to the ducks...even when the ducks are bathing. I hope one day it realizes its a chick...I am afraid it might try and enter the pond. It still gets pecked when it goes near the chickens...poor baby.

I live in Florida too. The weather is plenty warm enough to put them all together outside. Just so there is enough space for the little guys to get away, I would worry too much. They will work out the pecking order themselves. If you wait to long, I am afraid you might have too much trouble getting them together.

Now, if only I could get my ducks to get along...they don't like the baby ducks...sigh...Ducks don't just peck, they bite and bite hard...poor baby ducks! I have to keep them separated. Yesterday, I left them range outside. It went well. I think the older ducklings were distracted by 24 chicks, they didn't go after the baby ducklings once. I will try again today.

 

[Menmyrc]

I integrated 2-week-olds with 4-week-olds. I added them towards evening and never put the overhead light on - just the red brooder light. I left the overhead light off for about a day and a half. When I finally turned it on, none of the older chicks seemed to care about the newcomers. They did work on pecking order, but it was minimal as if the newcomers already knew they were at the bottom. If one gets a scold, it will run and hide under a more docile (BO) hen. I've maintained my brooder temps for the older chicks rather than the younger chicks and the young ones are doing fine. In fact, because our garage stays at 80 deg. during the day and 75 deg. at night, the brooder light is now kept off, and next week we will be working on allowing more night air in to cool it more without letting chicks out/cats, etc. in.

 

[abanjaf]

Why, oh why, can't there be peace in the world? Lol, well gonna work on some new tactics today Will let u know how it goes!

 

[yotetrapper]

Quote:
I think you should try that, as I believe it would work fine. Or, just put all the big ones in with the little ones. They will act scared at first, but that's good, lol, you want them to be. If it works, in a day or two you'll have a happy family, I do it all the time. The trick is to have more little chicks, than big chicks, and if you dont, to introduce them in small groups.