Hi everyone
I have a question about integrating with an existing flock. Some details first:-
Our Main Flock - Consists of one 15 month old BO rooster, six 15-20 month old RIR hens, and two 15 month old BO hens.
The ones we want to integrate - two 16 week olds and one 19 week old BO x RIR chicks, who are the offspring of our rooster and hens. We call them 'The Chicks' even though they are getting bigger every day! We are fairly positive they are all pullets - the 19 week old has some small wattles developing now but the other two have no wattles to speak of and really teeny tiny yellow combs.
Set-up - We have one massive coop, of which a corner was sectioned off and 'The Chicks' have spent their entire lives in that corner. It is, in itself, quite large so they had heaps of room. Momma abandoned them at 5 weeks. The coop is an old garden shed, and it has a massive run attached to it. The Flock also free range outside the run each afternoon, where we have 5 acres of land on a creek. The nest boxes are in the coop.
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So, I just wanted to check what I'm doing is ok as far as integration goes. Obviously The Flock is familiar with The Chicks, as they have been able to see and hear them in the coop since they were born. I started out leaving the door to the partition open in the coop during the day, for short periods at first and then longer over the past two weeks.
At first the chicks did not dare come out of their corner and The Flock didn't really notice anything was different. Then the chicks slowly started exploring the rest of the coop, but would never go out to the run. There have been a couple of pecks when a hen has gone into the coop and The Chicks were out, and The Flock delight in chasing The Chicks back into their corner!
We are at the point now where The Chicks will sit at the door of the coop, and occasionally pop out into the run. They did this the other day and the rooster had a bit of a go at them. He chased them back into the coop, did one or two pecks, and sort of stood over them.
My question: Is this continued, gradual exposure appropriate? Is the rooster going to kill them? The hens just seem to chase them inside all day for fun, which they are all coping with.
The Chicks are significantly smaller than The Flock Hens still. Sometimes I divide the run temporarily in half so The Chicks can come outside in the late afternoon in safety and they enjoy that. It can't be permanent though as the coop is on the chick's side of the run.
I'd appreciate your thoughts.
- Krista
Our Main Flock - Consists of one 15 month old BO rooster, six 15-20 month old RIR hens, and two 15 month old BO hens.
The ones we want to integrate - two 16 week olds and one 19 week old BO x RIR chicks, who are the offspring of our rooster and hens. We call them 'The Chicks' even though they are getting bigger every day! We are fairly positive they are all pullets - the 19 week old has some small wattles developing now but the other two have no wattles to speak of and really teeny tiny yellow combs.
Set-up - We have one massive coop, of which a corner was sectioned off and 'The Chicks' have spent their entire lives in that corner. It is, in itself, quite large so they had heaps of room. Momma abandoned them at 5 weeks. The coop is an old garden shed, and it has a massive run attached to it. The Flock also free range outside the run each afternoon, where we have 5 acres of land on a creek. The nest boxes are in the coop.
................................
So, I just wanted to check what I'm doing is ok as far as integration goes. Obviously The Flock is familiar with The Chicks, as they have been able to see and hear them in the coop since they were born. I started out leaving the door to the partition open in the coop during the day, for short periods at first and then longer over the past two weeks.
At first the chicks did not dare come out of their corner and The Flock didn't really notice anything was different. Then the chicks slowly started exploring the rest of the coop, but would never go out to the run. There have been a couple of pecks when a hen has gone into the coop and The Chicks were out, and The Flock delight in chasing The Chicks back into their corner!
We are at the point now where The Chicks will sit at the door of the coop, and occasionally pop out into the run. They did this the other day and the rooster had a bit of a go at them. He chased them back into the coop, did one or two pecks, and sort of stood over them.
My question: Is this continued, gradual exposure appropriate? Is the rooster going to kill them? The hens just seem to chase them inside all day for fun, which they are all coping with.
The Chicks are significantly smaller than The Flock Hens still. Sometimes I divide the run temporarily in half so The Chicks can come outside in the late afternoon in safety and they enjoy that. It can't be permanent though as the coop is on the chick's side of the run.
I'd appreciate your thoughts.
- Krista
