Question

[Mandied]

When is the best time to introduce new chicks to the older ones? We have 4 new chicks that are around 4 weeks old and our older ones are 15 weeks.

 

[SueT]

Now would be a good time. Arrange a ‘see-no-touch’ set up, and monitor reactions….

 

[Mandied]

Now would be a good time. Arrange a ‘see-no-touch’ set up, and monitor reactions….

Would it be better to do that in the run or the coop

 

[SueT]

Would it be better to do that in the run or the coop

I don’t know your set-up. I am able to do both at once. I guess play it by ear?

 

[Mandied]

I don’t know your set-up. I am able to do both at once. I guess play it by ear?

Thanks

 

[3KillerBs]

Here are some useful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

 

[Mandied]

Here are some useful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.477

Here are some useful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

Thanks

 

[Mrs. K]

I like it when there is a big difference in size. That way you can set up one way gates, where the littles can escape the big ones, and explore on their own terms.

I put my chicks to bed in a small dog crate at night, so they home to that. Do it for at least a week. Then I carry the dog crate down, and put it in the run, in an escape zone. There is food and water in that zone. The zone has big enough holes - wire mesh or pallets, so that the chicks can go in and out like water.

I wait a bit until one gets brave enough to come out, and give a mock chase back into the safety zone. That's it.

At night, I put the crate in the coop. After a week or so, I leave the crate in the coop, and leave the door open. So they leave the coop on their own. My coop is on the ground. They usually return to the coop/crate on their own that night.

Mrs K

ps - are they off heat? Cause that makes a difference especially this time of year.

 

[Mandied]

I like it when there is a big difference in size. That way you can set up one way gates, where the littles can escape the big ones, and explore on their own terms.

I put my chicks to bed in a small dog crate at night, so they home to that. Do it for at least a week. Then I carry the dog crate down, and put it in the run, in an escape zone. There is food and water in that zone. The zone has big enough holes - wire mesh or pallets, so that the chicks can go in and out like water.

I wait a bit until one gets brave enough to come out, and give a mock chase back into the safety zone. That's it.

At night, I put the crate in the coop. After a week or so, I leave the crate in the coop, and leave the door open. So they leave the coop on their own. My coop is on the ground. They usually return to the coop/crate on their own that night.

Mrs K

ps - are they off heat? Cause that makes a difference especially this time of year.

We are weining them off the heat now

 

[Mandied]

We are weining them off the heat now

That sounds good we have a small coop though my husband was thinking about trying to make a make shift fence of sorts and separate them. But with the way our coop is built I'm not sure how that would work.