Quick little house for the youngsters???

[wings]

I have 5 six-month-old chickens (4 hens, one rooster). We are going to get 5 or 6 more day-old pullets in April, and I want to prepare everything for them before they come, so we aren't in a hurry. (They grow so fast!)
We will start the chicks out in the basic cardboard box brooder. How long can they stay there?
Next, I was wondering if we have to build another tiny, cheap, easy house for them when they get to old for the box, but they are too young for the coop. Do you think this is necessary? How old should they be when they go out there? How should I make this temporary house, if at all?
How old should they be when we put them in with the big chickens? How should we do this? Our coop is about 10 by 5, so we don't have tons of room (though we do have a run). Should they be isolated with chicken wire or something? I know it's going to be tricky, so I need some help!!!

 

[jhmoore]

As far as building a separate, mini coop for the babies to be in as they outgrow the cardboard box, I don't think you need to worry about that. As long as it's warm enough out, they can move to the big coop. If it's a bit chilly, you can put a heat lamp on them at night. Mine moved outside the brooder and into the coop with a heat lamp at three weeks. But, I didn't have any larger birds to worry about.

Is there a way for you to divide your coop right now? Because if you just have the one coop, they'll definitely be too little to put in with the big gals initially. And, you'll want to slowly introduce them to your full size hens. I'd wait until they are good sized. Then, you'll want them to first meet through a cage for quite some time, until everyone seems content. Next, you would move to supervised visits with them mixed. Finally, they can all be mixed.

I know I've read several posts on here about integrating young chicks with an existig flock. You should be able to get some great info from others on this board. Good luck to you!

 

[wings]

Thanks for your advice!
I was just concerned about chickens fighting when I asked if they need another little coop because you said that they should be introduced when they are bigger. Where do I keep them until they are bigger? How old should they be when I put them with the big girls??

 

[A.J.'s]

I kept my last hatch in the cardboard box until 5 weeks of age. it was cold outside and i hesitated but reading the post here encouraged me to go on and get them outside.
I put them in an old dog house inside the dog pen with a heat bulb in the house for them.
It was several days before they ventured out of the dog house, but when they did ..even tho it was cold out there, they had a ball and Ive never seen chickens grow as fast as these did.
I read on here that its ok, that they do well in cold weahter makes the down under their feathers bloom out and I beleive it.
I will repeat because Im still amazed..Ive never seen chicks grow so fast in my life. They went from babys to big chickens in no time.
IN a week I saw an amazing growth.

 

[wings]

Any other ideas for a quick little house?