Safe to Merge younger chicks in yet?

[Chicken Little-er]

We have our first mixed flock of chickens -- now 13 weeks old. On impulse got 3 more that are now 6-7 weeks old. For the past 3 weeks they have been living side by side in the coop and the run - separated by hardware cloth. The way this is rigged up has worked great, but is really a pain to work with and I'd love to merge the flocks this week. The younger 3 are fully feathered out and their voices are no longer like little chicks, but not yet clucks. Considering how long they've lived side by side do you think it's safe to merge them? Oh - and one of the younger 3 has all the hallmarks of a young roo. Many thanks!

 

[chicknerd]

What I do is provide a small opening between the two. The little ones can come and visit and leave if they are being bothered. I have 6 and 12 week old chicks with 1 year old birds now. I have been slowly integrating everyone for about 3 week now. The little ones have a small opening we opened only yesterday, they can come and go and the larger birds cannot go in. A little pecking goes on, but the order needs to be established. The minute I opened the small opening the 6 week old chicks came into the larger run.

If I feel the little ones are getting intimidated I just close the opening at night and leave it closed for a few more days. Then we try again.

Good luck!

 

[Chicken Little-er]

Thank you! I can open the door inside enough for the little ones to come and go but not the big girls. The run is a bit more difficult -- but I could set up a safe haven for them in the run that they could escape to if the big girls get too mean. and what do you do about food? The big girls are on grower feed, but the little ones will be on starter for the next 6 weeks -- 2 feeders at different heights?