Sneaking new chicks and guineas into the coop

[jaymejojos]

Hello all!
We are getting ready to integrate a new batch of chicks into the coop. The first batch of chicks are approx 8 weeks old and the new batch which includes both guineas and chicks are approx 4 weeks old. We've had the new batch in the run for several days - separated from the larger chicks with hardware cloth. The large group seems mildly interested but I haven't seen and overtly aggressive behavior. Actually they seem more interested in trying to get to the smaller chicks' food and water! My question is should I try to sneak the new group of gunieas and chicks into the coop at night? I've read a few threads on how the current flock might accept them better this way. Also I'm going to keep their hardware cloth area available in the run for them to hide in if the larger chicks get too feisty . Any suggestions would be appreciated - first time chick raiser where!

 

[wornoutmomto3]

I have read where others have done night introductions with good results. I have slipped chicks under a broody hen in the middle of the night with good results. (So far all those chicks survived.) For your situation I think a night intro would be fine. You have already set the ground work with allowing them two groups to meet with a safety barrier between them.

 

[aart]

Night integration can work, some folks think the existing flock won't notice the new birds if put in at night....
.....but like bobbie-j sez "chickens aren't the brightest animals on this planet, but they're not that stupid."

Might be better to make a small door in the mesh separating them.
Do you just have the 2 groups of chicks, 4 weeks apart....or are there older birds in the coop also?


Here's some notes I've taken on integration that I found to be very helpful.......
......take what applies or might help and ignore the rest.
See if any of them, or the links provided at the bottom, might offer some tips that will assist you in your situation:

Integration of new chickens into flock.

Consider medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
Poultry Biosecurity
BYC 'medical quarantine' search

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact. Integrating new birds of equal size works best.

For smaller chicks I used a large wire dog crate right in the coop for the smallers. I removed the crate door and put up a piece of wire fencing over the opening and bent up one corner just enough for the smallers to fit thru but the biggers could not. Feed and water inside the crate for the smallers. Make sure the smallers know how to get in and out of the crate opening before exposing them to the olders. this worked out great for me, by the time the crate was too small for the them to roost in there(about 3 weeks), they had pretty much integrated themselves to the olders.

If you have too many smallers to fit in a crate you can partition off part of the coop with a wire wall and make the same openings for smallers escape.


The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide out of line of sight and/or up and away from any bully birds.

Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock