Suggestions for integrating chickens with my setup

[Toothpick]

Having not much luck with broody hens and my flock getting older I think it’s time to raise some new egg layers.

I built my brooder today, and I’ll get an incubator soon. Before all that happens I’d like suggestions on how to integrate the new birds with my current setup.

I’ve got an 8x10 coop and roughly a 14x60 run. And I’ve got a smaller Tractor Supply coop with a small 6x4 run attached. So my thought is to raise the chicks in the brooder. Once they are feathered put them in the smaller coop. Once they are full grown, or close to it, put them in with the established flock. So....how to put them in with the established flock.

Some ideas I have:
1. Put a coop on the other side of the large run with a fence separating the flock. After a couple weeks remove the separating fence and they become one flock. BUT....I want to ensure they all roost in the large coop at night.
2. Section off a spot in the large coop and keep the new birds. BUT..then I’ll have to keep water/food separately for them as well, and they won’t get to go out in the run.
3. Just throw them in with the established flock when they are full grown. Whatever happens happens.

The incubator I’ll be getting will hold 22 eggs. I expect half to hatch.

So what suggestions have y’all got for me?

Thank you in advance!

Smaller coop. Completely away from the established flock and larger coop.

 

[Mrs. K]

Looking at your run, I see a pretty open bare rectangle. No place for a bird to get out of sight of the other birds. I also see it is open over the top, which in my country predators would be thinning my flock.

What I would suggest is to make your run more interesting, with clutter, half or mini walls, hideouts, platforms. roosts. However, I think you would have to make your walls to the run taller (I am surprised they keep your chickens in) then I would put the new chicks into the run at about 3-4 weeks. Sounds crazy, but that small of bird is not as threatening to the flock.

You do need a oneway zone, where a chick can escape, and a chasing hen cannot follow. This allows the chicks and flock to work it out on their own terms. Takes less than a week both time I have tried it.

I used lattice panels the first time. The chicks went through like water. I sectioned off a corner, put the chicks inside the safe zone. Turned the flock outside, and sat there with my coffee. If a chick crawled out, then I mock chased them until they went back into the safe zone. They quickly caught on. I have feed and water in there and a shelter - such as a tote or box on its side.

To make a one way gate, you can just use fencing that is about 4-6 inches off the ground. Make sure there is not just a single gate, as they could get trapped away from it.

Mrs K

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would take that little coop and stick it right in the run. Once the chicks are old enough to not need supplemental heat, put them in the little coop and give them a week or two of "see but no touch" exposure, then you can either try raising the entire mini coop on a few bricks, just enough so the chicks can get in and out without the older birds getting in, OR make a larger mini run using chicken wire or other small opening fencing, with a big enough gap under it for chicks to get in and out.

OR you could brood them out in your adult coop, if there's electricity and space for it, though personally I think out in the run is better only because the adult chickens will spend much more time out there and thus have more exposure to the chicks.

Also I agree that more clutter in the run will help during integration. The pallets are nice but some items that are a little taller to break line of sight from adults to babies would be better. Could be as simple as some old pots or buckets, crates, patio furniture, etc.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/ for my integration notes and set up.

 

[aart]

I would take that little coop and stick it right in the run.

My thoughts exactly!

This is how I brood and integrate chicks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

This is what my run looks like when I am integrating chicks, lots of places to 'hide'.
Click on pic and use arrows from more pics.

 

[Toothpick]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I did think about moving the small coop over there, but I don’t know if it will make the journey. It’s old and not very well built. It does sound like the easiest suggestion though so I may give it a try.

I had a broody hen that hatched 2 eggs and one of the hens killed both chicks on separate occasions. Would y’all recommend putting them in the small coop once they are feathered then? Is that around the 3-4 week mark?

I through together a brooder yesterday from scrap lumber I had. It’s crude but will do the trick. I expect to have about 10 chicks. I can run an extension cord out to the coop but I’d rather just keep it inside. Much easier to keep an eye on. Plus the way it’s built would be no benefit for integration in the coop since they can’t see the chicks.

So to summarize -
* move small coop in to the large run
* put chicks in it when they are feathered (?)
* put lots of hiding places around the coop and areas where only the small chicks can get in
* turn chicks loose and supervise

Sound about right?

 

[aart]

Sound about right?

Yep.
But.
That brooder is too small for that big of a lamp, might cook them.
Brooder is about 1' x 4'?
Also tight space to fit 10 chicks for 4 weeks.

 

[Toothpick]

Yep.
But.
That brooder is too small for that big of a lamp, might cook them.
Brooder is about 1' x 4'?
Also tight space to fit 10 chicks for 4 weeks.

Yeah i was afraid of that. Reckon I can build another one.

 

[aart]

Might think about building a brooder area in the coop...
...and use a heating pad for a
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/

 

[igorsMistress]

You have a lovely place there! I agree with keeping the littles right there with the bigs. It gives everyone a chance to meet and be curious without getting hurt. An entrance to a safe area that is too small for the big girls is helpful and places in the open run to hide will be a good idea too. I've used this method several times, @aart knows of what she speaks.

 

[Toothpick]

Yep.
But.
That brooder is too small for that big of a lamp, might cook them.
Brooder is about 1' x 4'?
Also tight space to fit 10 chicks for 4 weeks.

I just measured it. It’s 1.4’ x 4. I can make it wider pretty easily with another Ibeam. So that would make it 2.8’ x 4’. Think that would be ideal for about 10 chicks?