urgent advice pls with new additions

[Countrydreamin]

Sorry, but I can’t find advice for this anywhere on google

i have raised two chicks to 6 weeks old. I got another two six week old chicks today. How long should I seperate them?
They’ve been in the run and in the coop separated by wire all day looking at each other.
Shall I put the two newbies in another place for night or have them meet this evening and shack up together?

 

[Y master]

Sorry, but I can’t find advice for this anywhere on google

i have raised two chicks to 6 weeks old. I got another two six week old chicks today. How long should I seperate them?
They’ve been in the run and in the coop separated by wire all day looking at each other.
Shall I put the two newbies in another place for night or have them meet this evening and shack up together?

Usually what I do is fence them off (like you) and try and introduce them a couple of days later. I find that it's better to introduce them later in the day so they won't fight and will bond while going to sleep. If they start getting hurt by the other chickens badly (not just a peck) then I separate them a bit longer. Usually there is a bit of fighting but if it gets too aggressive you should just fence them off a bit longer. I do know some people that just let them in straight away and just let them fight it out but I do prefer separating them for a bit. Good luck!

 

[Countrydreamin]

Usually what I do is fence them off (like you) and try and introduce them a couple of days later. I find that it's better to introduce them later in the day so they won't fight and will bond while going to sleep. If they start getting hurt by the other chickens badly (not just a peck) then I separate them a bit longer. Usually there is a bit of fighting but if it gets too aggressive you should just fence them off a bit longer. I do know some people that just let them in straight away and just let them fight it out but I do prefer separating them for a bit. Good luck!

Thanks for the quick response. I might seperate for the night and do the same thing again tomorrow and try letting them be around each other in the evening then.
I was just unsure how they would be at this age with one another since they are not really adults yet but they are not exactly 2 weeks and under.

 

[aart]

You could try to put them together, see what happens.
Or wait it out....put all of them in that new coop coming to reduce the territoriality aspect.

Here's some tips that might help......
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

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.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

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 copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, 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'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[Countrydreamin]

You could try to put them together, see what happens.
Or wait it out....put all of them in that new coop coming to reduce the territoriality aspect.

Here's some tips that might help......
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

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.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

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 copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, 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'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

We put them together for an hour today just to see what would happen like you said, mainly encouraged by my husband and the curiousity got to me so I agreed.
Well I know who the ruler of the coop is now
She wasn’t unmercifully attacking them but their combs did get pecked and a tiny amount of blood was drawn. So I broke it up and will keep them separated and side by side for a little longer. My dad wants to build the pen tomorrow. So possibly the day after I might try put them together again and see what happens.

Good tips. Ones I haven’t seen before, even on intergratin chicks with adults. The multiple feed stations is a def a goer. Hopefully the bigger coop will help too. I had a bore against a wall today and that helped the two new hens hide.
I’m glad I’m not a chook today.

 

[aart]

Space can really help.
A subordinate bird needs to get far enough away(~6-10'/2-3m) from a dominant bird or the dominant bird may keep after them.
Best of cLuck!

 

[Countrydreamin]

Space can really help.
A subordinate bird needs to get far enough away(~6-10'/2-3m) from a dominant bird or the dominant bird may keep after them.
Best of cLuck![/
Should I introduce them free range then? The coop will only be four metres by one metre, they will be free ranged in the future during the day most days.

 

[aart]

Should I introduce them free range then? The coop will only be four metres by one metre, they will be free ranged in the future during the day most days.

Well, free range intros can help, lots of space....but you also need to 'home' them to the coop...and keep them safely contained until they are homed.

 

[aart]

Looks like it worked out https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/knock-up-coop.1287603/well....

 

[Countrydreamin]

Looks like it worked out https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/knock-up-coop.1287603/well....

They spent half the day yesterday separated with wire and then the other free range in the fenced veggie garden. Plenty spaces for the new two to hide. They still stick in pairs and seperate in the veggie garden. Last night we put them all back in the new coop all together. The new two weren’t injured in the morning. I’ve put them all back in the veggie garden today. I’ll keep repeating this process. But you know what, the coop wasn’t reading towards sunset and all the chooks were coming to the gate of the veggie patch ( the side where the coop was) and cheeping out to us. Honestly they were telling us to hurry the eff up and put them back in their coop. Positive signs