very low-tech integration

[deepbluesea]

Hi! So, I have eight chicks and nine bigs. I've been bringing them (chicklets) outside for see-but-don't-touch sessions daily since they were about a week old. They're coming up on four weeks and it's going pretty well. I have a totally simple bigguns' exclusion method: plywood with small gaps on either side of the run. I keep them in the secure run during the day--the bigs can get in the coop but not the run. Then when I get home, I open the run up and hang out with them all, a book and a glass of wine. There has been digging on both sides of the board--looks like whack-a-mole. Here are a few pix.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looking good.

 

[aart]

Surprised the bigs are not just hopping over the plywood...but if they free range, probably less enticing.
Are the chicks coming out past the board...can they when the run door is closed?

 

[deepbluesea]

I take the board out when they're locked in the run and add in a couple of stumps.

I was actually surprised at how little attention they've paid to them. They'll wander over, maybe give a desultory peck at a bold one, then wander away again. The lavender marans in the pic is lowest in the pecking order, so she's the most interested.

 

[aart]

I was actually surprised at how little attention they've paid to them. They'll wander over, maybe give a desultory peck at a bold one, then wander away again. The lavender marans in the pic is lowest in the pecking order, so she's the most interested.

Is this the first time you've integrated so young? It really does work well, the bigs are not threatened by such tiny chicks..and they're harder to catch(small fast moving target). Acclimation with see no touch for a few weeks really helps too. Low hen will definitely be most interested. Free ranging would make a big diff too, confined birds, especially with 'tight' space is much more problematic.

 

[deepbluesea]

Yes, I've not had day-olds before. It's fun so far! Especially given how long other integrations have gone.
I'm having help turning part of my shed into a walk-in coop the first week in August. I hemmed and hawed for a while trying to do it myself, but the learning curve is too steep given the rest of my life, so I hired a guy.
I'm betting that introducing them all at night on neutral territory will help. Also really hoping.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would be very surprised if you are not over it. Another idea would be to elevate that board just a couple inches, instant one way gate to a safety zone.

I too, have gone with getting the chicks in there earlier, I start about 3 weeks.

 

[aart]

Another idea would be to elevate that board just a couple inches, instant one way gate to a safety zone.

Good idea....couple of bricks or boards stacked to give about 4" of height.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Good idea....couple of bricks or boards stacked to give about 4" of height.

Yup, I used bricks to elevate a mini fence I put around my brooder. Easy for young chicks to squirt in and out, but adults won't fit. I kept adjusting my setup every few days until I was pretty sure the chicks would be ok without a fence, using obstacles to hide behind instead.

OP, your integration sounds like its going very well so far. For chickens out of sight can be out of mind, so perhaps having that solid wood wall is doing a lot to diffuse the adults interest in the babies.

 

[tjo804]

I built a small safety space under the laying boxes in my coop. Mine were 6 weeks when I brought them out. (My family got attached to having them inside)
It will all come out or go back in really easy for future use.

Yes I clean the coop, but not today before I took pics

The littles use the top of the small run to eat and drink the bigs do not bother them up there.