What am I doing wrong? Chicks + hens....

[lakeontariochicks]

I cannot seem to get them to like each other.
I had posted weeks ago, and took the advice to wait until the chicks were older and close to the same size as the hens.
Most of the chicks are now pretty much the same size as the hens.
There are 12 chicks(9 weeks) and 22 hens.
I haven't even begun to think of putting them in the coop, we are still trying to get them used to each other in the run.
This has been going on for a good 6 weeks now.
First- I built the chicks a little run of their own connected to but outside of the hens run. All was peaceful. Once I started trying to put the chicks in the big run, I had chicks running for cover, piling in corners, hens pecking chicks, etc. Stopped doing it, started again. Put the chicks in first in the morning, then the hens. Put the hens in first, then the chicks.
Nope. Nothing works. The hens are still pecking the chicks- hard. And, now they all yell whenever the chicks are near them.
So, again, today, I've had to remove the chicks, for fear they will be pecked to death.
And, the 3 roosters are the biggest targets and the most afraid.
These poor babies are fast outgrowing their huge box on our patio, and I am getting tired of having to move them every morning and every night.
Help!
I will take any and all advice!

 

[SmartyChick]

OK my experience is limited but, here it what I have done. I have a "get away" place for the smaller babies, like a roosting bar high up (if the babies are better fliers) or section off a small section of the coop with a hole only big enough for the babies to go through. This is what I do and it usually works. If the big ones are being very bullyish I would go in as the Head Rooster and swat the mean ones with a flyswatter when they go after the chicks. Even with all this the babies will get the tar beat out of them somewhat, and I know it's hard to see but as long as there is no blood it's just the way the pecking order is.
Integrating is a hard road, but I hope it works out for you!

 

[toto65]

I had the same questions and after reading a lot of threads here, I think that when it is time to put my smaller chicks in the coop, they will go in at night. I already have 2 from a previous hatch that are in with the older birds. They have a place where they can get away from the older and bigger birds and seem to be doing fine. They are especially funny when they venture outdoors. they will go to the door, look out to see who is nearby and then run like crazy a couple laps around the yard, stop to eat a couple times and then streak back into the coop. There are only 2 little ones but they act like they are joined at the wing even as they run they are side by side. Other than a few pecks from the older birds once in a while I have had no problems.

 

[Muggsmagee]

I put the chicks in a covered cage in the middle of the run for a good 2 plus weeks. I slowly introduce them by opening their door and feeding them in a pan outside of the cage in the morning and at night. I "hover" the entire time. They get exposure to the flock, run around a few times, get pecked a little, then run back into their cage. I put the pan in the cage with them after 10 minutes. They are now 6 weeks old and I will keep this up for another week or so. Soon, I will sneak them into the coop at night to roost. I will obviously keep my eye on them, but I'm counting on another successful merge this way.

Edited to add the chicks will be 2 months before they merge. It has worked for us before. If problems arise, we are ready tp step in.

 

[silkiechicken]

9 weeks is a bit young to allow free access to each other in a containment situation. Best wait till 16 or so weeks so the younger ones can hold their own and reduce risk of injury. They will have to fight out a pecking order, so as long as it is not bloody, they need to fight it out.

 

[bantyhen'sfriend]

Wait until the chicks are at least three months old, then, start putting low ranking hens into the chicks' area at night. They wake up together and tend to get aquainted better. If this isn't possible, put the chicks in with the hens at night when everyone is roosting so they wake up together. Make sure they have a little hiding spot so if things get really rough they can escape, but let them duke it out.

 

[midget_farms]

I've done it a dozen times. Put the chicks on the roost after dark. Well after dark. say 10pm. Hens will hate anyone new who comes into the run - but if they wake up in the morning & there are more chickens than they went to bed with they don't know - they can't count!

They will establish a pecking order - you have to let them do some chasing - just make sure the coop & run are large enough that the chicks can run.

Trust me - those fat hens will not run far & as long as the chicks can run away they will be fine!

The pecking order for chickens can take a while & the old hens wil ALWAYS peck the younger ones. Always! so some is to be expected.


Don't give up! they will eventually get along once everyone knows their place.

 

[aubreynoramarie]

I agree that nine weeks is wayyyyy too young. Give them another month and a half . I also agree with letting them sleep with your nicest hens at first.
Also, I don't think all the back and forth is going to help anything either. When they're bigger and you introduce them you've just got to make the decision and stick with it. I learned this when I went through the same thing. I kept taking girls out and switching and moving and the best advice I got was to stop and just leave them alone. It took a few days but they worked it out. When you move then around the pecking order has to be re-established, so at this rate your girls will get picked on forever

 

[moonlyghtegirl]

I have a pen adjoining the adult pen in which I raise my chicks until they are four months old. They are separated by chicken wire. That way they can get used to each other before I integrate the two groups. Then it usually takes about 2-3 days before the new pecking order is established. I have never had anyone bloodied in the transition.