When to combine chicks with adult hens

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junkman56

Songster
7 Years
Sep 7, 2016
622
741
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Northwestern PA. ( Tionesta )
My Coop
My Coop
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hello, I have had my chicks out in the (coop / run) where the older hens are ( but separated by fencing ), for almost a week now. Yesterday I looked out and seen the chicks on the hens side of the fence, how long they where there I couldn't tell you, I got them back to their side of the coop and made repairs to the fence so they can't get over again, I don't know if the hens noticed the chicks on their side or not. there was (no injuries),
I would like to get them all together as soon as possible, I was thinking on making the move at around 8 weeks old, they will be 5 weeks on Monday, or should I make the move sooner ?
how did you make the transfer?
thanks in advance.
 
I integrated at 4 weeks from my coop brooder, with a panic door. It went so well with them that young, that I'll be integrating the same way from now on. There was a little pecking and chasing, but it was like, get out of my way, not an attack peck. I got this idea from @azygous & @aart

I would cut a hole in the fence right now and put a piece of wood up with a hole or two big enough for the chicks to get through(panic door) but not the big girls, in case they need to get away. The wood or use cardboard, will define where they have to go easier, than finding the hole in the wire fence. Also put some things in the big girl run for the chicks to get behind, but not trapped. A piece of plywood leaned against the side, a pallet up on blocks for them to get under...
Here is a pic of my brooder set up with the panic doors made out of cardboard. I think you'll be surprised how easy it will be this young. They were already on the other side and you didn't see any aggression.

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At 6 weeks they were up roosting with the big girls.

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Mine start interesting by week 2-3. I let them have somewhere separate to sleep until somewhere around 6-8 weeks (whenever I need the room back) but they stay integrated during the day. Out of 100s of chicks, I've only lost 4 or 5 and most of those were because of the guineas. The only time I'd advise against early integration is if you have a broody with chicks already in the flock, in which case some will kill chicks that aren't theirs.
 
Nice job with the panic doors! How are things going with the chicks and are they finding the panic doors better?
I had to give a couple of them a shove through the doors a couple times, now they seem to be going back and forth from one side to the other, but only for a brief time. so far there hasn't been any major issues other than a peck or two
 
I would cut a hole in the fence right now and put a piece of wood up with a hole or two big enough for the chicks to get through(panic door) but not the big girls, in case they need to get away. The wood or use cardboard, will define where they have to go easier, than finding the hole in the wire fence.
Excellent idea...using cardboard will allow you to more easily adjust the size of the holes.
Start small with the holes, it's amazing how small a hole an adult bird can get thru.
 
well, I went out and cut panic doors inside the coop and out in the run, they are
4"x6" door ways. a couple of the chicks ventured to the big girls side, but couldn't figure how to get back in their side of the run, so I had to push them through the doorway. it seemed to work. so no now we will see how things go.

here a few pictures of the panic doors and some of the get away from big girls things

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