When to combine chicks with adult hens

[aart]

Last year chicks went to coop partition 1 week after hatch,
opened their separate run at 3 weeks,
opened tiny doors in coop at 4 weeks and chicks went back and forth pretty frequently.
By 6-7 weeks they were spending most their time in their coop partition and run,
so I took down the coop partition wall. It was pretty crazy for a few days, but they all worked it out and chicks were roosting on main roost within a week.

But your situation is a bit different as they have separate coops?

 

[trudyg]

My 4 week olds are flying over their partition (7' high) and no issues. They have plenty of places to hide and access to water. I'm taking the partition down today so I don't have to catch and put them back in since they're getting out anyway.

 

[junkman56]

If things went good today again with the chicks and the big girls, I would see how tomorrow morning goes. If it's still good(no hard attacking) I would take the fence down around noon, so they have the afternoon to be in one big run.

I would also take the fence down separating the roost, at the same time. Is that a lower roost bar between the feeder and waterer, (pic #3 in post 11)? If it is, I would leave it there for now, just in case the chicks get chased off the roost bar. Since they have been up there already, it may not even be a problem. Also, if you can, I would be out there tomorrow night when they're going inside, just to keep an eye on things.

yes that is a lower roost bar in the chicks side that they don't use, they all go up to the top bar. today the chicks were out in the big run for morning scratch, and I seen the hens chase them around, I went in to get fresh water for them and when I came back out I noticed some chick feathers in front of the gate, I'm assuming they got one cornered

 

[arion]

I'm a brand new chicken person and started with four pullets about 16 weeks old and a cockeral only about 8 weeks old. The pullets are twice his size and they were not together from the people I bought them from. I let the pullets out into the new run and I put the cockeral into a small pet carrier and just set him by the run fencing. He laid down as close to the front of the carrier as he could and seemed very interested.

I was advised to put him in the coop with the pullets at night so they would wake up with him but he seemed so comfortable that after a few hours I put him in the run to see what would happen. Aside from the pullets pecking at him occasionally after a few hours they were just fine. They all went into the coop together at dusk and he was laying right with them.

Yesterday was the second day I've had them and aside from him getting underfoot with the pullets occasionally there were only a few pecks that I could see and he seems to be integrated with them just fine. Perhaps if instead of pullets they were full grown hens it might of been different but I was relieved to see just how quickly everyone assimilated with each other. So far so good.

 

[GrannyHeeney]

Blackdog, please excuse the wee change of subject, but what breed is that beautiful bird perched nearest the camera?

 

[blackdog043]

@GrannyHeeney, post #8, 2nd pic, first chicken is a Rhode Island Red.

 

[blackdog043]

If it's not much trouble, I would take the fence down for the rest of the day and see what happens. If you can be close by to see what's going on as well, it would be good. As long as they don't pin them down, I would leave it down. You still could see a feather here and there.

 

[junkman56]

If it's not much trouble, I would take the fence down for the rest of the day and see what happens. If you can be close by to see what's going on as well, it would be good. As long as they don't pin them down, I would leave it down. You still could see a feather here and there.

I took the fence down out in rhw run, and in the coop. So far everything is going good , the chicks are pretty nervious but thats expected, its been a couple hours now. Tonight will be the test when its time to roost. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[blackdog043]

Worst case the chicks can roost on that lower bar for a few days or after dark you could place them up on the main roost.

It took my 4 week olds 2 weeks to stay up on the main roost. I had a board across the front of the brooder, that they roosted on. Yours have been used to being up there, so it might be fine.

 

[junkman56]

I did leave the lower roost up just incase, all though they never used it, they all were in the poop board and top roost, far away from the hens.
I guess I will find out what's in store for tonight.