When to integrate?

[rosyposyosy]

i have an 11 wk old chick, and 2 pullets, six months old. i raised the chick on her own, and she IS a runt. she is about the size of a 6 wk old chick. when to mix them in? i just put her on the roost, in the dark, with the other chickens, and Gordita, went off and attacked. i was just going to have a sleep over...

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Where is she now? If you can put her in an area next to the others seperated only by wire so they can get to know each other safely. Then when she is about as big as you think she will get put her in and see how it goes. Generally I don't integrate till they are the same size, but in this case that might not occur.

 

[barg]

Sounds like good advice to me, and you know what an expert I am on the subject

Seriously, in my situation, I really think I should have waited longer, may be the same way for you as well.

 

[rosyposyosy]

lenore is going to have to sleep in the coop, and i think i'll just put her doghouse facing the wall, so she cant get out, and the big chickens cant get in. right now, she is in the top story of the coop, which the big chickens can't get into. here's a picture if you dont quite understand

the top is fenced by itself, and now there is a dog house with a roost.

maybe i should wait to fully integrate until she is at laying age? a good, 6 more weeks?

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

I am in the process of integrating my chicks (6wks) with the BIG GIRLS (21 wks tomorrow). It's going pretty well. Here's how I'm doing it:

Took a couple of old window screens and a baby gate. Set them up in the corner of the coop with enough room so babies can get out into the big coop but big girls can't get in. The big girls DO chase the chicks a bit, but they scoot back into their corner. They are extremely happy and it seems to be going VERY well. I don't think the big girls have even remotely accepted them into the group, but there has been no blood and no big attacks. I will tell you I don't let them sleep in the henhouse yet (gotta rig something so they will be safe first) so at dusk they get moved back to the brooder.

Hope that helps!

Meghan

 

[bigzio]

Usually it is best to wait till the newbies are 20 weeks old, so they are about the same size as others and can defend themselves. Slow introduction with the barrior fence is the way to go.... Good Luck!

bigzio

 

[barg]

20 weeks!How come no one said that in my thread? Doh!
I'll just add again that, my fear now is that I may have permanently tramatized mine by putting them in too ealry.
although Winnie has made progress, Esther... well you know

 

[rosyposyosy]

ok. so here it goes:

on nov 18, Lenore turns 17 weeks old. I am going to let them free range together. Then, at night time. I am going to sneak her on to the roost. In the morning, she gets to be on her own. in the afternoon, (when i am home) she will free range with the bigger chickens. I will do this for the first 4 days.

for the last 3 days, a friday, a saturday, and a sunday, they will be on partial supervision, and together.

My goal is to have them fully integrated at November 25. When Lenore turns 18 weeks old.