When to introduce

[Sahraschweiss]

I have a mixed flock of 12 that are 15 weeks and all are pullets. I also have 8 5 week old chicks 4 cuckoo marans and 4 buff orpingtons - one of buffs is a cockerel. I have the little ones inside a mini coop and run within the big girl coop and run. They been side by side for 2 weeks. When should I open gates and doors to let them merge?

The big girls like to tease the little ones and try to peck them through the fence. The little cockerel tries to protects his little girls and will fly at the fence when the big girls are being mean. I'm a little worried that some of the big girls will hurt my little barnacle.

 

[aart]

Pics of your setup?
Might raise the edges of the mini coop like this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

 

[Whigru]

We have two small flocks (two sets of 2) and they are almost the same ages as yours. We put the babies into the run with the teenagers but put a dividing fence in between. The babies had their own food, water, and shelter, but I left the fence agape just enough for them to squeeze through - maybe 3-4 inches. They would eventually meander to the other side with the big girls but always had a way back to safety. I also let them all free range together. Eventually everyone started flying over the divider so then I figured it was time. It took a week or so of squabbling and the bigs chasing the littles, but if you give the babies something to hide behind or under, it should be ok. Just watch for major feather pulling or any injuries. Mine all get along mostly harmoniously now!

 

[Sahraschweiss]

Pics of your setup?
Might raise the edges of the mini coop like this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

Sorry it's taken so long for me to get pictures. Babies have a 3x3x3 coop inside the big girl coop. It's under the poop board and next to nesters, they have their own pop door next to the big girl door, they have their own 12x6 run inside the big girl 20x25 run. Most problems happen at the door either on the platform on inside the coop in mornings and at bedtime. I think it is because of traffic. Once they are bigger I will open the gates.

 

[aart]

Pretty cool setup.
Might be too late for 'tiny doors' as those chicks are pretty big.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
Two weeks isn't very long, but sooner might be better than later.

Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Sahraschweiss]

Pretty cool setup.
Might be too late for 'tiny doors' as those chicks are pretty big.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
Two weeks isn't very long, but sooner might be better than later.

Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Thank you for all the helpful information! I think I will add the tiny doors even though they are probably too big now. I plan on adding chicks in the future.

I'm looking at things to add to the big run for hiding, diversion, and enrichment. There's already turned over chairs in the runs.

Right now I've been keeping baby food in their coop because I want them to go into it.