Will I need to build a seperate run?

[ga*chick*]

My 20 chicks are growing fast...and eating tons..lol

I have been reading the post about intergrating new chicks and all the negative things that can a happen..Just read to wait until they are 16 weeks...there is no way that my brooder box is going to hold 20, 16 week old chicks (or are they pullets by then???)

I will be able to separate them in the hen house once they are old enough (I was thinking 6 weeks temps should be staying warm by then)..split down the middle. Just so happens I have a divider that I used a couple years ago when someone gave me baby guineas. I will just need to build a topper to keep the hens from going over. There is a little chicken door that they can get out of to go into the run..but I only have one run. Will I need to divide that too?

My husband and I are actually expanding the run, doubling the size. So should I work in a seperate run somehow?

I do not want the chicks getting hurt. I don't really have any mean hens, they are all pretty equal..except for the EE's they are at the bottom of the rung, and my Roo is oblivious..lol

Thanks for any answers or comments...I'm just really starting to get nervous about letting the little ones "play" with the older.

 

[FLOWERPOT]

Is there is any way that you can seperate them with chicken wire or something like that, so they can see each other but not get to each other? If you can do that then it will only take a week or two before they get used to the others being there and no longer be new to the flock, then there will be a lot less picking on the little ones. There will still be some, but just the normal pecking order kind of stuff.

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

I agree with Flowerpot. We just let our 4 week old out into the main run with the older kids. They have been in their own seperate pen since hatch with only chicken wire seperating them so there was constant interaction between the old and the young. Not a single problem once we mixed them and at night the big ones g to their roosting house and the little ones go back to their pen all on their own.

 

[ga*chick*]

That is what I'm thinking just running extra chicken wire down the middle of the run...I just remember what escape artist chicks are...don't want anyone getting hurt.

My chickens also free range during the day...would it be safe to let the new chicks range with them...

Then again, after reading about a recent hawk attack I may wait until they do hit 16 weeks...Have a pair of Hawks living on the property