Wish me luck! 4 week olds are moving out and in with the 8 week olds! Any advice would be appreciated!

[atucker]

I have 6, 8 week old pekins. 2 are females (they quack), one is male (curled feather) the other 3 sound male, but have no curled feather yet so I am not sure... I will only be keeping 1 pekin drake, as that would make for 2 drakes to 7 females (total), which is a higher ratio then I wanted and I will probably add more hens in the spring.
They currently free range and put themselves to bed at night, I just shut the door.
My others are 4 weeks old, 1 Rouen (female), 1 Cayuga(female), 1 welsh harlequin(female), 1 blue Swedish(female) and 2 silver Appleyard's (1 male, 1 female). They have been in an outside pen all day and then moved to a tote in the basement for sleeping. But, today is the day I let them out! I am hoping they will free-range with the big ones who hang around their pen anyways. ( I also have 11 chickens who free-range around all of them as well) SO FAR, no-one fights...
Tonight they will sleep in the duck house I think... I will put up some wire so they have their own section just incase...
I've gotten really lucky so far with everyone getting along, I have a buff opington who is testy with the younger chickens when stuck in the run, but they get out when the sun comes up so its only for a few minutes of early light...

Any tips on my transition??
Any advice of things you learned the hard way?

In a few weeks ill be introducing my chicks (also 4 weeks old right now, 1 is my first rooster, a goldenlaced wyandotte (besides my silkie roo, who doesnt even crow!)
Hoping 35 degrees over night wont be to hard on them...
Hoping everyone transitions well as I don't want to be moving them in and out of my house once the snow starts!

I will attach pictures in a bit, as I will be monitoring them out there and can get some new ones!

So grateful for this community to share progress, ask questions, receive advice.
You guys have been beyond helpful and an amazing resource to have!!

 

[nchls school]

The two groups of ducklings are likely to remain as separate groups until they get older. You shouldn't have a problem with the two age groups hurting each other.

Keep an eye on the younger group the first few days so they don't wander too far and get lost. I'd recommend penning them for a couple days so they learn where they are to go at night.

The chicks should accept each other fairly soon. Introducing young chicks is usually a lot safer than introducing older birds. I always introduce chicks as youngsters to the adult flock. While there is bullying at first, it rarely gets serious to where harm is done.

35 degrees is cold for month olds. You need supplemental heat at that temperature and age.

 

[atucker]

First day was a success. my confirmed drake tried to push one of the new girls and her sister defended her. Now the olders run when the youngers approach. Had them sleep in their tote in the basement last night and put them back out this morning. Once we finish the enclosed run I will keep them penned in that attached to the duck house for a few days so they can get use to where bed time is. I made sure to have 2 pools and 2 feeding areas so there is no need for competition out back where they spend all of their free ranging time. All chickens and ducks seem happy together, or accepting at least. the youngest chickens I kept in the dog pen outside to explore but stay protected and close to the house, they seem VERY happy also brought them back in the the dog crate in the basement to sleep.

All in all, good experience so far! Just need to get some feathers on these babies so they can move out of my basement at night. They sure are stinky in just that short sleeping window of time lol.

 

[atucker]

I have not put the chicks out the past 3 days as it has been cold and raining, and theyre not to thrilled with me! lol but the ducks are doing great!! and the chicks enjoy their day trips out to the pen when its sunny. Sunday I will set up a crate in the coop houses so they can sleep in there with the big ladies and get use to this is home. Glad it has been successful!

 

[Miss Lydia]