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I have two flocks. Flock 1 is 3, 11 week olds and flock 2 is 5, 4-10 week olds. Roughly around that age. I lost track of exact ages. I don't have any roosters. I was very lucky and ended up with all hens. This is what I did to integrate...
Move in day was the most difficult for the chicks. I put an extra large wire dog kennel(brooder) in the coop. I took away the older chicks sleeping space. They were really upset and squawking for a few hours. The next day is when I let the little ones out of the kennel to explore the coop a bit. The flock 1 would chase and try and peck flock 2 very hard. I intervened each and every time the best I could.
Someone on here suggested that I put flock 1 in the kennel and alternate groups for a few hours at a time. This was a great idea, since the older chicks liked the kennel better then the babies in the first place. Flock 1 was sleeping on top of the kennel during the night, which made the babies uncomfortable. It was around day 5 when flock 2 was trying to fly up on top of the kennel from the inside. I decided to let them sleep on top of the kennel with the big chicks, but in the corner. I put them all in the corner and shut the door. My coop is pitch black until I turn on the light or open the door. Flock one was dumbfounded when they woke up that morning. The looks in their eyes was priceless.
After I had the chicks up on the dog kennel at night is when I saw some real progress. Flock 1 little by little became more tolarent of flock 2. I spent a lot of time inside the coop myself with the two flocks together. They would stay in their seperate groups. The older girls didn't really allow the babies in the run unless I was out there. They would chase them out each and every time they stepped foot. By day 5 flock 2 was accepted inside the coop as long as they stayed clear of the older girls.
It wasn't until two and a half weeks into the integration where I would leave the chicks alone together. Flock 2 was usually in the coop up on the kennel, my chair or in the cabinet I have in there, which I'm using for nest boxes when the time comes. They stayed away from the older girls. The older chicks knew I wasn't in there and would sometimes seek the chicks out. I was just outside the coop keeping an eye on them, so no one got hurt. I would make a noise everytime they were near the babies, so they knew I was watching.
I did this same routine and it was about 2 weeks later my dark brahma(13 weeks) decided the chicks were not so bad after all. She would try and walk near them eating the grass and scratching the ground. Just a few days ago, my RIR(13-14 weeks) was doing the same thing, trying to get closer to the younger chicks. My EE(13 weeks) is having the most difficult time with flock 2. She is the one I need to watch the most and pecks super hard. This past week I've been getting the chicks up in the morning and they are all mingled together on the dog kennel. They can only hear each other when the light is off.
Last night was a MIRACLE!!!! I saw all the chicks together in the run without any pecking. I was looking for the babies in the coop due to noticing flock 1 outside. They were sorta mingled together for a little while eating grass and taking a dirt bath! Unbelievable! They were eating and drinking inside the coop without pecking the babies!
I supervised the flocks together because of the size difference. I have a bantam d'uccle that I didn't want killed. She hides behind my speckled sussex a lot of the time for protection. I think the kennel worked out perfect. I don't have a roost in the coop yet, so sleeping together wasn't a huge issue. Our roost will be in next weekend. I gave a lot of treats and I would sit inside the run giving everybody treats from my hand. I made sure each and everyone got an equal amount of treats. If I fed eggs and yolk, I held the bowl and passed it to each chick.
My EE was the meanest of the three. She didn't like the babies at all and is the last one to accept them.
I hope this makes sense. I'm single hand typing from my phone.
Move in day was the most difficult for the chicks. I put an extra large wire dog kennel(brooder) in the coop. I took away the older chicks sleeping space. They were really upset and squawking for a few hours. The next day is when I let the little ones out of the kennel to explore the coop a bit. The flock 1 would chase and try and peck flock 2 very hard. I intervened each and every time the best I could.
Someone on here suggested that I put flock 1 in the kennel and alternate groups for a few hours at a time. This was a great idea, since the older chicks liked the kennel better then the babies in the first place. Flock 1 was sleeping on top of the kennel during the night, which made the babies uncomfortable. It was around day 5 when flock 2 was trying to fly up on top of the kennel from the inside. I decided to let them sleep on top of the kennel with the big chicks, but in the corner. I put them all in the corner and shut the door. My coop is pitch black until I turn on the light or open the door. Flock one was dumbfounded when they woke up that morning. The looks in their eyes was priceless.
After I had the chicks up on the dog kennel at night is when I saw some real progress. Flock 1 little by little became more tolarent of flock 2. I spent a lot of time inside the coop myself with the two flocks together. They would stay in their seperate groups. The older girls didn't really allow the babies in the run unless I was out there. They would chase them out each and every time they stepped foot. By day 5 flock 2 was accepted inside the coop as long as they stayed clear of the older girls.
It wasn't until two and a half weeks into the integration where I would leave the chicks alone together. Flock 2 was usually in the coop up on the kennel, my chair or in the cabinet I have in there, which I'm using for nest boxes when the time comes. They stayed away from the older girls. The older chicks knew I wasn't in there and would sometimes seek the chicks out. I was just outside the coop keeping an eye on them, so no one got hurt. I would make a noise everytime they were near the babies, so they knew I was watching.
I did this same routine and it was about 2 weeks later my dark brahma(13 weeks) decided the chicks were not so bad after all. She would try and walk near them eating the grass and scratching the ground. Just a few days ago, my RIR(13-14 weeks) was doing the same thing, trying to get closer to the younger chicks. My EE(13 weeks) is having the most difficult time with flock 2. She is the one I need to watch the most and pecks super hard. This past week I've been getting the chicks up in the morning and they are all mingled together on the dog kennel. They can only hear each other when the light is off.
Last night was a MIRACLE!!!! I saw all the chicks together in the run without any pecking. I was looking for the babies in the coop due to noticing flock 1 outside. They were sorta mingled together for a little while eating grass and taking a dirt bath! Unbelievable! They were eating and drinking inside the coop without pecking the babies!
I supervised the flocks together because of the size difference. I have a bantam d'uccle that I didn't want killed. She hides behind my speckled sussex a lot of the time for protection. I think the kennel worked out perfect. I don't have a roost in the coop yet, so sleeping together wasn't a huge issue. Our roost will be in next weekend. I gave a lot of treats and I would sit inside the run giving everybody treats from my hand. I made sure each and everyone got an equal amount of treats. If I fed eggs and yolk, I held the bowl and passed it to each chick.
My EE was the meanest of the three. She didn't like the babies at all and is the last one to accept them.
I hope this makes sense. I'm single hand typing from my phone.
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