Yet another combine young flocks question

[Sherrirod]

I know integrations questions have been answered repeatedly. I have read everything I could find and am not sure if my situation is an exception or not. Also, I apologize in advance if this isn't in the right place. I'm new and trying to figure it out.

I have 11 chickens that are 21 weeks old (still laying pullet eggs). The other group contains 7 that are 7 weeks old and 15 that are 5 weeks old. I have split my run (nylon fence) so that the older ones are on one side and the younger on the other. It has been like this for 2 weeks. They mostly ignore each other now...until the little chicks get treats. Big chickens will leave their treats to complain loudly that the little ones got any. I know you don't normally put young chicks with older ones but my older ones are still pretty young themselves. Does that matter?

What I'd like to do is create a gap at the bottom of the divider so that the younger chicks could come and go in the older chicken section. I think they'll stay in their own coop/brooder box at least in the beginning and migrate over time as they are comfortable into the real coop. The problem I have is that the brooder/coop is 3x4. It won't be big enough for the 22 younger chickens at 10 weeks. I do have a 3x10 wired chicken tractor so to speak that I could cover and connect to make a coop out of, but it would be a real hassle and I'd like to avoid it if possible. I'm saving that for extra run space or run space for roosters depending on how many of the little chicks turn out to be roosters and whether this creates a problem in the flock down the road.

If it matters the run is 12x24 with lots of perches and a place to hide. The divider is run lengthwise at 4 foot making it 4x24 for the younger and 8x24 for the older. The older flock consists pretty mellow chicken types (Barred Rock (including roo), Marans, Gold laced Wyandotte, Isa Brown and Ameracauna). Also, most of the youngest will end up meat chickens so I won't be maintaining so many chickens in that space for long once full size.

Is it safe to try it? If not, what is the youngest I could possibly try to combine?

 

[Ridgerunner]

We all get different results when we try this. Part of that is that each chicken has its own personality. A lot of them are pretty mellow and laid back, but some are brutes that love to terrorize younger chickens.

How much room they have is very important, the more the better. Immature chickens can be pecked or worse if they invade the personal space of more mature chickens. They usually very quickly learn to stay away from the older ones. They need room to run away and get away when they need to run and room to avoid the older ones to avoid conflict to begin with.

How you manage them is important. Some things that help is to house them side by side where they cannot be attacked for a while so they get used to each other, provide widely separated food and water stations so the young can eat and drink without being bullied by the younger, and try to avoid locking them in tight spaces together.

You have 33 chickens in a relatively tight space. Many are chicks so it isn't a problem yet but they are growing. Having that tractor for the boys as you identify them can help but it may get pretty tight before any of them grow to butcher size.

Your general approach isn't that bad. They have already been housed in sight for two weeks. Perches and places to hide are a great help. Putting openings the younger can fit through but the older cannot will allow the younger to mingle and escape if they need to. I'd have an opening in each corner so they cannot get trapped in with the older. Another opening or two would not be bad. Just try it and observe. It could go great, it could be a disaster. If the young ones can get away from the older ones you have a pretty good chance. What may eventually be your biggest when they grow is that any chickens in that tight of a space.

For what it is worth, my brooder is in the coop so the chicks grow up with the flock. At 5 weeks of age they are let out of the brooder. I don't generally have any integration issues but my main run is 12' x 32' (larger than yours) and I have over additional 2,000 square feet available inside electric netting. And I have two shelters in addition to the coop for safe sleeping if I need it. At its peak my flock can be over 50 chickens including a few mature hens, a mature rooster, and chicks of various ages growing to butcher size.

I think size matters a lot. You may have no problems at all, I hope so. If you do it is likely because you have too many chickens in too small a space. I wish you luck!

 

[Mrs. K]

Just lift the barrier that is dividing the run off the ground 4-6 inches. I do the whole length, then a chick can't get caught away from the opening to safety.

Out in the big girls space, I will lay a pallet flat on the earth and then put big rocks or small brick under each corner, this allows chicks to disappear, again from all sides.

I do put the feed in the safety zone until I see them eating with the bigs. Then I make sure there are multiple feed bowls in different places and hidden places.

Mrs K

 

[Sherrirod]

Thank you for your quick reply. The bigger chickens go to roost much earlier than the little ones. I think I will close their coop door and let the little ones explore the whole run for a couple of nights to make sure they know how to run to safety (will set out treats when they are on other side). Then after they know the lay of the land so to speak introduce them to a few of the really mellow hens. If that goes well, try to allow them all to meet. Sound like a good plan??

 

[Sherrirod]

Just lift the barrier that is dividing the run off the ground 4-6 inches. I do the whole length, then a chick can't get caught away from the opening to safety.

Out in the big girls space, I will lay a pallet flat on the earth and then put big rocks or small brick under each corner, this allows chicks to disappear, again from all sides.

I do put the feed in the safety zone until I see them eating with the bigs. Then I make sure there are multiple feed bowls in different places and hidden places.

Mrs K

perfect

 

[Mrs. K]

You certainly can do it that way, but really you don't really need too. I too did it like that until I went down one time, and they had escaped without me and were getting along just fine.

Lift the barrier, take an ice tea, and sit and wait. Eventually a chick will explore out. Jump up and give him a mock chase so that he scurries under the barrier. And that is all you really need to do.

If you lift the whole edge, they can get in all along it, they will run through it like water. Works a treat.

Then they explore on their terms, and when the bigs have had enough of them they scurry back. But seriously in a week you will take it down, and probably could do it sooner.

Once I really started watching chicken behavior, I noticed that babies are just right with the other hens in the flock. With as many chicks as you have - it will be hard for a single chick to get too much pecking, they are as fast as lightening.

Where people get into trouble, is they have wide open runs, no escapes, no hide outs, no roosts or perches. And they wait until the chicks are too big. And they only add 2 chicks to 7 established adults. That is a wreck.

But you are adding a lot of chicks, equal number to the flock, you have clutter, and they have been in a see no touch. I would not expect any trouble at all.

Mrs K

 

[Sherrirod]

Wow, that's very encouraging! Hopefully it goes smoothly, and I don't have to worry until they get full sized and run into the issues Ridgerunner was warning me about. One bridge at a time...

 

[Ridgerunner]

Just lift the barrier that is dividing the run off the ground 4-6 inches.

You've done this 6"? I had some nests in a tractor that the nest opening was 8" wide and 6" high. Grown dual purpose hens had no problems using those nests. I don't know what the right height is but I'd be nervous with them 6" high.

 

[Sherrirod]

You've done this 6"? I had some nests in a tractor that the nest opening was 8" wide and 6" high. Grown dual purpose hens had no problems using those nests. I don't know what the right height is but I'd be nervous with them 6" high.

Hmmm. Good point. My hens are relatively small and like climbing under things. I'll go 3.5-4". The littlest ones will be fine, the 7 week ones may get cloths-lined until they learn to duck but I'm sure they'll learn

 

[Sherrirod]

I'll put something colored along the bottom so they can see where it is