Integration; phase one complete . . .what's next?

[redinator]

Here's the information on my chicks:

in the large run: 4, 11 week old BYMs - two cockerels and two pullets

in the chick pen (inside the run): 2, 4 week old chicks, a Maran mix cockerel, and a Buff Orpington looking like a pullet, but still young; and last, but defiantly not least . . .17, 3 week old RIR genders unknown

My setup has a large 9x18 run

with the chick pen inside

approximately a week and a half ago I put the chick pen in the run and moved the younger chicks (2 and 3 weeks old at the time) into the run with the larger chicks. Aside from some initial curiosity and slight aggression from the older chicks for the first day or so everything went fine. At this point they completely ignore the chicks even when I'm feeding the little chicks the older chicks simply don't seem to care that they're there.

A few days ago, just out of curiosity, I opened the door to the pen a bit to gauge the older chicks reaction. Only two of the young chicks were brave enough to cross the threshold and the older chicks scurried to the far side of the run . . .which made me laugh a bit to be honest.

My plan goes something like this:

When the RIR turn 4 weeks (in a week) I'll let the older chicks free range for about an hour as normal. While the older chicks are out of the run I'll close the gate and let the younger chicks out of the pen to explore the run and get the 'lay of the land'. This will let me observe the younger chicks and make sure to add cover to places they tend to corner themselves and block off any places they tend to get stuck. Once I've 'chick proofed' the run (a week or less) I'll replace the hinged doors on the pen and add a piece of hardware cloth over the opening with a gap at the bottom the younger chicks can fit under, but the older chicks can't.

Does this sound like a good plan? Is there anything I'm not considering? When should I intervene if the younger chicks are being bullied, if at all? When I let them all in the run together should I scatter feed/treats to occupy the older chicks, or will that cause aggression if the smaller chicks try to eat the food on the ground?

 

[DobieLover]

Does this sound like a good plan?

Yes.

Is there anything I'm not considering?

Yes. You don't have nearly enough space for 23 birds. And you have too many males.

When should I intervene if the younger chicks are being bullied, if at all?

If an older bird is relentlessly pursuing younger birds and really going after them.

When I let them all in the run together should I scatter feed/treats to occupy the older chicks, or will that cause aggression if the smaller chicks try to eat the food on the ground?

Spread feed all around the run for them to scratch for. When my flock gets on the large side, I put feed not only in the long feed troughs I have hanging in the run, but also put piles of feed on flat rocks I have spread all over the place in there.

When the younger males start showing themselves, they're going to go after everything in a skirt. The older chickens will likely assist in tuning these boys up but the sheer numbers of the younger boys that are likely growing up in your 'gender unknown' flock are going to cause serious issues for the pullets. And when everybody sexually matures and you have that many males in there, there's going to be a lot of fighting amongst the males especially due to the small confines that they are in. You need to shoot for a total of closer to 15 square feet per bird and you don't even have half that.

You will need to make a pen adjacent to the run where you can keep the cockerels until they are rehomed or grow them for the table.

 

[redinator]

I got the younger chicks when I realized I had two cockerels and two pullets in my first batch. Since the RIR are straight run I'm assuming half are males, which would get me down to roughly 14 chickens.

I have two side yards that are already fenced off and roughly 10x20 each. I plan to start moving the males to them once the younger males become more obvious.

In the male only enclosures I plan to have multiple feed/water stations, clutter to block lines of sight and roost bars. Do the boys need anything else . . . what can I put in to entrain them so they aren't picking fights just because they're bored? I have a friend that will come help process the boys when the time comes. Any that get too loud or to aggressive will go to freezer camp first, if I keep any males . . .still undecided on that. What's a good age to plan to process the males?

 

[Mrs. K]

Good, you have a realistic plan!

I would plan about 14-16 weeks. Younger birds make more tender meat, but it won’t be like KFC.

I like to stew it, and can up meat with broth, and plain broth for the pantry. It is very good for soups and casseroles.

My advice is to go with an all hen flock this year. Flock mate roosters often do not turn out, they seem to do better raised in a multigenerational flock. Even that is not fool proof, but next year or when the pullets are laying introducing a mature rooster is easy, and roosters are easy to find.

Mrs K

 

[redinator]

Good, you have a realistic plan!

I would plan about 14-16 weeks. Younger birds make more tender meat, but it won’t be like KFC.

I like to stew it, and can up meat with broth, and plain broth for the pantry. It is very good for soups and casseroles.

My advice is to go with an all hen flock this year. Flock mate roosters often do not turn out, they seem to do better raised in a multigenerational flock. Even that is not fool proof, but next year or when the pullets are laying introducing a mature rooster is easy, and roosters are easy to find.

Mrs K

Should I feed the males that I'm growing out differently? I'm switching the chicks to All Flock w Oyster Shells on the side when the RIR turn 4 weeks (in about a week), the 2 older pullets will be about 12 weeks when I make the switch.

 

[Mrs. K]

That is a sound plan, if you can’t get it chick feed is good too. Sometimes I can get one or the other.

Personally I would give the cockerels a bit more scratch grain, to fatten them up a bit.

 

[redinator]

That is a sound plan, if you can’t get it chick feed is good too. Sometimes I can get one or the other.

Personally I would give the cockerels a bit more scratch grain, to fatten them up a bit.

When I make the switch, should I do it gradually, or is all at once ok?

 

[Mrs. K]

I have never had any trouble doing it either way. I have had more trouble with crumbs verses pellets. Especially with young birds. Don’t let them blackmail you, with a bit of time they will eat.

 

[redinator]

I have never had any trouble doing it either way. I have had more trouble with crumbs verses pellets. Especially with young birds. Don’t let them blackmail you, with a bit of time they will eat.

Lol, I can be a pushover . . ."Oh my god they don't love it and aren't eating it in 20 mins, they'll all starve . .quick get them leftovers" lol.

ETA: I'll save the chick crumbles that I still have for the younger chicks and gradually add in pellets for them.

Thanks

 

[Ridgerunner]

Does this sound like a good plan? Is there anything I'm not considering?

Your overall plan is solid. My concern with integration is always space. Your "safe haven" plan can certainly help with that. Hopefully it is enough.

When should I intervene if the younger chicks are being bullied, if at all?

When a chicken is trying to kill another chicken they usually try to peck the head to drill a hole through to the brain. If one is trapped in a corner or against a wall or fence, it often tries to lay down and cover its head. If the attacked continues to try to peck, I'd intervene quickly.