Introducing chicks to teens

[FeatherstoneFrm]

I've seen a lot of posts about introducing chicks to older birds but not much about introducing chicks to teens
My older birds are 17-18 weeks old, not yet laying. I have 2 cockerels and 3 pullets. I now have 4 pullets that are 5-6 weeks old. They have been in a large dog crate in the run for a week. The teens are mildly curious about them. I saw one of the pullets pull a couple of tail feathers out through the bars but my head cockerel pecked at her and pushed between her and the crate. I hope this means he is going to protect them when they are out in the run.
So how long should I keep them in the crate?. I plan to give them escape doors back into the crate, but not sure when and how. Should I stay with them for a few "visits" before leaving them out or just create the escape doors and let them venture out on their own? I would stay with them for a while at first just because I love to watch them and want to be sure every one behaves but I don't know what to expect. I'm probably overthinking again but that's me.
Thanks for any shared wisdom.

 

[RWise]

I integrate my littles at 5 weeks into the flock, I only wait that long because I have cats nearby...
I hatch my own, they go to the brood house (with run) at 2-3 days old. The girls come and visit them but no touching! Once they are 5 weeks old they are placed on the roost in the main coop at night. I rarely see any issues.

 

[aart]

I'm probably overthinking again but that's me.

I don't think you're overthinking, but that's me too

A week is not too long, but then again the size of the escape doors can become an issue once the chicks get 'so' big. So maybe try it now.

Yes, stick around to make sure the chicks can get back into their 'safe place'.
I usually lock the big birds out of the coop and then open the escape doors and shoo the chicks in and out of them a few times. Or you can put up a barrier(fencing) around the safe spot so they can go in and out but still be 'safe'...do that for a few days then remove the barrier.

Depends on your setup and what you have handy to facilitate.
How will you make the escape openings?
Pics might help garner suggestions.

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

Thanks to you both. I'm thinking about turning the crate on its side. The space between the bars on the bottom are wider than the sides. If they are not wide enough, I'll do a cardboard peice over the open door with two openings cut in. That way I can still close them in at night if needed.

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

This is their current situation. Not the best pic but is a 2x4 ft crate. The older birds look at them from the side and sometimes from the top.

 

[Mrs. K]

The thing is, (might be over thinking) but when I do a one way gate, I want my chicks to be able to get into the safe zone from all sides. No matter where they are at. It is better, if you can, to take the bottom off the set up, and put the corners up on bricks or cement blocks laid on the side with the openings the gates. A gate will not work if the hen has them trapped away from it.

Or an easier way, is put the pen in a corner, then put a pallet up on blocks. in front of the door. The chicks can move like water under the pallet, the older girls, a little slower, but gives enough time to get away.

I think one way gates are the way to go. It allows the chicks and the hens to work out their relationship on their terms.

Mrs. K

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't believe you are overthinking it, I think it really helps to think things through and have an idea what you can do if you see a problem. To me that's a basic tenet of safety on the job, around the house, or wherever you happen to be. Plan what you are going to do, have things ready, understand what might go wrong, and have a plan to deal with it. That will prevent a lot of problems to start with and prevent panic if something goes south. But don't subject yourself to paralysis by analysis. Make a plan, then execute it instead of worrying so much you can't do anything.

The basics of introducing them to teens versus adults aren't any different. In general, I find a mature dominant rooster to be great to have around as long as the ones you are introducing are still chicks and not males old enough to be rivals. Hopefully your older cockerel is getting into that mindset. Older hens can be risky, especially ones not all that high in the pecking order. I hardly ever have problems with immature pullets but I don't fully trust them. Immature cockerels can be as bad or maybe worse than older hens. With all this, I regularly integrate chicks as young as five weeks with a flock that has a mature rooster, mature hens, and several older cockerels and pullets with pretty wide age differences with very little drama. Just because you can possibly have problems does not mean it is guaranteed that you will.

I think you have been given good advice. I'd house them in that crate at least a week, more won't hurt. Some form of panic room/safe haven is good insurance, especially if room is kind of tight. When you can be around to observe, open the door and let them mingle at their pace. That may be fairly quickly, it may take over a day. Makes it hard to observe. When I do it I just walk away but my set-up is different from yours and I've done it many times.

Good luck!

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

I've done it. So far so good. I turned the crate over and attached plastic netting to all but the bottom section of the bottom which is now the side. The chicks can come and go.
I put the older ones in the garden while the littles explored then let the others back in. Big Red (RIR) and Hazel (Australorp) went after them immediately but Hank, our RIC (rooster in charge) really stepped up. He got between the chicks and the hens and put a stop to it.
They all stopped to rest in the heat of the afternoon, Bigs in the coop and littles behind it. Starting to move around again so we'll see what happens next.

 

[Mrs. K]

Good luck, once the chicks know where safety is, by the roo, or in the zone you really got it made. They learn to pick up on the cues that they are irritating their elders. Once, I had a dozen chicks, running wild, and I swear the rooster jumped up, and stomped his feet. He had had it, boy did those chicks scoot for cover. It was hilarious.

Keep an eye out, but you should be ok. Now they will remain a sub flock, tolerated but separate until they begin to lay. Last night I noticed my March girls were about half way along the roost, they started out on the very farthest edge. Their combs are starting to pink up, I really don’t expect eggs from them until mid August or early September.

 

[aart]

but Hank, our RIC (rooster in charge) really stepped up. He got between the chicks and the hens and put a stop to it.

That's a great sign!!
Have seen that happen..but the next year that same cockbird was not quite so protective-but they got on just fine.