Thoughts on integrating chicks with pullets (7 week difference).

[Mrs. K]

If there is a size difference you can use that. What one really needs is for them to interact, but have an escape if it gets too intense.

Set up a small pen in the run. Put your chicks there. Put a cardboard box or plastic box on the side as a shelter. Protection from the sun and wind. Feed and water. At night your chicks will naturally go to bed here and you can scoop it up easily and place where you want.

After a day or two, lift up the fence and put it on bricks. This will let your chicks explore on their terms. I usually sit there until one gets brave, and give that one a mock chase back in.

I have space for another pallet laid flat, that up on small rocks or bricks gives the chicks another escape. I set this up away from the safety zone. So if the are out exploring they don’t get caught too far from the safety zone.

This allows them to work on this on their own terms. And they will be completely integrated in 3 days.

Mrs K

 

[azygous]

Tossing the youngsters in with the adults or older chicks can work if you're lucky. It is how farmers have been treating chicken flocks for thousands of years. However, you should expect an occasional tragedy with this method.

Understanding chicken psychology can be very useful in managing your precious backyard flock, and it's also fascinating. Chickens are charming yet complex creatures. Understanding them on a deeper level makes keeping them much more enjoyable. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/ This is another article I wrote that explores the psychology of aggression and victimhood and neutralizing these disturbing behaviors.

 

[newchickmomma83]

I think the problem for me (and like @azygous mentioned) is that I have limited space. My run is only 9x18 and we're not able to free-range. I'm the type of person that tends to play things conservatively, so I'd have a hard time just putting them together without constant supervision. I'll keep thinking about it and update if we make an attempt.

And good luck getting your groups integrated!

Well I wish you the best of luck and I'm sure it will all turn out perfect for you in the end

 

[thecatumbrella]

If there is a size difference you can use that. What one really needs is for them to interact, but have an escape if it gets too intense.

I've definitely seen this concept used in different ways, but will have to improvise a bit as I have no clue how large the bantams will be at 10 weeks (first time bantam owner). The pekins at least have the heavy feathering to slow them down, but my d'uccle is like a slick little torpedo that's maybe the size of a sparrow. I've got your technique bookmarked for later, so thank you!

This is another article I wrote that explores the psychology of aggression and victimhood and neutralizing these disturbing behaviors.

I've used this article to mediate a sudden behavioral change! It's a good one I've got in my bookmarks.

Well I wish you the best of luck and I'm sure it will all turn out perfect for you in the end

Thank you, thank you. This round of chicks has been 100% Murphy's Law -- so I anticipate everything going horribly wrong -- but you never know!

 

[5Australorpasaures]

We confined ours in a large dog crate for a meet and greet for a week or so, after that wedged the door wide enough so the younger birds still had a safe retreat than opened when the older birds got bored with them. Still had the pecking order to sort out but not any real problems.

 

[thecatumbrella]

We confined ours in a large dog crate for a meet and greet for a week or so, after that wedged the door wide enough so the younger birds still had a safe retreat than opened when the older birds got bored with them. Still had the pecking order to sort out but not any real problems.

Should I be hardware meshing the dog crate to prevent any pecking through the bars? Or are those pecks actually part of the process?

I'll be able to fit a 30x48 crate, and it would be protected on the two opposing sides by my dig boxes. I'd also put something over the top so they don't get on.