Integrating 7 week chicks to existing flock

[Browniethechicken]

looking for suggestions and advice for integrating my 7 week chicks with my one year old chickens. I am currently doing the see no touch method in the run. I plan to add lots of clutter. There is a good size difference. Should I be alarmed? How do I do this smoothly? Thinking of fully integrating at 8 weeks. What else should I be doing? It is important to note that I have 7 hens and will add 2 chicks to the flock. Worried about the size difference but also need them out of my house.

 

[SBChickenLady]

Following here - similarly I am integrating 3 new girls into my flock for the first time, and trying to learn best practices.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Get the area cluttered up, wait a week or two (or until the adults show little to no interest in the chicks) and then pick a time when you can supervise to let them out for an hour or two and see how they interact.

 

[aart]

Here's some tips about....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Acre4Me]

In addition, allow the chicks some time to go between safe familiar area and larger run. We use a Portable fence, and raise it up on blocks. The chicks can get under, but larger birds cannot. We often have to add a garden stake to make the opening less wide. The chicks can still access their feed and water in their area, but mingle with the rest. The chicks will remain their own pack until they begin to lay. Once they begin to lay is when they will fully integrate.

With very timid chicks, or when there is an aggressive hen or two picking on them, we have let the chicks out into the run for a half hour before letting the hens out. The chicks get familiar with the run environment without being harassed.

 

[allosaurusrock]

I’d honestly wait until they’re a bit older, maybe closer to 10-12 weeks. Really depends on the size of the chicks in question, and like others said, the space you have available.

 

[Saveria]

These pictures show an ideal environment for introductions.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

3KillerBs was talking about how great "tunnels" made out of two pieces of plywood can be. When a little one can run through a tunnel and be somewhere far away from the original conflict it helps to keep things peaceful.

 

[Browniethechicken]

Here's some tips about....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

This is great and so comprehensive! Thanks!!!!

 

[Browniethechicken]

Get the area cluttered up, wait a week or two (or until the adults show little to no interest in the chicks) and then pick a time when you can supervise to let them out for an hour or two and see how they interact.

Good idea with the short sessions of interaction

 

[SandyRiverChick]

This is how I do it. Littles have their own little run where bigs can see them for about a week. Then I open the littles run door and split the bigs run in half with temporary divider (at that stage in pic.) The wire where the red arrow is, is bent up just enough that a little can get in and out but a big cannot. There is plenty of clutter on the bigs side incase a little is getting chased and can't make it back to the "little's only" space. Also, the bigs run door is open to 5 acres for free ranging. I do that because they are much less interested in the little's when they are pre-occupied with foraging out there.