What age can you introduce chicks to the adult chickens?

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We got our chicks on May 11 and by May 26 we built a little run for the chicks inside the 10x20 run. Hens could see the chicks and visited them all the time. It was 2 weeks and one day from the time we got them. On 6/6/19 they were in the in run with the hens but we left up the sectioned off area of the little run in case they wanted to go back to this area.
 
At 4 weeks I have put chicks in coop away from hens with netting to protect them and places to come out as they wish. Food and water in their own area. At 10-12 weeks I put them on roosts at night and never had an issue. Typically put them on lowest roost bars and away from the hens. But after about a month they were all mixed together and free ranged as one flock.
 
consdrs said:
Well in my limited experience when they are the same size and can defend themselves. if not your cute lovable hens will be the torment of your cute little fuzz butts. prepare for the feathers to fly, literally. I was shocked to see how many feathers could be plucked out in one peck.

Connie
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Man ,I had a gut feeling of this thank you connie
 
I was told the earlier the better so I got baby chicks from Rural King on Oct 26 and after keeping them in my bedroom a week I added them to my run on Nov 2. They're 5 weeks old and sleeping in the new coop I attached to the run just for them.Their dog crate is still in the run only a few feet from their coop.Not only does it have a heater it also has their food and water. My flock has never bothered the chicks the first time .I added a temporary fence for a couple days them took it down.The chicks have a lot of room between the dog crate and coop and rarely venture out in the run since its turned cold.
 
I keep mine in a separate chicken tractor for 12 weeks, then I move the chicken tractor against the main run so the tractor wall becomes a run wall. They live like that for a week, then I leave the tractor door open during the day for a week so they all can commingle. A week later, the "chicks" are locked out of the tractor and pushed into the main run for the evening and night.
 
I have a docile flock which is important if you want to add baby chicks: 3 Dominiques, a barred rock and a sl wyandotte (I don't have a rooster). The baby chicks are australorps and 4 sapphire gems.(half are possibly cockerels)
 
louis said:
By the way, I think not having roos won't make much difference. In my flock the roos hardly ever bother the babies but the pullets are brutal!
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Definitely. My rooster doesn't give the little ones a second glance. The hens can be downright mean sometimes.

I usually move the chicks to an enclosed area, look but not touch, at about 5-6 weeks. After 2-3 weeks of that, I'll let them out to free range together. Keep an eye on them the first few times. Some pecks here and there are okay, just make sure it doesn't get too bad. After a week or two like that, I'll make sure I'm out there at bed time and steer the little ones in the coop with the adults. After a couple of nights, they get the hang of it and everyone seems to be good together. Good luck.
 

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