Adding an older silkie to small flock of younger chicks

Sonic Pug

Songster
8 Years
Jul 27, 2011
426
7
101
Central Coast of California
I am going to be acquiring one 12 week old silkie. I already have a small flock of 7 week old chicks. How is the best way to go about integrating them? Also, the chicks have been in their new coop and run for about a week now and they still have to be placed inside the henhouse at nightfall as they are not using the ramp by themselves. Thanks for your responses.
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Hey there Sonic Pug! The standard response here seems to be along these lines:

1) quarantine for at least 30 days

2) put the newbie in a seperate run/coop where they can all see and hear each other for a bit (avg. 2 weeks)

I've also seen to add the new bird at night with the possibility that everyone will get up in the AM and think they just didn't notice her before.
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The consensus seems to be that size, not age is the major factor. It would likely be recommended that they get closer in size before integrating.

Another thread I read suggested that adding more than just one newbie at a time worked best - less chance of one new kid getting picked on.

Sorry to give you such ambiguity, but hope some of it helps!
 

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