Adding chicks to older chickens

[Missusg]

Can anyone share their experience with adding new chicks to older chickens? We have 3 hens that are approximately 10 months old. They are (I believe) a red sexlink, a golden wyandotte and a white leghorn. When we got these chicks we kept them inside our house until they were feathered and plan on doing the same with any new chicks. Our thoughts were to have "supervised visits" when the new chicks were sort of ready to be outside and slowly introduce them all to each other before we throw them together for good.

Any thoughts and/or experiences would be much appreciated!

-Karen

 

[Chickenlover720]

I have some hens that were about two years old when I got a new group of chicks. I kept mine separated but pretty close to each other. When the time came to introduce the young chicks (they were about 5 months old) to my older hens there were definitely a few fights but nothing major. I didn't immediately let them intermingle all the time but after a few weeks, they were pretty used to each other. Now (a few months later) they all get along very well without any sort of supervision.

Keep in mind things will vary chicken from chicken. Hope all goes well!!

 

[Missusg]

Thanks! We're taking the plunge! Meet Anna, Elsa and Tazita!

 

[shannaben8]

When I've introduced new teens to the oh flock I separated a space in the run just for the newbies. At night I put them all in the coop to roost (small roost for the teen lower to the floor). At night they wont bother them much since they will all be sleeping. It will keep the new ones used to roosting. Then when I let them back into the run in the morning I put the teens back in their section. Did this for about a week and then removed the sectioning. Like the other said, they still have to pack it out, but it's not a shock. Good luck!

 

[aart]

I like to integrate early....but need to set it up.
Here's how I do it...and a couple links to others techniques(scroll down to bottom):
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Still follow the.....
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.