Adding new chicks to an existing small flock

[cswartout]

We currently have 4 adult hens and 5 chicks that are about 7 weeks old. Currently the chicks are being raised on our porch in an enclosure I built. The adult hens are very interested and spend plenty of time observing them on the porch.

When is a good time to add the little ones to the coop (older chickens are free range)? The little ones are pretty much all feathers now, but clearly much much smaller than the older hens. I'm worried there will be a lot of hazing going on with the older chickens.

Thanks,
CS

 

[chickensioux]

I just graduated my 7 week olds up to the "big" coop today. I have a large fenced in area and I let the little one out up there before I let the big girls out. They explored for about an hour before the big girls and when I let the bigger ones out they totally ignored the new girls. It's been several hours now and I haven't had a single issue as of yet.
Good luck with yours and I hope they cooperate for you too.

 

[lux_interior]

If the older ones have already been seeing the smaller ones, it'll make it easier, becaue they are already getting used to them and understand that there are new birds in their territory

 

[Bridget399]

I divided them with chicken wire for two days in the run and on the third day, they all went into the coop together (at night). They could see eachother and were very close, but the wire prevented any problems... tho I suspect I was just being over protective! They all are just fine.

 

[Judy]

Good article on this:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

 

[JennsPeeps]

I've got 2 flocks going right now:

Flock A: 2 adult standards and 1 adult banty.
Flobk B: (all standards) 10-week-olds x2 ("tweens") and 4-week-olds x5 ("babies")

The adult standards have pecked the 10-wo buff orp several times to the point of broken/torn skin and bloodied comb. The poor buff orp is very docile and is now terrified of the adults. We have to keep them separate. Luckily, the tweens have accepted the babies.

The banty seems between worlds. She'll chase the babies if given the chance but doesn't hurt them. She has a cross-beak, doesn't lay, and is lowest on the adult pecking order anyway. We've started putting her in with the tweens at night.

So our plan for now is to integrate the adults into the younger flock as those birds get bigger. We're integrating the banty in with the tweens, then will put the 2 remaining adults in one at a time once al lthe babies are fully grown. It's going to take a while but we think it's the safest for the younger birds that way.