Adding new chicks to coop.

[jmat]

I have 2 3 year old hens and want to add 3 young chicks to coop. The chicks are now about 6 weeks old . I am looking for suggestions on the best way to do this. Thanks, Jmat

 

[Crazy Chicken Helen]

I am in the same situation, only with 8 in the yard and 5 chicks currently in a separate run and coop from the big girls, any help appreciated thanks

 

[aart]

This how I , and a couple others, do it:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

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

 

[Ridgerunner]

How much room do you have in the coop and in the run? Typically people with small numbers like yours have tiny coops and runs. That make it really hard. Many of the things Aart talks about assumes you have enough room to do something. The best way to try depends a lot on what you have to work with.

So how big is your coop, in feet or meters. I don't know which country you are in so I don't know which units are best for you but I can work in both. How big is your run, in feet or meters. How is your coop laid out, especially roosts. Photos inside the coop and outside can be really helpful. At 6 weeks your chicks should be good to go in practically any weather so weather should not be a big concern.