Adding New Chicks to Existing Flock - Questions and Anxieties

[ellieanne22]

Hello, Everyone!

We got 8 chicks in September of 2021. Last August something got two of our girls and the kids and I were super disappointed. I decided to get a few more chicks this year to bring our numbers back up to where they were and they should be here in May. I have never integrated new chicks into our flock before and am feeling a little nervous about it. I don't want to do anything that could harm the chicks or upset my girls. We really only had one girl that was kind of a bully and would peck on the others, but she was one of the ones that got killed. Our girls have been living peaceably ever since. I guess I'm hoping for some success stories? and some tips on how to make it as smooth as a transition as possible?

Also, just because I am still fairly inexperienced with chickens, I was wondering if anyone with more experience could explain to me why it doesn't seem to be common practice to put the chicks into the coop immediately? I guess I just assumed that since chickens raise chicks all the time that it would make sense to stick them in with the big chickens.

And lastly (thank you for reading this far if you've made it), we are adding some ducks to our flock. They will be getting here the same time as our new chicks. Any advice (aside from brooding them separately) on having a mixed flock and trying to make sure everyone gets along?

Attached: Chicken Tax.

 

[ManedWolf]

I've successfully introduced new chickens into my flock on multiple occasions. Your chicks look like a great age to introduce them (fully feathered and big bodied). I'll tell you the steps I take! First I allow the old chickens to see the new chicks through a fence, and I'll keep them like this for either a few days or up to 2 weeks (however long it takes for the old flock to stop approaching the fence with hostility). After that you just basically throw them in, I do it during the day so I can monitor them. I don't let them sleep with the main flock until they seem to have integrated into the flock (so separate them at night). I just don't want the chicks to get cornered in the coop.
Just know there will be fighting, just make sure nobody is getting bloodied. This shouldn't happen if you follow my steps, besides the new chickens will be more agile than the older ones!

 

[CaretakerCarol]

We integrate new chicks into our flock every year. It won't be all hugs and kisses, but in about a week a pecking order will be established and relative harmony will exist. Be prepared, there usually is at least one "mean girl" and one bottom-of-the-barrel girl who will be harassed. Normally, everyone settles in after about a week. Just watch for excessive pecking and chasing - to the point of injury. When we are ready to fully integrate, we do use the method of placing them in the coop after dark when everyone has settled. Not 100% certain that is necessary.

 

[NatJ]

I decided to get a few more chicks this year to bring our numbers back up to where they were and they should be here in May.

So they are not here yet, and you are planning so you can be ready? Good idea!

Also, just because I am still fairly inexperienced with chickens, I was wondering if anyone with more experience could explain to me why it doesn't seem to be common practice to put the chicks into the coop immediately? I guess I just assumed that since chickens raise chicks all the time that it would make sense to stick them in with the big chickens.

A broody hen wants to sit on eggs, and after she sits for 3 weeks she is ready to take care of chicks when they hatch. She protects the chicks from anything dangerous, and usually makes the other adult chickens keep their distance while her babies are little. She also snuggles the chicks in her feathers to warm them up every time they get cold (many times a day at first, smaller amounts as they get older.)

A hen that is not broody has no interest in taking care of chicks. She may try to eat them (fuzzy little snack?), she may peck them to say "stay out of my personal space," or she may ignore them.

So just putting newly-hatched chicks into a coop with adult chickens is not a good idea.
But some people do put a brooder in their coop, so the chicks are safe but they can start getting to know the adult chickens through the wire mesh side of their pen. Here is an article by one person who does it that way, and who also arranges chick-sized doors so the chicks can mingle with the older hens but are still able to get away if needed:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/

And lastly (thank you for reading this far if you've made it), we are adding some ducks to our flock. They will be getting here the same time as our new chicks. Any advice (aside from brooding them separately) on having a mixed flock and trying to make sure everyone gets along?

I have no personal experience with ducks, but I have read some things about them.

I have read that they tend to be very wet and messy. Since chickens do best when they are dry, you may want to house them separately even after the brooding period.

I have also read that drakes can try to mate with hens, which is bad for the hens (incompatible anatomy), which is another reason to house them separately.

If I am wrong, hopefully someone with more knowledge will step in and set the record straight

 

[rosemarythyme]

Also, just because I am still fairly inexperienced with chickens, I was wondering if anyone with more experience could explain to me why it doesn't seem to be common practice to put the chicks into the coop immediately? I guess I just assumed that since chickens raise chicks all the time that it would make sense to stick them in with the big chickens.

Because without a mother to guard them and drive off other adults, the flock will likely kill the chicks as they're just delicious nuggets to them.

You CAN put chicks into the coop right after they hatch however they will need to be in a protected brooder with their own food and water, until they're at least old enough that the flock doesn't see them as walking tidbits. I brood outdoors in the run to begin the integration process immediately, and the chicks can start coming out to interact with the adult at about 10-14 days: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

 

[Lelilamom]

Years ago we hatched 45 out of an incubator and at week 4 put them in the coop at night. Next morning it looked like a battlefield with dead chicks everywhere.

Now we integrate using a open air brooder in our coop. It's a 6x8 ft fenced off area in the coop that is chicken wire so . When the chicks are 4 wks old, we move them in there (from the closed brooder in our basement) and there they stay for 4 more weeks.

 

[ellieanne22]

So they are not here yet, and you are planning so you can be ready? Good idea!


A broody hen wants to sit on eggs, and after she sits for 3 weeks she is ready to take care of chicks when they hatch. She protects the chicks from anything dangerous, and usually makes the other adult chickens keep their distance while her babies are little. She also snuggles the chicks in her feathers to warm them up every time they get cold (many times a day at first, smaller amounts as they get older.)

A hen that is not broody has no interest in taking care of chicks. She may try to eat them (fuzzy little snack?), she may peck them to say "stay out of my personal space," or she may ignore them.

So just putting newly-hatched chicks into a coop with adult chickens is not a good idea.
But some people do put a brooder in their coop, so the chicks are safe but they can start getting to know the adult chickens through the wire mesh side of their pen. Here is an article by one person who does it that way, and who also arranges chick-sized doors so the chicks can mingle with the older hens but are still able to get away if needed:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/


I have no personal experience with ducks, but I have read some things about them.

I have read that they tend to be very wet and messy. Since chickens do best when they are dry, you may want to house them separately even after the brooding period.

I have also read that drakes can try to mate with hens, which is bad for the hens (incompatible anatomy), which is another reason to house them separately.

If I am wrong, hopefully someone with more knowledge will step in and set the record straight

Thank you much for your reply! You are correct, they are not here yet. They should be here in May.

Thank you for explaining about the baby chicks. I hadn't considered the broodiness (or lack thereof) of a hen. I guess it kind of makes sense, even some people are like that, in that if a kid isn't theirs they don't particularly like them (or kids in general). We raised the girls we have now in a brooder in our basement. We will likely do that again, as it worked out well the first time and we should be able to move them out to the coop a little sooner. (My husband was still finishing the coop when our girls got here so they got a couple bonus weeks in the house with us.)

Ah, yes. The terrifying male duck anatomy. It shouldn't be an issue. We are only allowed to keep females where I live so in the unfortunate event that one of our Daisys turns out to be a Donald, they will be farm bound. We have a small pond in our yard though and I was thinking about building them their own coop closer to the pond.

 

[ellieanne22]

I've successfully introduced new chickens into my flock on multiple occasions. Your chicks look like a great age to introduce them (fully feathered and big bodied). I'll tell you the steps I take! First I allow the old chickens to see the new chicks through a fence, and I'll keep them like this for either a few days or up to 2 weeks (however long it takes for the old flock to stop approaching the fence with hostility). After that you just basically throw them in, I do it during the day so I can monitor them. I don't let them sleep with the main flock until they seem to have integrated into the flock (so separate them at night). I just don't want the chicks to get cornered in the coop.
Just know there will be fighting, just make sure nobody is getting bloodied. This shouldn't happen if you follow my steps, besides the new chickens will be more agile than the older ones!

Thank you for your reply! The chickens in the picture are actually our girls we got last year. Our babies will come in May. I will keep what you said in mind about integrating them.

 

[ellieanne22]

We integrate new chicks into our flock every year. It won't be all hugs and kisses, but in about a week a pecking order will be established and relative harmony will exist. Be prepared, there usually is at least one "mean girl" and one bottom-of-the-barrel girl who will be harassed. Normally, everyone settles in after about a week. Just watch for excessive pecking and chasing - to the point of injury. When we are ready to fully integrate, we do use the method of placing them in the coop after dark when everyone has settled. Not 100% certain that is necessary.

Okay, thanks for the heads up! I'm dreading the "mean girl" phase. We had a mean girl and she got killed in August. So far, no one has taken over for her (for which I was grateful) and I'm not looking for ward to it again. My sweet girl that was the bottom-of-the-barrel has been so happy since then.

When you integrate them at night, do you just put them on the roost with the others?

 

[ellieanne22]

Because without a mother to guard them and drive off other adults, the flock will likely kill the chicks as they're just delicious nuggets to them.

You CAN put chicks into the coop right after they hatch however they will need to be in a protected brooder with their own food and water, until they're at least old enough that the flock doesn't see them as walking tidbits. I brood outdoors in the run to begin the integration process immediately, and the chicks can start coming out to interact with the adult at about 10-14 days: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

Do you have to worry about them getting sick from the older chickens? Our girls are healthy, or at least they seem healthy to me. I know next to nothing about the chicken immune system or anything like that, so I wasn't sure if they needed to be in a brooder when they were babies for health reasons as well.

Do you have to do anything special to brood the chicks in the coop? We will be getting day old chicks. Could they go straight into a brooder in the coop? Or is it better to wait a couple weeks?