Adding to the flock

[nhpendleton]

Bought some olive eggers to add to our backyard flock, what age is best to add them. 1 week babies, the flock are 16 weeks.

 

[DeuceyG1335]

Bought some olive eggers to add to our backyard flock, what age is best to add them. 1 week babies, the flock are 16 weeks.

I would probably wait until the babies are about 16 weeks before you add them to the older flock.

 

[Starburst]

If your chicks are 1 week old, I would definitely wait until they’re at least twelve weeks at the minimum, fully feathered, and close to the size of the older chickens. When you do, it’s a good idea to do the look-don’t-touch method where the chickens can see each other but not hurt each other for about two weeks, and then introduce them under monitored interactions . There will still be squabbles, but this should hopefully stop a blood bath. Hope this helps.

 

[AngelaY]

I would wait until they're about 4-5 months old or until they're big enough to fend for themselves to permanently add them to the big flock. But you should let them socialize with some of the more relaxed/nicer birds (only one adult bird at a time) in a open area with supervision for maybe an hour every other day for the first 3 months. then then just let them free range together a few hours a day for the last few months. they will be pretty familiar with each other by the time you introduce them permanently. Also, if you are able to then about 2 weeks before you add them into the big flock you should have them constantly coexist in a way that they can see each other, but not be able to touch each other (ea: if you have 2 coops, put the coops next to each other and have the babies in one and the adults in another, if you only have one coop then you could use a large dog kennel for the babies). This is what I've done every time I have to add a new bird to the flock, it works like a charm and makes the pecking order stuff so much easier on everyone. (Wow, this was a lot longer than I thought it would be lol.)

 

[nhpendleton]

I would wait until they're about 4-5 months old or until they're big enough to fend for themselves to permanently add them to the big flock. But you should let them socialize with some of the more relaxed/nicer birds (only one adult bird at a time) in a open area with supervision for maybe an hour every other day for the first 3 months. then then just let them free range together a few hours a day for the last few months. they will be pretty familiar with each other by the time you introduce them permanently. Also, if you are able to then about 2 weeks before you add them into the big flock you should have them constantly coexist in a way that they can see each other, but not be able to touch each other (ea: if you have 2 coops, put the coops next to each other and have the babies in one and the adults in another, if you only have one coop then you could use a large dog kennel for the babies). This is what I've done every time I have to add a new bird to the flock, it works like a charm and makes the pecking order stuff so much easier on everyone. (Wow, this was a lot longer than I thought it would be lol.)
[/QUOTE

If your chicks are 1 week old, I would definitely wait until they’re at least twelve weeks at the minimum, fully feathered, and close to the size of the older chickens. When you do, it’s a good idea to do the look-don’t-touch method where the chickens can see each other but not hurt each other for about two weeks, and then introduce them under monitored interactions . There will still be squabbles, but this should hopefully stop a blood bath. Hope this helps.

Thank you!

 

[nhpendleton]

I would wait until they're about 4-5 months old or until they're big enough to fend for themselves to permanently add them to the big flock. But you should let them socialize with some of the more relaxed/nicer birds (only one adult bird at a time) in a open area with supervision for maybe an hour every other day for the first 3 months. then then just let them free range together a few hours a day for the last few months. they will be pretty familiar with each other by the time you introduce them permanently. Also, if you are able to then about 2 weeks before you add them into the big flock you should have them constantly coexist in a way that they can see each other, but not be able to touch each other (ea: if you have 2 coops, put the coops next to each other and have the babies in one and the adults in another, if you only have one coop then you could use a large dog kennel for the babies). This is what I've done every time I have to add a new bird to the flock, it works like a charm and makes the pecking order stuff so much easier on everyone. (Wow, this was a lot longer than I thought it would be lol.)

thank you so much for the insight.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you can brood outside, either in the coop or in the run, so they can grow up along side the older birds, you can feasibly start integrating at around 2 weeks or so.

If that's not an option (i.e. no electricity) then once they're ready to move outdoors, section them off a safe space to use and begin the process from there, knowing that it'll add some time to the equation as they'll still need time for the older birds to acclimate to their presence before you allow them to have contact.

My integration article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

 

[MarcyG]

I would wait until they're about 4-5 months old or until they're big enough to fend for themselves to permanently add them to the big flock. But you should let them socialize with some of the more relaxed/nicer birds (only one adult bird at a time) in a open area with supervision for maybe an hour every other day for the first 3 months. then then just let them free range together a few hours a day for the last few months. they will be pretty familiar with each other by the time you introduce them permanently. Also, if you are able to then about 2 weeks before you add them into the big flock you should have them constantly coexist in a way that they can see each other, but not be able to touch each other (ea: if you have 2 coops, put the coops next to each other and have the babies in one and the adults in another, if you only have one coop then you could use a large dog kennel for the babies). This is what I've done every time I have to add a new bird to the flock, it works like a charm and makes the pecking order stuff so much easier on everyone. (Wow, this was a lot longer than I thought it would be lol.)

Thanks for this great info and suggestion! Based on your experience, do you think it would be OK for me to place (my soon-to-be) two newly acquired pullets (each is 8-9wks old) inside a separated cage *within* my larger run, so my existing flock of 3 older hens and the new pullets can 'see' each other? I'm hoping this will work...

 

[AngelaY]

Thanks for this great info and suggestion! Based on your experience, do you think it would be OK for me to place (my soon-to-be) two newly acquired pullets (each is 8-9wks old) inside a separated cage *within* my larger run, so my existing flock of 3 older hens and the new pullets can 'see' each other? I'm hoping this will work...

Yeah I think that would be perfect for them! I find that the smaller the flock is the easier it is to add to it, (it's not so overwhelming for the pullets) so I think it'll work great for your birds. Just make sure to keep a close eye on them when you fully integrate them and you'll be fine. I always get nervous before adding to the flock but I've never had a bad experience with it!