Age to Integrate Chicks To Existing Flock?

[nancypo]

I have 4 chicks almost 7 weeks old. I was going to add them to the flock of 2 hens this weekend. They're inside at night, and in a "playpen" all day outside, away from the 2 big hens. I let them into the main garden area late today to let them explore. 1 hen charged them (she can be aggressive and may go) the other ignored them. They looked pretty small, and I wondering- should I wait a couple more weeks? I've read that they should be middle size, not too small, or full size, to add to a flock. I have a RIR, 2 amber whites, and a barred rock chick/pullett. Thanks.... it's been a while since I had to do this....

 

[Judy]

Usually it's recommended to have them all the same approximate size, but flocks vary a lot, and people have a lot of different experiences. I hope this thread will help:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/803815/integrating-two-groups/0_20

 

[nancypo]

Interesting. There's no way to keep them inside to full size, so that won't work. I do a a good sized area for 6 birds, and the 1 will probably go. She's aggressive with me, so I was thinking about it anyway. I looked at some old photos, and I think I integrated them when they were a couple weeks older. Their playpen is in the area of the main garden/run so they can all see each other. My 1 main hen has always been pretty good with chicks...

 

[CalvinHobbes]

Far from being an expert here but I think I recently read somewhere that at 8 weeks is about the right age - the chicks will be big enough so they won't get beat up too bad when the new pecking order is established, but not so old or big they'll try to challenge the current pecking order too much. Of course if it all doesn't get settled pretty quickly and there's big fights or what not maybe try something else, but from what I understand a little bit of bullying and establishing a new pecking order is to be expected.

If I can figure out where I read that I'll edit this and point you to it. Good luck!

EDIT: Everything else I'm seeing now says at about the same size, and fully feathered, so maybe even 16 weeks or so. Judy's link has good ways of integrating them without letting them physically get to each other though, those people sound like they know a lot more than me.

 

[CollegeChicken]

THIS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE. ( I wouldnt try it before six weeks )
The best thing is to cage the teenage chicks inside the existing coop for a few days. Then sneak them into the roost at night after everyone is sleeping so both teenage chicks and existing hens all wake up together. If you want to do it right set your alarm for 6AM and get up and monitor how it goes. There is bound to be some chasing, pecking etc. There should not be any drawing of blood or feathers being viciously pulled out. There will be squabbles but if any of the chicks are getting seriously attacked then you need to return them to their cage inside the coop for a few more days and repeat the whole process again in a week or so. My own hens are very docile and are very gentle even with chicks. The only time they get truly aggressive is a hen who has chicks/ Hens are FIERCLY protective of their chicks.

 

[nancypo]

Thanks for the info. I have read "teen aged" too, but I think mine aren't quite there yet size wise. This weekend we'll split up the coop and fenced run/veggie bed. We'll wait 2-4 weeks til they're bigger, then see how it goes....