At What Age at Chicks Almost Full-Grown?

[citychickinthecountry]

At what approximate age are chicks almost full-grown size? The reason I am asking is because I want to schedule a day off of work to monitor the introduction of my new chicks (9 of them), which are currently 3 weeks old to my 3 hens (which will be 1 year old in May). I just want to plan when I'll be able to introduce the chicks to the hens. I've heard and read that I shouldn't introduce them all until the chicks are almost full-grown size. All of the chicks and chickens are bantams (if that makes any difference).

 

[speckledhen]

They are quite a good size by about 14-16 weeks, so that is a good time to introduce them to the flock. They still keep growing until about a year old, generally.

 

[chicmom]

Hello Citychick!

You are totally right about introducing the newbies when they are the same size as the established flock. I personally wait until 20 weeks, because, #1, they're almost adult size, and #2, that's when I switch them over from the chick grower to the layer food. That way, everybody is eating the same type of food and getting proper nutrition.

The transition will be a little bit rough, as your flock will establish the pecking order, and the established chickens will show the newbies who is boss, but since you've got nine newbies to three established, it shouldn't be too bad.

Good luck with your introduction! It can be a little bit tramatic, but after a few days everything will calm down.

Sharon

 

[citychickinthecountry]

So, would it be okay to have the new chicks in a caged off area of the coop with the grown hens...as long as they can't get to each other? What I have in mind is building a fenced area so that the grown hens can still have free reign of the coop (and see the chicks), but they can't have access to the chicks.

I was going to build a cage big enough to house the 9 chicks for the next 17 weeks (until they are 20 weeks old). They'll still have their heat lamp (in case they need warmth), their own food and water, and they'll have plenty of room to move around.

 

[Mandalina]

With my birds i transfer them from the indoor brooder to the outdoor brooder at about 8-10 weeks.They can see and talk to the other older birds but there is no contact bc my outdoor brooder is just a corner of the coop sectioned off with high wire. i take them out of the brooder and let them all mingle at about 18-20 weeks.

 

[citychickinthecountry]

Sounds like my plan will work out just fine then. Thanks so much everyone. As always, you all are wonderful! Smooches.