At what age can I introduce new chics to my flock?

Billwags

In the Brooder
6 Years
Jul 8, 2013
18
0
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I have some 4 month old hens. I have some chics that are three weeks old and still in the brooder but will ready to go out soon.
At what age can I safely place the new chicks in with the older birds?
 
You might want to read my post in this thread. Saves me a lot of typing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/800446/how-to-introduced-new-chicks-to-my-chicks

There is no magic age when things are guaranteed to work out great. It depends on the personality of your chickens, the flock dynamics, and your set-up, especially how much room you have.

I often have a broody hen wean her chicks at 4 weeks and leave them on their own to make their way with the flock. But I don’t do it that young. That broody has spent four weeks teaching the other chickens to leave her babies alone.

I usually wait until 8 weeks, but my brooder is in the coop and my grow-out pen is next to the run. They see each other from hatch on. And I have a lot of room. I’ve never lost a chick doing it this way, which means I’m probably being too careful, but I’m OK with that.
 

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