Baby Chicks and Adult Chickens - Keep them separate or keep them together?

[Chicken Lover!]

Hi everyone,
I own two 10 month old chickens and I am soon to get 1/2 new baby chickens.
Should we get a completely separate cage, or put them together? Any other suggestions?
I'm just scared that if I put the babies with the adults, they will get picked on. Thank you for your time and all answers are greatly appreciated

DISCLAIMER: This picture isn't of my chicks/chickens, just a pic off the internet, couldn't help posting it, just too cute!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Hi everyone,
I own two 10 month old chickens and I am soon to get 1/2 new baby chickens.
Should we get a completely separate cage, or put them together? Any other suggestions?
I'm just scared that if I put the babies with the adults, they will get picked on. Thank you for your time and all answers are greatly appreciated

DISCLAIMER: This picture isn't of my chicks/chickens, just a pic off the internet, couldn't help posting it, just too cute!

Ouchie! Don't forget pecking order. Introduce slowly after the young ones get a little older.. Separation for sure for now..

 

[debid]

Where do they sell 1/2 a baby chicken?

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Where do they sell 1/2 a baby chicken?

You made a funny!

 

[debid]

To answer your question, though, adults view new arrivals as intruders to their territory and may well kill them. If you can separate your coop so the littles are safely brooded next to the adults but with fencing to protect them, they'll be slowly accepted. After a couple weeks, the fencing can be replaced by something with large enough holes so only the chicks can pass through and they'll gradually join the adult flock.

 

[azygous]

If you read my article on outdoor brooding it will answer all your questions. Copy the URL and paste onto your browser.

Oh heck, here it is:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/r...rooder-and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors

 

[Lazy Farmer]

To answer your question, though, adults view new arrivals as intruders to their territory and may well kill them. If you can separate your coop so the littles are safely brooded next to the adults but with fencing to protect them, they'll be slowly accepted. After a couple weeks, the fencing can be replaced by something with large enough holes so only the chicks can pass through and they'll gradually join the adult flock.

 

[lazy gardener]

1/2 of a baby chick would be messy. 1 baby chick would be a disaster. 2 baby chicks would be slightly less of a disaster. 12 baby chicks, if done correctly would work. I'm guessing you have a very small coop, if you're looking to introduce 1 - 2 chicks to an existing flock of 2 hens. Very small coop introductions can be lethal because of limited room for integration. Azygous gives very good chick intro. info.

 

[FlyWheel]

Both. Keep them in the same area as the adult birds, so everyone can get used to each other's presence, but separated so they cannot physically intermingle. I used a dog cage covered with hardware cloth until the chicks got big enough to defend themselves and integrate properly. When you do let them out there will be a few pecks or two until the new rank and file is established, but for the most part everyone should get along fine.