Baby chicks, FLorida temps and merging a flock

[Dknichelson]

We have 3 pullet chicks (2 Tetra tints and 1 Buff Orphington) that are about 3 weeks old and we have 3 adult Silkies (2 hens and a roo). We're trying to decide when and how to move the chicks to the outdoor coop with the Silkies, but honestly don't know where to start. We live in central FL, so our temps are in the 70-80s this time of year. The chicks are currently living in the garage with a heat lamp, but they seem to be fine without it at this point. Our Silkies are very sweet and the 2 hens are very motherly, but I worry about how the roo will react to new babies. We also free range our Silkies during the day, so I'm assuming the chicks will just stick with the flock?

When should we move them? How do we introduce them to the older chickens and what precautions should we take?

 

[red horse ranch]

We have 3 pullet chicks (2 Tetra tints and 1 Buff Orphington) that are about 3 weeks old and we have 3 adult Silkies (2 hens and a roo). We're trying to decide when and how to move the chicks to the outdoor coop with the Silkies, but honestly don't know where to start. We live in central FL, so our temps are in the 70-80s this time of year. The chicks are currently living in the garage with a heat lamp, but they seem to be fine without it at this point. Our Silkies are very sweet and the 2 hens are very motherly, but I worry about how the roo will react to new babies. We also free range our Silkies during the day, so I'm assuming the chicks will just stick with the flock?

When should we move them? How do we introduce them to the older chickens and what precautions should we take?

With your warm temps they could go into the coop at 5 to 6 weeks old. However they are still too young to free range. They should have a place inside the coop to escape from the older ones. Some roosters are protective of chicks. But others have been known to kill chicks. So observe them very closely for a few days if you do put them together.

 

[cafarmgirl]

In general it's always a good idea to wait until chicks are nearly the same size as the adult birds you want to integrate them with so that they can better protect themselves in case the older birds attack. I've never owned Silkies but I would imagine they'll want to establish their pecking order just like any other chicken.