Baby chicks new to coop.

[Lockroe]

I've had chickens for 2 years now and getting a few babies in a couple of days. It seems that I put the new chicks in the coop and locked them in there for a few days so they know that is where they are supposed to go but can't remember if that's what I read somewhere. Is that the proper way to adding new birds to a small flock?

Thank you

Scott

 

[Jakobvd]

Hi Scott
So I've read up on adding new chicks to a flock and am about to do the same as you! So my advice would be to wait until they are old enough to be outside without a heat lamp(aka they should be fully feathered and about 5-6 weeks). Then when they are old enough to be outside you put them in the coop with the older chickens but blocked off and out of harms way from the older chickens . Make sure you put them in some sort of see through glass or plastic so the older chickens can see them. after a few weeks of that then introduce your chicks to your old flock while still giving them the option of safe heaven to hide from the other bigger chickens just for a while and Walla a new big flock!! If ya have any questions just ask
Good luck

 

[esavvymom]

When we have added new chicks to our coop, we put them in a separate area (we had some removable fence "walls" (fencing attached to wood along the sides to make a wall). We'd set them up in the corner. A large/medium dog kennel, depending on the number of birds, can work too if you have the room in your coop. But as mentioned above, we had it so the older birds could see the new birds, "talk to them", etc. In our coop, we have a smaller fenced run with a roof, and then a larger penned outdoor run/area. We'd set it up so the younger birds could get out into the small contained run, while the older birds could only go to the outside run. This way both sets of birds still were able to go outside. At night, when we did our "routine" to get the birds to come in for the night, we'd do the same with the young birds as well (usually involved a little scratch grain, or some treat, depending on the season). This easily teaches them to roost at home.

I think we'd leave them in this situation at least 3-4 weeks, then integrate into the flock. By then, they are big enough (or at least fast enough) to fend for themselves. And they'd stick together as a group.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Are the ones you are getting tiny babies? Are they still fluffy and needing extra heat?
Are they feathered out but less then 2 months old?

There are tons and tons of threads about integrating chickens to an existing flock as well as raising newly hatched birds.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-raise-chickens.47660/

This link has a lot of links within it that will take you to a wealth of information.

How to care for a chick-first 60 days is an excellent place to start.
Just below that is information on the next 60 days.

New chicks have special needs that must be met. Please read through the article and visit the BYC learning center.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Are the ones you are getting tiny babies? Are they still fluffy and needing extra heat?
Are they feathered out but less then 2 months old?

There are tons and tons of threads about integrating chickens to an existing flock as well as raising newly hatched birds.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-raise-chickens.47660/

This link has a lot of links within it that will take you to a wealth of information.

How to care for a chick-first 60 days is an excellent place to start.
Just below that is information on the next 60 days.

New chicks have special needs that must be met. Please read through the article and visit the BYC learning center.