Can I introduce a chick to a flock of 4 hens?

[fushalilly]

I have four 22-week old hens (Wyandotte, Orpington, Australorp, Barred Rock).

In the spring, my feed store will be carrying chicks under 2 weeks old, generally they are RIR's.
I would like to get one chick from that feed store and introduce it to my four hens, but I do not know how to go about that, as I have never done it. I know many problems can arise if introduced improperly. What is the proper way of doing this?

 

[patandchickens]

You really, really ought to wait til it is grown up to full adult size, like 16 wks or so. It can live adjacent to the hens til then, so they can see each other (that way it won't get so lonely) but if it's smaller than they are when introduced, there is a pretty large chance for things to go badly wrong. Remember chickens are descended basically from dinosaurs

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[RAREROO]

I wouldn't do it either, you should get more than one chick and wait until they get a little more size to them before to introduce them to the hens, besides, young chicks have to have a heat lamp for the first few weeks, and the older hens would most likly kill the chick.

 

[jerseygirl1]

I tried it once, from experience, yes, it is better to wait. My full sized hens almost pecked it to death
It was like instant cannibalism

 

[JewellFarm]

Honestly, Not a good idea.

 

[fushalilly]

Okay, thanks everyone!!! Ill wait til shes grown before trying to introduce them.

 

[cobrien]

Baby chick will be very lonely and sad by herself, not to mention drive you nuts with very loud peeps because of her loneliness. 2 is much better. Good luck with your new baby(ies)!

 

[angels4]

In Rhode Island if the chicks are less than two months old the state requires them to be sold in quantities of 12.

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText04/HouseText04/H7789.htm

 

[lovinlife]

I'd get more than one chick. One would be lonely. I like to have at least three young ones. When they grow up and I add them to the flock, they have their own group to hang out with.

 

[kcfuerst]

Better yet, why not wait until one of your hens goes broody and then you can stick one or more chicks under her in the middle of the night and let HER be the guardian of the babies and have nature do a win/win for you. In this way, the newbies will integrate quite nicely with the current flock and you won't have to do the work of a momma hen.

I've tried it.... nothing is more protective than a henmom!