Chick integration

[Danielle3140]

Hello! I'm new to chickens and chicks so hoping some with more experience can help me out. I have a flock of 6 hens that are about a year old and lived together forever. I've had them since April. I have them in a coop that's approx. 10x10 and they free range every day. I got 6 chicks a coup,e of weeks ago. They're approx. 4 weeks old. I have them in a crate in the coop with the hens. The hens are interested in them and peck at the crate once in a while but there's never been any direct interaction. At what age can I introduce them? My main concern is one of the redstars is picking on my leghorn when she tries to eat in the coop. I noticed around the same time as when the chicks were put in the coop. Could that be that the redstar is being protective or a bully?

 

[teach1rusl]

Chicks - most say to integrate when the chicks are large enough to defend themselves, at least half the size the of original flock. Folks with lots of space, especially when free ranging is used, can sometimes integrate sooner.
Make sure more than one feeder/waterer (set well apart) are available. Barriers such as chairs, boxes, stumps, branches, are good to have in place so the youngers can avoid the larger birds as much as possible.
I'd say your redstar is just reacting to change - chickens don't like change - newbies are change.

I'd pick a day/weekend when you can be around a lot to supervise when you attempt integration. Can you fix a circle of chicken wire outside so that the big birds can begin seeing more of the chicks? The more exposed they've been to the chicks, the less ugly it'll go when the chicks are exposed to them "for real."

 

[Angelicisi]

I have 4 hens that think they are the only chickens-ever. I also have 4 six week old chicks. This last week the have been sleeping in the chickens run protected by a cage. Everyday this last week I have let then all out to free range together. The big girls ignored the chicks until they tried to eat lol then it was on! But really it was the lower pecking order hens that did a tiny bit of chasing and pecked here and there. No injury, after day one of me scolding naughty behavior the chicks knew to keep away when a hen was eating lol
But I do NOT let them loose locked in the run with the older birds yet. I fear they'd get cornered or hurt. I do however leave the coop and run open and let them all play about. Only 1 or 2 of my chicks are staying tho. Roos are going and so is 1 of the original flock. Having the flock order disrupted benefited me in the past with integrating but it can backfire too, if not done all in the same Evening (new chicks introduced in equal or higher numbers and original hen removed) a new pecking order gauntlet will start. I like dusk because the girls are calm then I add new chicks to roost a lil while after dusk when all are sleepy. These 4 chicks I have will be joining the flock within the next week or two hopefully. Then back to one hen house, one set to feed, water, clean and one set to worry about lol