Chicks and hens, how to get them living together.

[MaryDeeP]

I have 9 chicks and 7 hens. The chicks are about 4-5 weeks old now but I’ve been told horror stories about getting them living in the same coop and yard. im planning on making a temporary coop and run next to the big one. Will this wor? I have Long Island reds (3) and one of them (Hilda) rules the roost, literally! She is sometimes mean to the other hens and I don’t know how to handle this issue either. I’m a newbie to raising chickens

 

[KAJ]

I'll be following this question. I have a Silkie hen with two chicks and I listened when I was told to get her away from the flock when chicks hatched. Bad move. The problem isn't the older birds going after the chicks, it's just the opposite. One broody hen wants to join mama and sit with her in nesting box with her chicks, like they did in the past before chicks were here, and mama is having none of that. Tried to let the two hens figure it out but I couldn't let the fighting go on when blood starting flying around the coop. So chicks are going to be raised in garage and mama will be rejoining her flock. I have a lot to learn.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any photos of your current set up, along with measurements?

You can try for an early integration IF you have ample space and clutter and the ability to section off some room for the chicks to start.

Here's my article on early integration, there's several others linked as well in case you want to see similar but different approaches: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/