Chicks and hens together?

[jvajireh]

Quote:
Some people are more cautious about what age to introduce chicks (most say the closer to same size, the better), but regardless of that, I have been told over and over that the best way is TIMING. Meaning, introduce them at dusk, just as all your other established chickens are settling in for the night. As people have told me, it's like "nothing ever happened" the next morning, and all are fine together.

 

[pkw]

By far my turkens are the most friendliest and I have lots of different breeds. My turkens follows us around and loves to be held. I like my new hampshires and orpingtons for friendliness also.

 

[zephyr66]

if they are chicks that aren't being reared by a mom, it's probably gonna be ugly. only way to find out is to put them in and give them areas they can escape and the larger birds can't get to them. i had an established flock and brought home two 12 week old hens. i kept them for 3 weeks in an area sectioned off where they could see each other. i let them out and it was bad - even blood. they had to be separated even longer.

conversely, my hen went broody and just hatched chicks. the babies are one week old and i let them out while supervising in the main run area. this is with the same flock that attacked the other birds. the lead hen pecked a chick and mamma hen went ballistic on her and they are all respecting the chicks now cause they know they will have mom to contend with. amazing what nature does.

give it a shot and see what happens. just be prepared to have to separate them if WWIII breaks out, ha ha.

sylvia

 

[carrlr]

Here is what I do. Quarantine new birds for 30 days, unless they are newly hatched chicks. If chicks I usually raise to about 4-5 months. Then I put in an adjacent coop, or a sectioned portion of the coop, until they are used to each other at about a week. Then on the evening that I determine to join them in one area I do the following. All the older birds are locked out of the coop area. The new, younger ones, are placed in the coop to "settle" in. At or near dark, I let the older birds in who will settle in rather quickly. The next morning I ensure I'm available to open up the coop as soon as they start to stir. No problems yet...they will establish a pecking order. I guess a good way to look at it is if they've already slept together, they already kind of know each other.

 

[dacasodivine]

My chicks were moved into my backyard around 2 1/2 weeks of age. Not too long after the adults figured out there was feed back there so started jumping the 5 foot fence. (They will be getting their wings clipped) They peck if the chicks are in the way but ignore them otherwise. The chicks have learned quickly to not get in the way but they will often be in the same general area. I think the key is that there is plenty of room and the chicks can get well away if needed.

 

[mendozer]

ok it looks like i'll need to have the younger ones just cruise around and i'll time it at night as well. it would of course be easier to raise them all from chicks, but i want me some free range eggs now

 

[mendozer]

turns out my sister wanted one chick too, so i got 4. no adults, i'll just have to wait for eggs

thanks for all the tips