chicks in with chickens

[nanapamela]

First time doing this so not sure if this is the right way or not but. . . here goes.

We have 14 brown layers that are about 1 1/2 to 2 years old along with 2 roosters of the same age. I've just ordered 25 new day old chicks that will arrive during the 2nd week of July. It's quite warm here in Mid TN and I was thinking I could put the chicks in the henhouse for the night and then put them out in the yard during the day. I've never done this and don't have a clue about how to blen the 2 together. Hints and advice are welcomed!

Cheers,

 

[goldenluver]

the chicks need to be in a brooder with a heat lamp, your older birds will kill them. the peeps need temps of 95 degree to start.

 

[pamiejune]

I've heard that if you do that, you will end up with 25 dead chicks - I don't think you want that...

Any chicken added to an existing flock will go through a "hazing" - smaller birds may not survive it. It's their way of establishing a pecking order. Keep them separated, but maybe in such a way that they can see each other, and then when the chicks are almost as big as the others, you could mix - with supervision. There might not be such an upheaval if the flocks are next to each other, but separate.

Chicks also need a constant temperature until they're all feathered out - as long as you can control that temp, they can go outside but need to be well-protected from drafts, moisture, and predators. Small varmints would have no problem making off with one of those little fluff balls - babies are better off inside in a box/tub with a lamp and a thermometer. JMO... Maybe others in warmer climes might have a different opinion - I'm sure they'll weigh in!

Buk-buk!
Another Pamela - but not a nana! (yet...)
in coolish, rainy NH

 

[nanapamela]

Thanks for all of the input. I can keep them confined without problem but I'm concerned about the heat. It's been running about 95 to 98 daytime highs with night lows of about 75. It seems to me that they should be fine as long as they are protected from the others as well a drafts and weather.

The last batch we received (April) we kept indoors but without a heat lamp and they were outside by 6-8 weeks in their chainlinked fenced yard.

Another thought. . . We have a broody hen that has been setting for about 4 weeks and no chicks yet. If I leave here setting until the new chicks arrive is their a way to get to take them?

 

[Judy]

If you have them outdoors without heat, do check on them during the cool part of the night to be sure they are not piling on top of one another as the ones on the bottom can suffocate. 75 is cooler than what is recommended for new chicks, but that doesn't mean it won't work.

It will be good for them to be in the same coop but separated; hopefully, when they are bigger, integrating won't be so traumatic.

You could do a variation on this:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=14951

 

[Judy]

Oh, on the broody, if she is still setting when the chicks arrive, it would probably work quite well to slip some of them under her at night. 25 would be too many, though. And you would probably also have to separate her and her chicks from everyone else.

 

[Ms~Silkie~Girl]

yeah, the older chickens will kill the chicks and they have to be in a brooder with a heat lamo for about 6 weeks (give or take a little)

 

[nanapamela]

the chicks will be inside the chicken house during the evening. The henhouse is insulated and has windows with hardware cloth on 3 sides so I think they would be fine. We live in an off grid cottage and don't have power in the henhouse.

It won't be a problem to do build a hinged wire frame that I can use to seperate them in the beginning, but they can still see each other but not be in the same space.

I only have the one broody hen now but perhaps I'll have another before the chicks arrive. Not sure if there's a way to encourage broodiness or not??

what's this about TELLING ALL on your chicken,pet,husbands,kids etc count?

 

[Judy]

Broodiness is controlled by hormones; it happens or it doesn't. Nothing we can do to make it happen.

 

[nanapamela]

I appreciated all of the input and helpful advice.

14 hens, 2 roosters, 10 cats, 2 dogs, 1 DH, 4 kids, 8 grands