After reading I have decided to buy chicks instead of hatch them. I have hens that brood so will let them raise those chicks but I want some different birds. Since I am a newbie this seems wiser. My questions are...how long should they be kept in their own pen before they can be with the flock? My flock free ranges but are locked in at night. Will my hens hurt them since they don''t belong to them? How long should they be on chick starter before they can eat regular feed? Will they need additional heat, if so how long? That's alot of questions I know, but I don't want to loose chicks and there seem to be difficulties that I would avoid if possible. Thanks for helping. Magpie