Chicks with seasoned chickens

Date sort Score sort
Yes, they probably will pick on them, and may kill them. Integration must be slow between new and old birds. Generally it's best to wait for the chicks to have grown to nearly the same size as your adult birds. Even then they should be separated by a partition in the coop and run for several weeks. This way they see and get used to each other without bloodshed. After a peaceful time you can try letting them free range, or be in the run together under supervision. You could put out extra feed containers and water in case the old ones will not let them partake at the " grownups table."
 
It depends on how old the chicks are and how big the coop and run are, and whether or not your current hens are bantams or standard sized. I would strongly discourage trying to introduce any chick under 12 weeks old to a fully grown standard breed hen.
 


Great advice Dive. I let mine out around 3 months of age..they are free ranging though, not in a small run together. This gives them room to run away from the big girls if needed. I also put food and water where they can get to it.
 
I notice that there are lots of different suggestions in the several threads on this topic dealing with many variables. This worked for me but is hardly universal advice. We have on 4yo SL Red that is a pet and we decided to expand with 8 chicks (2 each SLRed/ SL White/Black Orpingtons/Rhode Island Reds) that we kept for a while in our house. I took Rosie (the resident hen) in to visit and view her new sisters several times and at about 6 weeks moved the chicks into a small enclosed run within our fenced chicken yard so they could see each other but not interact physically. Finally we just let them all out together but with separate food and water areas available. A few times I let them all out on the lawn together. I made sure that Rosie continues to receive the petting, treats and etc to which she obviously feels she so richly deserves but if I noticed she was harassing the chicks I stopped her. On the other hand she could be the boss as long as there was no harm attempted or done. For the most part they avoided each other, By now, two weeks later, they generally eat separately but as the chicks grow they are beginning to challenge her a little, just cautiously..

I tried to make this a brief as I could without too many details but if you have questions just ask. I would call the basic approach a gradual introduction and increasing times of contact.
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Yes, the adult chickens will peck on and possibly kill the chicks if you throw them in suddenly. You need to take it slow. I recommend using the "see but don't touch" method. This method involves placing a barrier in between the two groups of chickens so they can’t reach other and have physical contact but can still see and “meet” one another. If your chickens are kept in a run, then all you have to do is put chicken wire in the middle to separate the two sides from each other. If your flock free ranges then make a little cage/run area for the new birds to be in that is within the free ranging land of the other chickens. The barrier should be kept in between them for a number of days. (1-2 weeks is preferable.) Over this time, the chickens will have familiarized themselves enough so that they recognize each other. After the certain amount of time is up and the chickens seem ready to be together, you can remove the barrier and let them mix. Note that the chicks should be at least 8 weeks old before introducing. Here is an article I wrote explain further. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom