'Free Ranging' With The Flock?

[Shorty22366]

It was easier at the beginning of the year when our Silkie mix had gone broody. Gave her 2 batches of chicks, 5 chicks in March and 7 chicks in April, and she helped them become part of the flock.
So would I be able to let them out for a few minutes as long as they stayed close to me or should I just wait until they're bigger?

I would try putting them out with you. You may have to correct some of your other chicks by pecking them if they bother them. With my first hatchery chicks when I put them with older ones I would watch and if the older ones bothered younger I would tap older one on head or back to let them know it was not acceptable. It only took a couple times.

 

[rabiee]

We have 5 8 weeks old pullets that are doing well free ranging, they keep to themselves and the older birds don't bother them too much unless I'm out there giving them treats. I am hoping when they get bigger they'll all free range together. The roost together now so that's good.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

UPDATE:
I let them out but forgot that I wanted to get video of them to share here. Anyway, it was fine up until I decided to sit down on the ground. Right as I touched the ground, one of our red sex links decided to see what I was doing and tried to attack the chicks until I yanked her away and scooped the chicks up. They were out for like 10 minutes? so I decided to put them back into their coop.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Keep putting those chicks out supervised.....do you have a secure dog crate that you can put them in for a see but don’t touch method? Your older flock needs to see them And get used to their presence before full integration. Good luck with those fuzz babies!

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Keep putting those chicks out supervised.....do you have a secure dog crate that you can put them in for a see but don’t touch method? Your older flock needs to see them And get used to their presence before full integration. Good luck with those fuzz babies!

They have been seeing them since I put them outside at 3 weeks old. Both coops are next to each other.

 

[rosemarythyme]

This is my brooder & integration write up (you can skip the brooder part) - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-thyme-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/ I began letting my chicks mingle with the adults at 2 weeks and they were in the coop and roosting by 6 weeks.

If you don't having obstacles to break up the space and allow chicks to get away from adults, I'd suggest adding some. It can be as simple as patio furniture, wood pallets leaning on a fence, tree stumps, other outdoor "junk" (as long as it's chicken safe.)

This is a diagram of my run. Note that most of the items aren't up against walls, which gives chicks options to get away in case a hen tries to corner them. The items that are up against a wall have openings in 2 different directions, so once again, the chicks can't get cornered. I also have multiple feeders in the morning, as that's when they'll most likely fight for food.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

This is my brooder & integration write up (you can skip the brooder part) - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-thyme-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/ I began letting my chicks mingle with the adults at 2 weeks and they were in the coop and roosting by 6 weeks.

If you don't having obstacles to break up the space and allow chicks to get away from adults, I'd suggest adding some. It can be as simple as patio furniture, wood pallets leaning on a fence, tree stumps, other outdoor "junk" (as long as it's chicken safe.)

This is a diagram of my run. Note that most of the items aren't up against walls, which gives chicks options to get away in case a hen tries to corner them. The items that are up against a wall have openings in 2 different directions, so once again, the chicks can't get cornered. I also have multiple feeders in the morning, as that's when they'll most likely fight for food.
View attachment 1539558

If I could add obstacles I would but the last time I added something to their yard, they pooped on it then destroyed it within a day and it was made of wood. The only thing we have in their yard that would possibly count as an obstacle is our 2 apple trees but the chicks probably won't be able to fly up there for a while.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How did they destroy it? They'll poop on things for sure, but I'd be impressed if chickens could manage to destroy a pallet. Most of my obstacles were made from my old prefab coop, so they're definitely a little worn down but sturdy enough to do their job.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

How did they destroy it? They'll poop on things for sure, but I'd be impressed if chickens could manage to destroy a pallet. Most of my obstacles were made from my old prefab coop, so they're definitely a little worn down but sturdy enough to do their job.

It wasn't a pallet. It was made from tree branches we cut down.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It wasn't a pallet. It was made from tree branches we cut down.

I have some branches that have been sitting in the run for 2 years and the chickens haven't destroyed them or even pooped on them much, but they use them daily.

I just saw a post on another thread where someone said they threw in their dried out Christmas tree and used buckets and pots as obstacles. You can get creative with how you create safe spots, it doesn't have to be anything fancy.