Help with new chicks

[Spawndn72]

My flock had dwindled a little and I need to introduce a few new chicks into the flock. I have room for more chicks in the coop but realize I can’t just throw baby chicks in with the big girls right away.

my questions:
Can I buy one of the cheap 2-4 chicken size coop/runs for raising the babies until they get big enough to go in with the rest of the big girls or will they outgrow that before I can put them all together. I plan on getting 6 new chicks

How old should the new chicks be before I turn them loose with the bigger chicks?

The existing girls will be able to see the new chicks in their run as the existing girls are completely free range.

Is it too late in the year to get new chicks started here on Middle TN?

Anything else I am missing?

 

[slordaz]

well I would just make a bigger box brooder, you can put a lamp in as can be made a heck of a lot more secure than one of the premades. once the feather out they will be ok as long as you don't keep them overly war, took my latest hatch about 10 days to wean from the light unlike spring and summer hatches, they weened themselves by day 2

 

[21hens-incharge]

Good questions!

Having them housed in the run will help make it no big deal when you release them.

As long as the tiny coop is inside a secure run I see no issue doing it that way.

One of those tiny coops should work for your 6 babies until they are fully feathered and then some. Being more exposed to outside temps you may need to check on the temperature in there more often especially if it gets suddenly hot out or a cold rain happens.

What temps are you expecting for the next 8 weeks? Do you normally get really cold before thanksgiving?

We have record cold here today but then heat back up....an example of weird weather you may need to be prepared for.