How do I combine baby chicks with adults?

[duckduckchicken]

I am thinking about getting some baby chicks but I have 4 adults. I am somewhat new at this and would like to know how to put the older ones with the new ones?. Thank you for you help!

 

[gallusdomesticus]

I would not combine them until your pullets are adult size. They will be picked on unmercifully if you just put them together from a cold start. You might introduce them to the bigger chickens by having them in some sort of pen that they can see each other but not peck at each other. That said, once you do introduce them, there will be a pecking order established and being adult sized, they will be better able to hold their own. Eventually, they will all figure their place in the social order and calm will return to the hen house.

 

[silkydragon]

i usually add mine when they are fully feathered but this time im keeping them in a pen outside which my hens free range so they can come and look or even jump in the pen to share a meal as they wish (i sit where i can see them and usually take the 1hen and rooster that find baby food more apealing then layer mash out as soon as they jump in if i let them they would eat the 50pound bag by themselves)