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How do you introduce chicks to the flock?

Discussion in 'Raising Baby Chicks' started by emsevers, Mar 29, 2009.

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  1. Mar 29, 2009 #1
    emsevers

    emsevers Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Carlton, OR
    I was just curious how you get your other chickens to accept the new ones. Mine are six week old now and I'm wanting to get them outside. Should I have them in another area for a while or can I put them in with my older hens? I just want to know how everyone else does this because I've never done it before.
     
  3. Mar 29, 2009 #2
    CityClucks

    CityClucks The Center of a 50 Mile Radius

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    Tulsa, OK
    Hey emsevers! How many chicks do you have? How many full-grown clucks in your older flock? Over on the "Managing Your Flock" forum there are several posts about this. The general consensus is to keep them separated until the younger ones are bigger. Here are a couple of threads with others' experiences. You can find out more by searching "introducing chicks to flock" in the search bar.

    https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=570177

    https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=135841

    Good luck!
    (eta to correct grammar)
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2009
  5. Mar 29, 2009 #3
    TerriLaChicks

    TerriLaChicks Overrun With Chickens

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    You can't just put them out there or the older hens will peck them to pieces.
    What I do with mine is have them in a separate pen next to the older hens' so they can see each other through the fence for a few weeks & get to know each other.
    Then I put them in at night when all are shut in for the night.
    There still will be a few flurries while they re-establish the pecking order, but usually they all straighten things out in a few days.
    I do keep a close eye on them to be sure nobody draws blood, if they do I isolate that one until it is healed up again. That only happened one time with mine.
     

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