How do you introduce new chicks into an established flock

[SusanMc]

Ok oh wise ones,
I’m picking up my Ameraucauna chicks on Sunday (yyyyiiiipppee), and I am so EXCITED!! But once the chicks are ready to get out of the brooder how do I get the other hens to accept them. What will my roosters do??
ahhh my hens are 2 and 1 years old Roos Are 1 year old.

 

[chickentrains]

put your chicks in a kennel inside your coop

let them out to free range and let them have a snack together every day, watch them, if you go inside, put the chicks away too

one night, after they are used to eachother, slip the chicks in when the chickens are asleep, first coat the chicks in anti peck/anti cannabilism stuff.. lol

thats how I did it.

 

[H-B-O]

i just put them in at night and chickens being chickens are like "you have been here my intire life!) there will be some pecking of course

 

[SusanMc]

put your chicks in a kennel inside your coop

That is perfect, I have a lg. Dog kennel, that’s a great idea...thanks...

 

[SusanMc]

i just put them in at night and chickens being chickens are like "you have been here my intire life!) there will be some pecking of course

Have you ever seen a hen kill a chick ? Thats my biggest fear.

 

[H-B-O]

Only A Baby

 

[MountainWoman73]

I put a bottomless cage inside my coop. Mine is an old rabbit hutch, but you could improvise. I raise the cage up on blocks by just a couple inches so the chicks can run in and out underneath. This way the chicks can come out, but they still have a hiding place where hens can't reach them. I also keep their food and water under the cage, which stops my hens eating all the starter feed. Eventually I remove the cage, usually when the chicks are tall enough to reach my regular feeders and waterers.

 

[MountainWoman73]

Have you ever seen a hen kill a chick ? Thats my biggest fear.

No. They peck them on the head pretty hard, though. I can see how that would be dangerous to a very small chick.

 

[chickentrains]

to a very small chick, yes they can kill one.

Usually chicks big enough to be outside (fully feathered), are more than capable of running away and handling some hard pecks on the head

bascially drench them in no peck goop every morning until the big chickens leave the chicks alone

 

[SusanMc]

I put a bottomless cage inside my coop. Mine is an old rabbit hutch, but you could improvise. I raise the cage up on blocks by just a couple inches so the chicks can run in and out underneath. This way the chicks can come out, but they still have a hiding place where hens can't reach them. I also keep their food and water under the cage, which stops my hens eating all the starter feed. Eventually I remove the cage, usually when the chicks are tall enough to reach my regular feeders and waterers.

Hi
That might also work, my dog kennel that I use for injuries etc, may be too big to fit through the door of the Coop, but I have a smaller crate that may work if I take out the bottom.
I’m getting my chicks from true north farms in Armstrong BC. The gal wants to trade me cherrries for chickens, in the summer. She has some light Sussex that may be good mamas for my next years hatch.