how old were your chicks when they moved in with.....

[Kelly FG]

your older flock?
I have 3 seven week old chicks being raised by their Momma, they spend the days free ranging with the rest of the flock, but they still sleep in the nursery with Momma. They still sleep under her in the nest although they are too big & know how to roost.
What is a safe age to let them start sleeping in the coop?

 

[faykokoWV]

I put my little ones in with the big ones at 4 weeks old and they are doing fine. I think you just need to watch the first couple days to make sure everyone is doing Ok. Also, I created several hiding places for the little ones that they could get into, but the big chickens couldn't... just in case they needed to get away.

 

[tackyrama]

I have a hen with 3 week old chicks. After 3 days I put them in a separate area in the coop. That was fine for about three days then the hen wanted out real bad so on a quiet afternoon we let them out to free range with the rest of the 70 chickens. The flock allowed them their own space for about three days then it was back to normal. I was totally amazed how easy the little ones fit in just barely after 1 week. I was even more amazed when one night at about two weeks I couldn't see the momma or her chicks and here they were all on the top roost right next to the big, bad king roo! I don't know how the little ones made it all the way up but they did and all is quiet in peacful valley!

 

[CamsCluckinChicks]

Thank you for this post! I just received my 6 new babies on Tuesday, so they are now 3 days old. My neighbor told me she puts her new babies in at 3 weeks & just watches to make sure everything goes OK. But, I'm glad to have a 2nd opinion confirming the 1st!!

My babies are VERY spoiled - they're family members & are not edible (LOL)...so obviously, I want things to go smoothly for the newbies. My oldest are only 6 weeks now, but they are HUGE compared to the newbies!! I took my Golden Polish hen out yesterday & 'introduced' her...the smaller of my 2 Gold-Laced Wyandotte's (Copper), almost immediately pecked Elvis (Polish hen). I tapped her beak & said NO in an authorative way & she backed off. Of course, I put Elvis back in with her little buddies - she's too young to be in the crib, etc. I just wanted to see how the elder's would behave.

One of my Silkie's was very interested in the baby - almost like she wanted to 'mother' her. Would that be normal 6-week old hen behavior?

Thanks again!!

 

[acbear93]

We have a first time broody, raising chicks that are just over a week old...after 5 days of being in the rabbitcage/brooder setup, they just looked too cooped up in there, pardon the pun, and so we moved them to the main flock of 12 other hens...we watched for hours, at reactions of the others, and waited to see if we needed to step in, and everything turned out alright...mama protects her babies, and they listen very well to her...and the other gals know, or have learned when to back off...I was worried the first night, but when I went out in the morning to see if all was well, it was, and she couldnt wait to take them outdoors in the run...I guess it all just depends on how early you want to make that move...we have raised chicks before, but not with a broody...all I have to say is, it sure is nice to have a mama looking after them all the time!!! good luck with whatever you decide...

just wanted to add that you might want to put a little shelter in when them that just the chicks can get into, just in case...we have rabbit igloos that were given to us and I put one inside the henhouse, and one outside in the run...last night I found mama, and the babies all squeezed into it for the night...we moved them inside to keep them safe, but the other hens know to stay away from mama. chicks, and their space....