I purchased 6 new chickens how do you go about introducing them to your existing flock? And I have 4 baby silkie that are still with their mom how long do you keep them with her?
You can take them from her anytime you feel like it. I introduce mine at 10 weeks or above and at night so they chicken wake up and see them and hopefully think they have always been there
How old are the new birds? Are the silkies the new birds or your only existing birds? What are your plans for the chicks? We need way more info to answer your questions. Knowing more about your goals for keeping chickens, your flock size(numbers, ages, genders), your coop(size in feet by feet with pics). Welcome to BYC! @Angbirdie12 Where in this world are you located? Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor. Please add your general geographical location to your profile. It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
Oh, and..... Integration Basics: It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water). Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources. Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock. Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact. In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together. The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again. Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue. Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run. This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still: Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
Sounds like you are asking about 2 different lots to introduce, the 6 new girls plus the chicks from the Silkies.