How to introduce new chicks to older hens?

[kaddidle]

I have two pet hens, a White Rock and a Production Red, that I keep for eggs and for entertainment. I would like to add one or two more hens to my flock and so right now I have three chicks under a month old in my brooder. (Hopefully at least one will be a hen. Any roos will be given away.)

When the chicks start to get a little older, I wonder if it will make introductions go more smoothly if I house the chicks near my current hens? I have a small chicken tractor that I could put near the hens' run. I have even thought about taking a dog crate and putting the chicks inside that in the hens' run so that they can get to know one another and get used to each others' sights and sounds without the big girls being able to pick on the little ones.

Any thoughts?

 

[fried green eggs]

IMHO I would put them together but separated by a fence so chicks are safe from older hens until chicks are older and are close in size. I added meat chicks 2 weeks after my first chicks but almost same size as others and last friday older chicks made new chicks bloody and tore out feathers so, I had to separate them. Keep a good eye on them and good luck.