Integrating chickens

[Mom2fourchicks]

I have three “baby” chickens approximately 4 months old and one older hen. The baby chickens have been in the run now in a separate cage for at least two weeks. I have let them out twice all together to free range when someone is in the yard to watch them. The older chicken does come over from time to time and peck at the babies, which I assume is normal, otherwise though she just goes her way and pays no attention to them. I was wondering if there was a way to tell if the older hen was excepting of the babies before I put them all in the same run. I am a bit nervous to come out and find an injured chicken if they don’t get along. Is there a way to tell when they are ready?

 

[Mrs. K]

You are golden. I would expect them to be fine together. At four months, your chicks are no longer chicks, but point of lay pullets. Any time soon, they should begin to lay, and that will put them on equal footing. I would just put them in the run together, and close up where you have the pullets sleeping.

.. unless you are crowded in the coop. For four chickens, you should have a coop about 4 feet by 4 feet, just as a point of reference. But really, I would not expect any problems after doing it the way you have, adding more younger birds to one, is much different than adding one to many.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

I was wondering if there was a way to tell if the older hen was excepting of the babies before I put them all in the same run. I am a bit nervous to come out and find an injured chicken if they don’t get along. Is there a way to tell when they are ready?

Sounds to me like she's accepted them....but.....
How big is the run, in feet by feet?
Have they shared food?